In De vulgari eloquentia (X, ii-iii), Dante famously states that the lingua d’oc is more suitable for poetry while the lingua d’oïl is better adapted to vernacular prose, a view that probably still lies behind the reference in Purgatorio XXVI to “versi d’amore e prose di romanzi”. While this no doubt represents common opinion about Gallo-romance literature in Dante’s time, it would be untrue to say that no narrative texts in Occitan circulated or were copied in Italy. This paper will examine a number of such texts, beginning with the romance of Jaufre, parts of which were also transcribed in lyric chansonniers, in order to illustrate those aspects of the narrative genres which seem to have most interested Italian patrons and audiences. The particular selection of narrative texts in turn sheds light on the manner in which the Occitan tradition as a whole was understood in Italy, as well as on the criteria followed in the compilation of some, at least, of the troubadour anthologies.
‘Versi d’amore e prose di romanzi’: The Reception of Occitan Narrative Genres in Italy
LEE, Charmaine Anne
2013-01-01
Abstract
In De vulgari eloquentia (X, ii-iii), Dante famously states that the lingua d’oc is more suitable for poetry while the lingua d’oïl is better adapted to vernacular prose, a view that probably still lies behind the reference in Purgatorio XXVI to “versi d’amore e prose di romanzi”. While this no doubt represents common opinion about Gallo-romance literature in Dante’s time, it would be untrue to say that no narrative texts in Occitan circulated or were copied in Italy. This paper will examine a number of such texts, beginning with the romance of Jaufre, parts of which were also transcribed in lyric chansonniers, in order to illustrate those aspects of the narrative genres which seem to have most interested Italian patrons and audiences. The particular selection of narrative texts in turn sheds light on the manner in which the Occitan tradition as a whole was understood in Italy, as well as on the criteria followed in the compilation of some, at least, of the troubadour anthologies.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
