Abstract
In the Discorso di un Italiano intorno alla poesia romantica (1818) the discovery of the ‘prosaic’ order of the modern world is not enough to authorise new aesthetic paradigms going beyond classicism and to question the imaginative poetry of the ancients. Leopardi still considers such poetry the term of comparison for authentic poetry, capable of restoring an intense, vital relationship with nature. The ‘shift from the old condition to the modern one’ occurs in 1819 – just one year after the Discorso – and leads to a new kind of poetry, namely that of the Canti. With their ‘philosophical’ or ‘sentimental’ character, the Canti annex the territory of truth, which is the domain of prose. At the same time, far from being cancelled, the inventive, imaginative force of poetry is called for and in a way strengthened by such language of ‘truth’.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Moderna: semestrale di teoria e critica della letteratura
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
