
The Icy Fire
Five Studies in European Petrarchism
Leonard Forster(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 28. February 1979
Book
Paperback/Softback
228 pages
978-0-521-29521-5 (ISBN)
Description
In this short introductory book, Professor Forster examines Petrarchism as a European phenomenon transcending national boundaries. He begins with a general survey of themes and conventions, providing, with quotation, something like a repertory of the devices. He then shows in an important historical study how various vernacular literatures were seeking for a renewal of poetic diction at the moment when Petrarchism was available to meet the need. The third study examines specific forms and shows how realism in love-relationships could be accommodated within the tradition. A fourth shows how the literary conventions, applied to England's Virgin queen, could serve political and national ends; and the last shows the devices still being used in Goethe's Faust. This is a learned and engaging book, ranging freely among literatures: Latin, Italian, French, Dutch, English, and German, with translations provided. It gives an introduction to one of the most important and longest-lasting traditions in comparative literary studies.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
248 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-29521-5 (9780521295215)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
12/1969
Cambridge University Press
€30.95
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Previous edition
Book
12/1969
Cambridge University Press
€30.95
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Content
Introductory note; Notes on illustrations; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. The Petrarchan manner: an introduction; 2. European petrarchism as training in poetic diction; 3. Conventional safety values: alba, pastourelle and epithalamium; 4. The political petrarchism of the Virgin Queen; 5. Lynkeus' masque in Hoethe's Faust II; Notes; Bibliography; Tailpiece; Index.