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The fragmentation of life, i.e. the inability to live one's life as a whole, is an important theme in Hellenistic ethics, as witnessed in Lucretius and Seneca. From Aristotle onwards, the task of ethics is to construct a unitary life, in which the continuity of the 'good life' is identified with the stable presence of virtue (Stoicism) or pleasure (Epicureanism). This basic problem is related to well-known topics such as the uselessness of travel or chaotic reading: a particularly important theme is the imaginary observation of one's own corpse.

In classical rhetoric, the name ekphrasis designates the detailed verbal description of a concrete object or subject, i.e. the transposition into words of something that is intended to be "seen" by placing it under the eyes of the reader. The privileged field of application of this device are the visual arts, in which critics are expected to render both real and fantastic images through words, translating the fixedness of visual data into the temporal sequence of a verbal discourse. In the case of musical art, ekphrasis aims to render in words sequences of sounds that are in turn temporally oriented, and in this respect diverges from a verbal representation of the visual arts, which exist in a spatial dimension. In music, however, meanings exist but are generally not denoted according to a specific semantic system, and therefore require transcoding processes and lexical loans. Even in the poetic description of a work of visual art (e.g. the sonnets in which Marino describes the image of Daphne's metamorphosis into laurel in Bernini's marble group, animating and dramatizing it), ekphrasis can generate a flowering of poetic tropes that clearly enhance the semantic content. This enhancement of meaning is even more necessary in musical ekphrasis, which tends to shift the object of representation from physical-acoustic data, or from the specific semiographic system, to the sensations it produces in the listener. In fact, rather than insisting on the musical text, the mélophrasis - as it has recently been renamed - is ultimately directed at the effect it causes, and therefore at viewers and their internalization processes. The result is a substantial shift from denotation to connotation, through extensive (but not uncontrolled) recourse to metaphorical procedures, applied to the sound images of the composition, to the proxemics and environmental components of performance, and finally to the specific sound symbolism contained in certain scores.

Relato autobiográfico, pleno de vitalidad y de erudición, que despliega viquistamente la historia de “B.”, a la vez que nos va mostrando las etapas de un proceso de investigación y estudio viquiano centrado en el ámbito de la estética y en el de la filosofía retórica. Un proceso que no lo es menos de autoconocimiento centrado en la historia y en el acto de filosofar vinculado a la actividad retórica del ingenio, de la fantasía, de la imaginación., This is an autobiographical story, full of vitality and erudition, that displays in Vico’s style the history of “B.”, while showing us the stages of a process of Vichian research and study focused on the fields of aesthetics and rhetorical philosophy. A process of self-knowledge focused on history and the act of philosophizing, as it is linked to the rhetorical activity of ingenuity, of fantasy and of imagination., Si tratta di una storia autobiografica, piena di vitalità ed erudizione che mostra vichianamente la storia di “B”, mentre ci illustra le fasi di un processo di ricerca e di studio vichiano focalizzato sull’ambito dell’estetica e su quello della filosofia retorica. Un processo nientemeno che di autoconoscenza incentrata sulla storia e sull’atto del filosofare, legata all’attività retorica dell’ingegno, della fantasia e dell’immaginazione.

Relato autobiográfico, pleno de vitalidad y de erudición, que despliega viquistamente la historia de “B.”, a la vez que nos va mostrando las etapas de un proceso de investigación y estudio viquiano centrado en el ámbito de la estética y en el de la filosofía retórica. Un proceso que no lo es menos de autoconocimiento centrado en la historia y en el acto de filosofar vinculado a la actividad retórica del ingenio, de la fantasía, de la imaginación., This is an autobiographical story, full of vitality and erudition, that displays in Vico’s style the history of “B.”, while showing us the stages of a process of Vichian research and study focused on the fields of aesthetics and rhetorical philosophy. A process of self-knowledge focused on history and the act of philosophizing, as it is linked to the rhetorical activity of ingenuity, of fantasy and of imagination., Si tratta di una storia autobiografica, piena di vitalità ed erudizione che mostra vichianamente la storia di “B”, mentre ci illustra le fasi di un processo di ricerca e di studio vichiano focalizzato sull’ambito dell’estetica e su quello della filosofia retorica. Un processo nientemeno che di autoconoscenza incentrata sulla storia e sull’atto del filosofare, legata all’attività retorica dell’ingegno, della fantasia e dell’immaginazione.

