Italian Literature Essays Examples For College & High School Students in PDF

115 total results

An Examination of the Reasons Why Dante Alighieri Put Odysseus in Hell (2981 words, 9 pages)

The story of The Odyssey translates through the Greek and Medieval civilizations. In the Greek civilization Odysseus is seen as a hero, because of his bravery and sharp intellect. One of the Greek morals that Odysseus represent is peace because he was against the Trojan War. In Christian Medieval Europe ... Read More

Light and Darkness in The Divine Comedy, a Poem by Dante Alighieri (414 words, 2 pages)

The glory of Him who moves all things penetrates the universe and shines in one part more and in another less (Dante, 1990). The text is an excerpt from Dantes third book, Paradiso, which is the last book in his epic poem Divine Comedy. Dante Allegri was born in 1265 ... Read More

The Journey of Transformation in the Literary Works of Dante Alighieri and Saint Augustine (848 words, 2 pages)

Long EssayThe journey of Dante vs. AugustineThe journey of transformation is what makes a story interesting and memorable. Throughout a story, and life itself, characters and people transform, whether it is physical, emotional, or mental. Within the texts of Augustine and Dante, the protagonists experience great journeys that change them ... Read More

An Argument Against the Greater Capacity for God than Others in Canto III in Divine Comedy, a Poem by Dante Alighieri (429 words, 1 pages)

In Canto III of Paradise, Dante and Beatrice enter the Sphere of the Moon, which is the lowest levelsphere in all of Heaven. Like the rest of the levels in Heaven, the souls do not actually live here they just manifest themselves here for Dantes purpose. He turns to one ... Read More

A Review of Survival in Auschwitz, a Book by Primo Levi (1817 words, 5 pages)

In Primo Levis Survival in Auschwitz, times of pain are commonly associated with times of relief in his life, portraying the idea that being injured or ill is more humane than the conditions of their everyday lives. Levi and other prisoners at Auschwitz were treated like animals, living in conditions ... Read More

The Unique View on Faith in The Divine Comedy, a Poem by Dante Alighieri (7200 words, 18 pages)

Faith in The Divine ComedyDante Alighieri, the famous 13 century poet, earned his spot as one of the greatest writers ever largely due to his most known work, The Divine Comedy. One of the most notable features of the Comedy is Dantes use of himself and countless historical, literary and ... Read More

Staying Alive with Hope and Unity in Survival in Auschwitz, a Book by Primo Levi (796 words, 3 pages)

Hunger. Coldness. Abuse. Conditions of negative extremes we had reached the bottom. It is not possible to sink lower than this no human condition is more miserable than this (Levi 26). Despair. Hopelessness. Yet, the human spirit can be abundant with resilience and endurance. Primo Levis Survival in Auschwitz exposes ... Read More

Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy Should Not Be Referenced to the Catholic Religion (881 words, 3 pages)

Dantes Divine Comedy is not a true example to the catholic faith. It should not be recognized as a theologically written book, but rather a fictional book that uses Catholic Christianity and Political biased views to give the author his worldunderworld. If I was going to say though that what ... Read More

The Guardians of the Universe in Inferno in the Divine Comedy, a Book by Dante Alighieri (1026 words, 3 pages)

The Guardians of the UniverseDantes great epic poem is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature and is seen as one of the very greatest works of world literature, largely because Dante has deftly incorporated some of the most astonishing intricate and alarming tortures anyone has ever constructed in ... Read More

An Analysis of Canto XXVII From Dante Alighieri’s Inferno (344 words, 1 pages)

In Canto XXVII, Dante meets the spirit of Guido de Montrefeltro. As many spirits before him Montrefeltro tries to clear his name with Dante. Montrefeltro tries to show Dante he was innocent of his sin of evil counseling by telling he attempted to become a Franciscan Friar. In line 65 ... Read More

Political Success in The Prince and Discourses on Livy by Niccolo Machiavelli (1691 words, 6 pages)

For Niccolo Machiavelli, political success is the ultimate goal. In both his works, The Prince and Discourses On Livy, a stable and effective government that serves its people embodies this success. The Prince is written to advise monarchs how to be the most powerful leader in all situations that he ... Read More

An Outline of the Sections of Hell in Dante Alighieri’s Inferno (1340 words, 8 pages)

Limbo is the eternal waiting place. Its residents are those who were not baptized at birth or born before Christs own birth. Thus, this is also where poets like Virgil, Dantes guide, and Homer reside. Their punishment is to feel the ache of the absence of Gods love forever as ... Read More

Dante’s Path of Recovery in Dante’s Inferno by Dante Alghieri (1824 words, 6 pages)

Dantes InfernoMidway through life, Dante finds himself lost. He is stuck in between choosing the pathway of immediate downfall or painful recovery. He is given a choice. If he chooses, he can sit in the middle of a dark, hopeless forest where death is imminent. Or he can take a ... Read More

The Relevance of the World’s Views on Sin and the Issues in Dante’s Inferno (377 words, 2 pages)

Dantes Inferno and his story of the trip through hell are very relevant to the worlds views on sins. There are many issues in The Divine Comedy that are as significant today as they were when Dante wrote. Although some views the story talks about are not common to everyone, ... Read More

An Analysis of the Chapters 17 and 18 from Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince (889 words, 3 pages)

