Concept map on Alessandro Manzoni: scheme on the biography, the works and the main themes of Manzoni’s thought.
Alessandro Manzoni: life
Alessandro Manzoni (download the CONCEPTUAL MAP here ) is one of the most important exponents of Italian Romanticism . Born in Milan in 1785, Alessandro Manzoni is the author of one of the cornerstones of Italian literature: the historical novel I Promessi Sposi . His life in brief:
- Alessandro Manzoni was born in Milan in 1785
- In 1805 he moved to Paris
- In 1808 he married Enrichetta Blondel and converted to Jansenism, a current of Catholicism that believed in the a priori corruption of man.
- In 1820 he returned to Milan, where he died in 1873
Alessandro Manzoni: works
Among the main works of Alessandro Manzoni , we find:
- Sacred Hymns and Odes
A collection in which his conversion to Jansenism is evident. The work was supposed to be composed of a series of twelve components dedicated to the festivities of the liturgical year. In reality, Manzoni stopped at five. - The Count of Carmagnola
The Count of Carmagnola is the first tragedy written by Alessandro Manzoni, in the period between 1816 and 1820 which, immediately after its publication, was received critically ( here you can find the analysis of The Count of Carmagnola and Adelchi ). - Odi civili
Collection of poetic compositions on political and patriotic themes. The best known are Marzo 1821 (Manzoni entrusts this composition with the hope of seeing the city of Milan freed from Austrian oppression) and Cinque Maggio , dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte and written after his death. - Adelchi
A tragedy whose protagonist is Adelchi, prince son of the last king of the Lombards engaged in the battle against Charlemagne . - The Betrothed
The Betrothed is a historical novel written by Manzoni between 1821 and 1823, and whose publication went through two different editions: the one in 1827 – called the ventisettana – and the definitive one in 1840, called the quarantana.
Alessandro Manzoni: Thought
In Alessandro Manzoni’s poetics we find many of the ideas that were circulating in that era, interpreted however through the author’s point of view. The Enlightenment , for example, is one of the most important themes of Manzoni’s thought and derives from his education. History is another cornerstone of his thought: despite his historical pessimism, for Manzoni history does not lose its meaning. Manzoni is also influenced by Romanticism in its Italian sense: he rejects the irrationality and sentimentalism of the European type and embraces, instead, art as a representation of truth .
Alessandro Manzoni: Characteristics
The peculiarities of Alessandro Manzoni’s style are:
- Art as a representation of truth;
- The use of a simple language: not a lofty language but accessible to all, popular and straightforward;
- Art as a tool for the moral elevation of the people.