The present work is devoted to the investigation of the new category of the epic genre that appeared and evolved in the period between the end of the Cinquecento - the second half of the Seicento – the one comprising epic poems treating facts of contemporary historical reality. The thesis concerns itself namely with the epic texts dedicated to the culminating military conflicts of the Oriental war (notably, the Battle of Lepanto, 1571) and such crucial events of the Reconquista as the Conquest of Granada (1492) and the Rebellion of the Alpujarras (1568-1571). The selected texts belong to the Italian, Spanish and French epic traditions, the main objectives of the research being the ones of providing a thorough analysis of the texts in question with special emphasis upon the relationship of the marvellous and the historical elements, as well as the allegorical dichotomy of absolute good and absolute evil, the final chapter being entirely devoted to the issue of the ‘demonic’ figure of the ‘Other’ seen through the prism of the age-long struggle of the Christian and the Islamic civilisations.

Relato autobiográfico, pleno de vitalidad y de erudición, que despliega viquistamente la historia de “B.”, a la vez que nos va mostrando las etapas de un proceso de investigación y estudio viquiano centrado en el ámbito de la estética y en el de la filosofía retórica. Un proceso que no lo es menos de autoconocimiento centrado en la historia y en el acto de filosofar vinculado a la actividad retórica del ingenio, de la fantasía, de la imaginación., This is an autobiographical story, full of vitality and erudition, that displays in Vico’s style the history of “B.”, while showing us the stages of a process of Vichian research and study focused on the fields of aesthetics and rhetorical philosophy. A process of self-knowledge focused on history and the act of philosophizing, as it is linked to the rhetorical activity of ingenuity, of fantasy and of imagination., Si tratta di una storia autobiografica, piena di vitalità ed erudizione che mostra vichianamente la storia di “B”, mentre ci illustra le fasi di un processo di ricerca e di studio vichiano focalizzato sull’ambito dell’estetica e su quello della filosofia retorica. Un processo nientemeno che di autoconoscenza incentrata sulla storia e sull’atto del filosofare, legata all’attività retorica dell’ingegno, della fantasia e dell’immaginazione.

Relato autobiográfico, pleno de vitalidad y de erudición, que despliega viquistamente la historia de “B.”, a la vez que nos va mostrando las etapas de un proceso de investigación y estudio viquiano centrado en el ámbito de la estética y en el de la filosofía retórica. Un proceso que no lo es menos de autoconocimiento centrado en la historia y en el acto de filosofar vinculado a la actividad retórica del ingenio, de la fantasía, de la imaginación., This is an autobiographical story, full of vitality and erudition, that displays in Vico’s style the history of “B.”, while showing us the stages of a process of Vichian research and study focused on the fields of aesthetics and rhetorical philosophy. A process of self-knowledge focused on history and the act of philosophizing, as it is linked to the rhetorical activity of ingenuity, of fantasy and of imagination., Si tratta di una storia autobiografica, piena di vitalità ed erudizione che mostra vichianamente la storia di “B”, mentre ci illustra le fasi di un processo di ricerca e di studio vichiano focalizzato sull’ambito dell’estetica e su quello della filosofia retorica. Un processo nientemeno che di autoconoscenza incentrata sulla storia e sull’atto del filosofare, legata all’attività retorica dell’ingegno, della fantasia e dell’immaginazione.