Niccol Machiavelli emerged during a period of panic and insecurity throughout the Italian Peninsula. There was no unification and Machiavelli watched on as city-state after city-state battled each other. Peasants were being destroyed by taxes, resulting in the inability to feed their families. This led to a resentment toward the ... Read More

The Concepts of Opus Dei, Priory of Sion and the Sacred Feminine in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code (378 words, 1 pages)

There are large aspects of The Da Vinci Code and Dan Browns perception of Christianity that are largely considered historically inaccurate. There are also parts that boosted the story line and are proven to be truthful, as well as relevant to the modern world.Most novels, especially mystery novels, cannot be ... Read More

The Controversy of Machiavelli’s Ideas Presented in The Prince (304 words, 1 pages)

Journal 13- The Prince by MachiavelliIn The Prince, Machiavelli presents methods that theoretically seem like the perfect way to rule a kingdom, but his plans are easier said than done. An example of this is seen when he says, consider not only present but also future discords and diligently guard ... Read More

Machiavelli’s The Prince and Christine de Pizan’s The Book of the City of Ladies: A Good Ruler vs. a Good Person (1237 words, 4 pages)

A Good Ruler vs. A Good PersonBoth Machiavelli and Christine de Pizan are trying to construct a society in their works, but each author takes a completely different approach towards this task. The Prince by Machiavelli discusses the skills that are necessary to become an all-powerful ruler and focuses on ... Read More

A Review of The Decameron, a Book by Giovanni Boccaccio (1164 words, 4 pages)

In The Decameron, Boccaccio plays around with different levels of human virtue as he puts characters into some very strange and creative scenarios. In Day 8 Story 7 we see the Widow make a complete fool out of the Scholar. In the end he conducts a very extensive act of ... Read More

The Concepts of Virtu and Fortuna in Machiavelli’s The Prince (367 words, 1 pages)

Virtu and fortuna are two concepts discussed multiple times throughout The Prince. However, Machiavelli does not use them in their traditional translations of virtue and wealth. Virtu relates to control, the ability to inflict your will onto others, doing whatever is necessary for success, rather than any sort of moral ... Read More

Ciro’s Experience on the Ellis Island in Adriana Trigiani’s The Shoemaker’s Wife (1269 words, 5 pages)

Ellis Island served as a hub for incoming immigrants to the United States. Ellis Island saw immigrants from all walks of life from around the world. The wealthiest immigrants to the poorest peasants came to America. Immigrants fled their countries for different reasons, such as fleeing religious persecution or to ... Read More

The Use of Character Contrast in Six Characters in Search of an Author, a Play by Luigi Pirandello (498 words, 2 pages)

Six Characters in Search of an Author, a play within a play, by Luigi Pirandello is about the idea that anyone can be an actor and anyone can be a character. These actors and characters are separated by distinct qualities one being realistic and the other being fictional, in order ... Read More

A Review of Six Characters in Search of an Author, a Play by Luigi Pirandello (506 words, 2 pages)

Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello, is a comedy that oversteps simplicity and monotony. Pirandello plays with theatrical assemblage, which consequently it allows us to explore in depth his work. Pirandello gives us the loneliness of the individual, the fragility of the human personality, and the ... Read More

A Short Analysis of an Allusion in Dante’s Inferno (294 words, 1 pages)

Allusionan expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it exactly an indirect or passing reference.ExampleSio credesse che mia risposta fosse... the epigraph FunctionThe epigraph to this poem is a sex line quotation from Dantes Inferno. the epigraph, unfortunately, is not translated to english in this poem that Eliot ... Read More

An Analysis of the Novel Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino (1665 words, 5 pages)

Memories of a Paradoxical ExplorerItalo Calvino was an Italian journalist and writer of short stories and novels. During World War II, Calvino refused to go to the military and went into hiding. During this time, he tried to embrace all of the terrible traumas that were taking place. In 1972, ... Read More

The Case of Principality in The Prince, a Book by Niccolo Machiavelli (2035 words, 6 pages)

In The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, there are details and guidelines that are intended to satirize how a prince should structure their principality. In many ways he explains the ways in which a prince shouldnt rule which is a lot different in presentation that writing on how a prince should ... Read More

The Idea of Telling the Truth in First Discourse by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (652 words, 2 pages)

In Rousseaus First Discourse, and in Machiavellis The Prince, there is a shared belief that telling the truth has a circumstantial obligation and some situations require not doing so. Whether it is for the benefit of yourself or others, telling the truth is a decision that must be analyzed for ... Read More

An Analysis of Characters’ Connection in The Decameron, a Book by Giovanni Boccaccio (1341 words, 4 pages)

From a sly monk, to a sarcastic Marchioness, these stories in the Decameron tell different tales yes, but all of them have a thread to connect them all. Each of these stories contain characters who are in dire circumstances or trouble, and each of these characters each use their wits ... Read More

The Concept of Nakedness in The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (533 words, 2 pages)

In his writing, Dante tends to include small hints throughout, to clue the reader into something they may not necessarily pick up without reading the text thoroughly. One detail I have noticed to reappear several times in several cantos is the concept of nakedness. He seems to associate sins with ... Read More

An Argument against the Writing Style of Niccolò Machiavelli (380 words, 2 pages)

From the very beginning of Machiavelli's letter to the Magnificent Lorenzo d Medici, the reader is basically given no choice but to read about a bunch of opinions and biased arguments. In my opinion, Machiavelli does not have the right to be speaking about the entire world of princes and ... Read More

Italian Literature Essay Examples