Ugo Foscolo: Clasicism as Lyrism

Abstract

The purpose of my study is to propose a selective reading of Ugo Foscolo poetry in the light of the classical tradition. My analysis is directed to the exegesis of his best-known sonnets, Dei sepolcri, and the incomplete work, Le Grazie, while I have only marginally evaluated the ode All’amica risanata. I do not in any way claim to draw up a comprehensive compilation of all classic loans that cropped up, both linguistically and thematically, since the very first reading. I have tried, however, to build a path that realize the cultural significance of the classicistic option of the poet, pointing with punctuality the incidence of the Latin (especially Virgil, Catullus, Lucretius) and the Greek world (mostly Homer) in Foscolo poetry highlighting as in no case it is a mechanic, rhetoric and ornamental retake. I have finally promoted a hermeneutical proposal that tries to read the classicism of Foscolo as the result of his lyrical intent.