Relato autobiográfico, pleno de vitalidad y de erudición, que despliega viquistamente la historia de “B.”, a la vez que nos va mostrando las etapas de un proceso de investigación y estudio viquiano centrado en el ámbito de la estética y en el de la filosofía retórica. Un proceso que no lo es menos de autoconocimiento centrado en la historia y en el acto de filosofar vinculado a la actividad retórica del ingenio, de la fantasía, de la imaginación., This is an autobiographical story, full of vitality and erudition, that displays in Vico’s style the history of “B.”, while showing us the stages of a process of Vichian research and study focused on the fields of aesthetics and rhetorical philosophy. A process of self-knowledge focused on history and the act of philosophizing, as it is linked to the rhetorical activity of ingenuity, of fantasy and of imagination., Si tratta di una storia autobiografica, piena di vitalità ed erudizione che mostra vichianamente la storia di “B”, mentre ci illustra le fasi di un processo di ricerca e di studio vichiano focalizzato sull’ambito dell’estetica e su quello della filosofia retorica. Un processo nientemeno che di autoconoscenza incentrata sulla storia e sull’atto del filosofare, legata all’attività retorica dell’ingegno, della fantasia e dell’immaginazione.

The present work is devoted to the investigation of the new category of the epic genre that appeared and evolved in the period between the end of the Cinquecento - the second half of the Seicento – the one comprising epic poems treating facts of contemporary historical reality. The thesis concerns itself namely with the epic texts dedicated to the culminating military conflicts of the Oriental war (notably, the Battle of Lepanto, 1571) and such crucial events of the Reconquista as the Conquest of Granada (1492) and the Rebellion of the Alpujarras (1568-1571). The selected texts belong to the Italian, Spanish and French epic traditions, the main objectives of the research being the ones of providing a thorough analysis of the texts in question with special emphasis upon the relationship of the marvellous and the historical elements, as well as the allegorical dichotomy of absolute good and absolute evil, the final chapter being entirely devoted to the issue of the ‘demonic’ figure of the ‘Other’ seen through the prism of the age-long struggle of the Christian and the Islamic civilisations.

Il secolo compreso tra i pontificati di Leone XIII e di Paolo VI è stato segnato da tre eventi di enorme portata nella storia del cattolicesimo italiano, che hanno avuto forti ripercussioni anche in campo letterario: la crisi modernista, all'inizio del Novecento, i Patti Lateranensi, nel 1929, e il Concilio ecumenico Vaticano II, nella prima metà degli anni sessanta. Intorno a questi snodi cruciali il saggio ripercorre un secolo di letteratura cattolica, offrendo un panorama, denso ma completo, del contributo dato dagli scrittori cattolici alla letteratura nazionale e alla coscienza inquieta del Novecento, tra spinte riformatrici, richiami all'ordine e un rinnovato confronto col sempreverde messaggio dei Vangeli.

Este artículo indaga la doctrina viquiana del heroísmo, desde el De mente heroica hasta la Scienza nuova. El autor indaga el doble papel del heroísmo y del héroe expresado tanto con la fuerza física, a partir de la “barbarie del sentido”, en la fundación histó- rica de la sociedad y en la reconstrucción de las naciones, como con la fuerza intelectual e interior en una síntesis de todo el saber cuando la sociedad amenaza con disgregarse por la prevalencia de la “barbarie de la reflexión”., This paper inquiries into the Viquian doctrine of heroism, from De mente heroica to Scienza nuova. The author explores the double role played by heroism and the hero, expressed, on the one hand, by physical strength, from the “barbarism of meaning”, in the historical foundation of society and the reconstructions of the nations; and, on the other hand, by the intellectual and inner strength, in a synthesis of whole knowledge when society threatens with breaking up because of the prevalence of the “barbarism of reflection”.

Este artículo indaga la doctrina viquiana del heroísmo, desde el De mente heroica hasta la Scienza nuova. El autor indaga el doble papel del heroísmo y del héroe expresado tanto con la fuerza física, a partir de la “barbarie del sentido”, en la fundación histó- rica de la sociedad y en la reconstrucción de las naciones, como con la fuerza intelectual e interior en una síntesis de todo el saber cuando la sociedad amenaza con disgregarse por la prevalencia de la “barbarie de la reflexión”., This paper inquiries into the Viquian doctrine of heroism, from De mente heroica to Scienza nuova. The author explores the double role played by heroism and the hero, expressed, on the one hand, by physical strength, from the “barbarism of meaning”, in the historical foundation of society and the reconstructions of the nations; and, on the other hand, by the intellectual and inner strength, in a synthesis of whole knowledge when society threatens with breaking up because of the prevalence of the “barbarism of reflection”.

