Giovanni Meli, Don Chisciotti e Sanciu Panza [Don Chisciotti and Sanciu Panza]

Gaetano Cipolla (St. John's University)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.6.1: Italian Writing and Culture, 453-present.
Vol. editors: Carla Bregman (Independent Scholar - North America), Jo Ann Cavallo (Columbia University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1785 - 1786

Places

Italy (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Epic
Poetry (any)

Resources

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While the motivations for creating poetry are seldom clear cut or readily apparent, we may be certain that when Giovanni Meli conceived his ambitious project he was well aware of the possible risks involved in the choice. Undoubtedly the two characters – living symbols of the opposing forces within man – fulfilled deep-seated psychological needs of the Sicilian poet. Meli knew very well that his work would be judged from the perspective of the Cervantian masterpiece – his selection of the Spanish characters was an open invitation to compare the two works. In retrospection, Meli’s choice may have to be considered an act of hubris punished by silence, neglect and often unjust dismissal of his poem. Those critics who have measured the Sicilian Don Chisciotti by his Spanish…

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2365 words

Citation: Cipolla, Gaetano. "Don Chisciotti e Sanciu Panza". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 February 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=32156, accessed 25 April 2024.]

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