Print this page Italian Classics: Boccaccio, Basile and Straparola

Boccaccio, Basile and Straparola created some of the most influential works in Italian literary history. This course explores The Decameron, The Tale of Tales and Pleasant Nights, showing how these writers helped shape storytelling traditions across centuries. You’ll look at the rise of print culture, the enduring appeal of framed storytelling, and the early versions of fairy tales that still echo in popular culture today. A rich course for readers interested in Renaissance literature, folklore and the long life of stories.

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face

COURSE OUTLINE

• The printing press and its cultural impact.
• Use of the frame story.

For each writer: 

• Biography
• Cultural context
• Plot of their greatest works
• Writing characteristics
• Legacy

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Outline the biographies of Giovanni Boccaccio, Giambattista Basile, and Gianfrancesco Straparola.
• Name examples of frame stories
• Describe the plots of their most significant works
• Discuss the context and significance of those books, and their part in the evolution of European literature, particularly fairy tales.

COURSE RESOURCES

• The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio
• The Tale of Tales (aka The Pentamerone; or Entertainment for Little Ones) by Giambattista Basile.
• Pleasant (or Facetious) Nights by Gianfrancesco Straparola.