Este artículo indaga la doctrina viquiana del heroísmo, desde el De mente heroica hasta la Scienza nuova. El autor indaga el doble papel del heroísmo y del héroe expresado tanto con la fuerza física, a partir de la “barbarie del sentido”, en la fundación histó- rica de la sociedad y en la reconstrucción de las naciones, como con la fuerza intelectual e interior en una síntesis de todo el saber cuando la sociedad amenaza con disgregarse por la prevalencia de la “barbarie de la reflexión”., This paper inquiries into the Viquian doctrine of heroism, from De mente heroica to Scienza nuova. The author explores the double role played by heroism and the hero, expressed, on the one hand, by physical strength, from the “barbarism of meaning”, in the historical foundation of society and the reconstructions of the nations; and, on the other hand, by the intellectual and inner strength, in a synthesis of whole knowledge when society threatens with breaking up because of the prevalence of the “barbarism of reflection”.

Este artículo indaga la doctrina viquiana del heroísmo, desde el De mente heroica hasta la Scienza nuova. El autor indaga el doble papel del heroísmo y del héroe expresado tanto con la fuerza física, a partir de la “barbarie del sentido”, en la fundación histó- rica de la sociedad y en la reconstrucción de las naciones, como con la fuerza intelectual e interior en una síntesis de todo el saber cuando la sociedad amenaza con disgregarse por la prevalencia de la “barbarie de la reflexión”., This paper inquiries into the Viquian doctrine of heroism, from De mente heroica to Scienza nuova. The author explores the double role played by heroism and the hero, expressed, on the one hand, by physical strength, from the “barbarism of meaning”, in the historical foundation of society and the reconstructions of the nations; and, on the other hand, by the intellectual and inner strength, in a synthesis of whole knowledge when society threatens with breaking up because of the prevalence of the “barbarism of reflection”.

Este artículo indaga la doctrina viquiana del heroísmo, desde el De mente heroica hasta la Scienza nuova. El autor indaga el doble papel del heroísmo y del héroe expresado tanto con la fuerza física, a partir de la “barbarie del sentido”, en la fundación histó- rica de la sociedad y en la reconstrucción de las naciones, como con la fuerza intelectual e interior en una síntesis de todo el saber cuando la sociedad amenaza con disgregarse por la prevalencia de la “barbarie de la reflexión”., This paper inquiries into the Viquian doctrine of heroism, from De mente heroica to Scienza nuova. The author explores the double role played by heroism and the hero, expressed, on the one hand, by physical strength, from the “barbarism of meaning”, in the historical foundation of society and the reconstructions of the nations; and, on the other hand, by the intellectual and inner strength, in a synthesis of whole knowledge when society threatens with breaking up because of the prevalence of the “barbarism of reflection”.

Este artículo indaga la doctrina viquiana del heroísmo, desde el De mente heroica hasta la Scienza nuova. El autor indaga el doble papel del heroísmo y del héroe expresado tanto con la fuerza física, a partir de la “barbarie del sentido”, en la fundación histó- rica de la sociedad y en la reconstrucción de las naciones, como con la fuerza intelectual e interior en una síntesis de todo el saber cuando la sociedad amenaza con disgregarse por la prevalencia de la “barbarie de la reflexión”., This paper inquiries into the Viquian doctrine of heroism, from De mente heroica to Scienza nuova. The author explores the double role played by heroism and the hero, expressed, on the one hand, by physical strength, from the “barbarism of meaning”, in the historical foundation of society and the reconstructions of the nations; and, on the other hand, by the intellectual and inner strength, in a synthesis of whole knowledge when society threatens with breaking up because of the prevalence of the “barbarism of reflection”.

Este artículo indaga la doctrina viquiana del heroísmo, desde el De mente heroica hasta la Scienza nuova. El autor indaga el doble papel del heroísmo y del héroe expresado tanto con la fuerza física, a partir de la “barbarie del sentido”, en la fundación histó- rica de la sociedad y en la reconstrucción de las naciones, como con la fuerza intelectual e interior en una síntesis de todo el saber cuando la sociedad amenaza con disgregarse por la prevalencia de la “barbarie de la reflexión”., This paper inquiries into the Viquian doctrine of heroism, from De mente heroica to Scienza nuova. The author explores the double role played by heroism and the hero, expressed, on the one hand, by physical strength, from the “barbarism of meaning”, in the historical foundation of society and the reconstructions of the nations; and, on the other hand, by the intellectual and inner strength, in a synthesis of whole knowledge when society threatens with breaking up because of the prevalence of the “barbarism of reflection”.

Este artículo indaga la doctrina viquiana del heroísmo, desde el De mente heroica hasta la Scienza nuova. El autor indaga el doble papel del heroísmo y del héroe expresado tanto con la fuerza física, a partir de la “barbarie del sentido”, en la fundación histó- rica de la sociedad y en la reconstrucción de las naciones, como con la fuerza intelectual e interior en una síntesis de todo el saber cuando la sociedad amenaza con disgregarse por la prevalencia de la “barbarie de la reflexión”., This paper inquiries into the Viquian doctrine of heroism, from De mente heroica to Scienza nuova. The author explores the double role played by heroism and the hero, expressed, on the one hand, by physical strength, from the “barbarism of meaning”, in the historical foundation of society and the reconstructions of the nations; and, on the other hand, by the intellectual and inner strength, in a synthesis of whole knowledge when society threatens with breaking up because of the prevalence of the “barbarism of reflection”.

Este artículo indaga la doctrina viquiana del heroísmo, desde el De mente heroica hasta la Scienza nuova. El autor indaga el doble papel del heroísmo y del héroe expresado tanto con la fuerza física, a partir de la “barbarie del sentido”, en la fundación histó- rica de la sociedad y en la reconstrucción de las naciones, como con la fuerza intelectual e interior en una síntesis de todo el saber cuando la sociedad amenaza con disgregarse por la prevalencia de la “barbarie de la reflexión”., This paper inquiries into the Viquian doctrine of heroism, from De mente heroica to Scienza nuova. The author explores the double role played by heroism and the hero, expressed, on the one hand, by physical strength, from the “barbarism of meaning”, in the historical foundation of society and the reconstructions of the nations; and, on the other hand, by the intellectual and inner strength, in a synthesis of whole knowledge when society threatens with breaking up because of the prevalence of the “barbarism of reflection”.

La scomparsa di Martino Capucci (Massa Lombarda, 19 maggio 1926–Modena, 29 marzo 2013), per lunghi anni membro autorevole dell’Istituto di Filologia Moderna dell’Università di Bologna (di cui per un triennio fu pure Direttore), indi del Dipartimento di Italianistica, ma soprattutto figura di grande rilievo nella comunità degli studiosi di letteratura italiana, ha mosso in quanti lo conobbero e gli furono compagni di lavoro il desiderio di ricordarlo tempestivamente. A tale scopo, il 28 novembre 2013 si è tenuto, nell’Aula Pascoli del neonato Dipartimento di Filologia classica e Italianistica dell’Ateneo bolognese, un convegno in suo ricordo, col titolo «Il contributo di Martino Capucci alla storiografia letteraria e culturale italiana». Ad esso hanno preso parte, oltre ai rappresentanti istituzionali ed ai familiari del commemorato, gli otto studiosi che più di ogni altro affiancarono Capucci nei singoli settori della sua operosità scientifica, e che hanno appunto riferito ciascuno dell’area disciplinare in cui lo ebbero collega e più spesso maestro.

La scomparsa di Martino Capucci (Massa Lombarda, 19 maggio 1926–Modena, 29 marzo 2013), per lunghi anni membro autorevole dell’Istituto di Filologia Moderna dell’Università di Bologna (di cui per un triennio fu pure Direttore), indi del Dipartimento di Italianistica, ma soprattutto figura di grande rilievo nella comunità degli studiosi di letteratura italiana, ha mosso in quanti lo conobbero e gli furono compagni di lavoro il desiderio di ricordarlo tempestivamente. A tale scopo, il 28 novembre 2013 si è tenuto, nell’Aula Pascoli del neonato Dipartimento di Filologia classica e Italianistica dell’Ateneo bolognese, un convegno in suo ricordo, col titolo «Il contributo di Martino Capucci alla storiografia letteraria e culturale italiana». Ad esso hanno preso parte, oltre ai rappresentanti istituzionali ed ai familiari del commemorato, gli otto studiosi che più di ogni altro affiancarono Capucci nei singoli settori della sua operosità scientifica, e che hanno appunto riferito ciascuno dell’area disciplinare in cui lo ebbero collega e più spesso maestro.

Cet extrait (le début du projet) peut être essentiellement considéré comme un travail de synthèse, de traduction et d’argumentation concernant un des textes de référence parmi les plus importants au sujet de la littérature picaresque : “La literatura picaresca desde la historia social” écrit par Jose Antonio Maravall. Mon but en développant ce projet était de me focaliser sur les idées principales contenues dans ce volume et en particulier sur la relation existante entre la littérature picaresque et le concept de ville, en termes urbanistiques. Je tiens à souligner le fait que ce travail a été longuement approfondi dans mes nombreuses activités d’étude et de recherche et en me référant, volontairement, au texte lui-même. La raison fondamentale de mon désir de rester près du texte se justifie par le fait que je venais de commence ce qui seraient mes futures activités de recherche de doctorat. J’ai utilisé ces idées à propos de la littérature picaresque, idées qui sont aujourd’hui universellement acceptées, afin de m’orienter moi-même dans ce genre littéraire. Les autres idées que j’ai étudiées et décrites au cours de mes activités de recherche successives sont plus personnelles, car j’avais eu l’occasion de les analyser auparavant. Ce travail n’inclut pas seulement des activités de recherche , mais il s’est agi aussi d’un projet de traduction puisque j’ai dû traduire de l’espagnol(texte original) en italien, pour ensuite concevoir et puis rédiger ma synthèse et mon argumentation en langue française. En conclusion, je peux affirmer que j’ai été capable de construire de solides bases pour élaborer et planifier ma thèse de Doctorat, avec les typiques thèmes de la littérature picaresque, pour exemple la recherche de la nourriture dans la ville., This abstract (the beginning of this project) can be essentially considered too a work of synthesis, translation and argumentation regarding one of the most important referential texts of the picaresque literature: “La literatura picaresca desde la historia social” written by Jose Antonio Maravall. My goal in the development of this project was to focus on the principal ideas contained in this volume and specifically on the existent correlation between the picaresque literature and the concept of city, in terms of urban surrounding. I would like to underline the fact that this work was strongly developed around my various study and research activities based on the text itself. The basic reason for my attachment to the text is that I am just beginning what will be my future research activity. I used these ideas regarding picaresque literature, which today are viewed as being universally acceptable, in order to orient myself in this literary genre. The other ideas which I analyze and describe in my following doctorate projects are more personal, especially because I had the opportunity to study them beforehand. This work did not only include research activity, but it was sometimes a translation project as well since I has to translate it from Spanish (the original text) to Italian, in order to then develop the synthesis and argumentation in the French language. In conclusion I can state that I was able to construct a solid base to shape and plan my Doctorate thesis with the habitually themes of picaresque literature, for example the need of to find the food on the city.

Cet extrait (le début du projet) peut être essentiellement considéré comme un travail de synthèse, de traduction et d’argumentation concernant un des textes de référence parmi les plus importants au sujet de la littérature picaresque : “La literatura picaresca desde la historia social” écrit par Jose Antonio Maravall. Mon but en développant ce projet était de me focaliser sur les idées principales contenues dans ce volume et en particulier sur la relation existante entre la littérature picaresque et le concept de ville, en termes urbanistiques. Je tiens à souligner le fait que ce travail a été longuement approfondi dans mes nombreuses activités d’étude et de recherche et en me référant, volontairement, au texte lui-même. La raison fondamentale de mon désir de rester près du texte se justifie par le fait que je venais de commence ce qui seraient mes futures activités de recherche de doctorat. J’ai utilisé ces idées à propos de la littérature picaresque, idées qui sont aujourd’hui universellement acceptées, afin de m’orienter moi-même dans ce genre littéraire. Les autres idées que j’ai étudiées et décrites au cours de mes activités de recherche successives sont plus personnelles, car j’avais eu l’occasion de les analyser auparavant. Ce travail n’inclut pas seulement des activités de recherche , mais il s’est agi aussi d’un projet de traduction puisque j’ai dû traduire de l’espagnol(texte original) en italien, pour ensuite concevoir et puis rédiger ma synthèse et mon argumentation en langue française. En conclusion, je peux affirmer que j’ai été capable de construire de solides bases pour élaborer et planifier ma thèse de Doctorat, avec les typiques thèmes de la littérature picaresque, pour exemple la recherche de la nourriture dans la ville., This abstract (the beginning of this project) can be essentially considered too a work of synthesis, translation and argumentation regarding one of the most important referential texts of the picaresque literature: “La literatura picaresca desde la historia social” written by Jose Antonio Maravall. My goal in the development of this project was to focus on the principal ideas contained in this volume and specifically on the existent correlation between the picaresque literature and the concept of city, in terms of urban surrounding. I would like to underline the fact that this work was strongly developed around my various study and research activities based on the text itself. The basic reason for my attachment to the text is that I am just beginning what will be my future research activity. I used these ideas regarding picaresque literature, which today are viewed as being universally acceptable, in order to orient myself in this literary genre. The other ideas which I analyze and describe in my following doctorate projects are more personal, especially because I had the opportunity to study them beforehand. This work did not only include research activity, but it was sometimes a translation project as well since I has to translate it from Spanish (the original text) to Italian, in order to then develop the synthesis and argumentation in the French language. In conclusion I can state that I was able to construct a solid base to shape and plan my Doctorate thesis with the habitually themes of picaresque literature, for example the need of to find the food on the city.

Cette thèse se propose d’analyser les images de la nuit et ses significations dans les romans du XVIII siècle, à partir des années 1730-1740, dans le cadre de trois littératures: la littérature anglaise, française et italienne. Deux conceptions opposées sont mises en comparaison: la première, d’exorcisation de la nuit, est typique de la première partie du siècle; elle est représentée principalement par le genre des romans libertins. La deuxième conception montre une valorisation de la nuit qu’on trouve en particulier dans les romans gothiques, qui se sont développés à partir de la seconde partie du siècle. Le but final de la présente recherche est de trouver une explication au refus de la nuit de la part de certains auteurs et ensuite de repérer les causes du bouleversement de cette vision. Puisque la nuit empêche le sens de la vue, elle a été considérée une forme de négation de l’espace physique; selon le profil psychologique et anthropologique la nuit constituerait alors la cause principale de la perte d’orientation. Selon une interprétation intellectuelle et philosophique, elle serait un symbole d’ignorance et d’irrationalité. La situation change vers la moitié du siècle des Lumières, car la nuit commence à assumer un rôle actif et nécessaire dans le processus d’apprentissage. Au niveau social, les rencontres les plus importantes adviennent pendant la nuit. Dans le revival des cathédrales gothiques et des châteaux médiévaux, on voit que la nuit s’empare désormais de l’espace, qui s’enrichit de lumières et d’ombres., This thesis has the purpose to analyze the images of the night and its meanings in the novels of the 18th century, from 1730-1740, in the ambit of three literatures: the English, the French and the Italian literature. Two opposite conceptions are compared: the first, to exorcise the night, is typical in the first half of the century and it is represented mainly by libertine novels. The second shows a valorisation of the night that can be found above all in the gothic novels that belong to the second part of the century. The final objective of the following research is to find an explanation to the rejection of the night by some authors and therefore to retrieve the causes of the change of vision. Since the night impedes sight, it has been considered a negation of space; according to the psychological and anthropological profile night would then be the main cause of the loss of orientation. Finally, according to an intellectual interpretation, it would be a sign of ignorance. The situation changes when the night starts to assume an active and necessary role in the learning process. In the literary fiction, the most important encounters happen at night. In the revival of the gothic cathedrals and the medieval castles, it is evident how the night takes possession of the space that is enriched with lights and shades.

Cette thèse se propose d’analyser les images de la nuit et ses significations dans les romans du XVIII siècle, à partir des années 1730-1740, dans le cadre de trois littératures: la littérature anglaise, française et italienne. Deux conceptions opposées sont mises en comparaison: la première, d’exorcisation de la nuit, est typique de la première partie du siècle; elle est représentée principalement par le genre des romans libertins. La deuxième conception montre une valorisation de la nuit qu’on trouve en particulier dans les romans gothiques, qui se sont développés à partir de la seconde partie du siècle. Le but final de la présente recherche est de trouver une explication au refus de la nuit de la part de certains auteurs et ensuite de repérer les causes du bouleversement de cette vision. Puisque la nuit empêche le sens de la vue, elle a été considérée une forme de négation de l’espace physique; selon le profil psychologique et anthropologique la nuit constituerait alors la cause principale de la perte d’orientation. Selon une interprétation intellectuelle et philosophique, elle serait un symbole d’ignorance et d’irrationalité. La situation change vers la moitié du siècle des Lumières, car la nuit commence à assumer un rôle actif et nécessaire dans le processus d’apprentissage. Au niveau social, les rencontres les plus importantes adviennent pendant la nuit. Dans le revival des cathédrales gothiques et des châteaux médiévaux, on voit que la nuit s’empare désormais de l’espace, qui s’enrichit de lumières et d’ombres., This thesis has the purpose to analyze the images of the night and its meanings in the novels of the 18th century, from 1730-1740, in the ambit of three literatures: the English, the French and the Italian literature. Two opposite conceptions are compared: the first, to exorcise the night, is typical in the first half of the century and it is represented mainly by libertine novels. The second shows a valorisation of the night that can be found above all in the gothic novels that belong to the second part of the century. The final objective of the following research is to find an explanation to the rejection of the night by some authors and therefore to retrieve the causes of the change of vision. Since the night impedes sight, it has been considered a negation of space; according to the psychological and anthropological profile night would then be the main cause of the loss of orientation. Finally, according to an intellectual interpretation, it would be a sign of ignorance. The situation changes when the night starts to assume an active and necessary role in the learning process. In the literary fiction, the most important encounters happen at night. In the revival of the gothic cathedrals and the medieval castles, it is evident how the night takes possession of the space that is enriched with lights and shades.

Starting from an original assumption that Ovid is one of the most influential and studied European mythographers from ancient times till at least the end of the XVII century, my research is about rediscovering Medusa's myth which has been brought to us from Metamorphosis during the period of time between the mid XVI and the last years of the XVII century. The main thread that leads the research trough English, French, Spanish and Italian Literatures gets particularly clarified in the crucial crux that binds the image of Gorgon, the protector of hight mysteries, tightly correlated to the goddess of knowledge, Minerva, and the attraction/dismay for knowing so far considered inaccessible but now perceived as possible (so more attractive than before) thanks to the scientific and geographic discoveries of the Renaissance.

Starting from an original assumption that Ovid is one of the most influential and studied European mythographers from ancient times till at least the end of the XVII century, my research is about rediscovering Medusa's myth which has been brought to us from Metamorphosis during the period of time between the mid XVI and the last years of the XVII century. The main thread that leads the research trough English, French, Spanish and Italian Literatures gets particularly clarified in the crucial crux that binds the image of Gorgon, the protector of hight mysteries, tightly correlated to the goddess of knowledge, Minerva, and the attraction/dismay for knowing so far considered inaccessible but now perceived as possible (so more attractive than before) thanks to the scientific and geographic discoveries of the Renaissance.

Si esaminano le strategie narrative e retoriche messe in atto dall'autore per costruire un ideal tipo di uomo risorgimentale.

Meditando anche sugli scritti teorici di Pirandello, si pronone una rilettura dei "Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore" come opera paradigmatica della riforma drammaturgica introdotta da Pirandello rispetto agli schemi usurati, illustrativi, del teatro verista e borghese, contro cui egli oppone il suo teatro dialettico. Si segnalano, fra l'altro, singolari coincidenze tra la poetica pirandelliana e la filosofia di Platone.