Halcyon (book)
Encyclopedia
Halcyon, is the title of a collection of 88 poems by Italian
poet Gabriele d'Annunzio
, written between 1899 and 1903, and published in 1903. It was intended as the third volume of a seven-book work called Laudi del cielo, del mare, della terra e degli eroi (Odes to the sky, to the sea, to the earth and to the heroes) which was subsequently interrupted in 1912 with only four volumes published: Maia, Elettra, Halcyon, and Merope.
cluster. Of these, the first three were published in 1903, while Merope was published in 1912.
D'Annunzio began to write poetry again after an extended hiatus (his last lyrical work, Poema paradisiaco was dated 1893), during which he was leading an eventful life between journeys, political experiences and the newly established sentimental bond with actress Eleonora Duse
. Halcyon is seen by the poet as a radical departure from his previous work, in which he feels he will be writing more freely, abandoning models, forms and characters from the past without giving up to the extremely vast culture that, in fact, springs through Halcyon, going from Ancient Greek
mythology
, Latin
quotations and Italian Renaissance
reminiscences.
.
Its best known poems are perhaps La pioggia nel pineto (Rain in the Pinewood) and La sera fiesolana (Evening in Fiesole
). These two lyrical works are commonly learned in the Liceo as high examples of Decadentist
poetry.
references, sensuality and vivid erotism. Most of its poems are written in a style that privileges alliterations and intricated rhyming schemes, thus making Halcyon extremely difficult to render in translation.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
poet Gabriele d'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio or d'Annunzio was an Italian poet, journalist, novelist, and dramatist...
, written between 1899 and 1903, and published in 1903. It was intended as the third volume of a seven-book work called Laudi del cielo, del mare, della terra e degli eroi (Odes to the sky, to the sea, to the earth and to the heroes) which was subsequently interrupted in 1912 with only four volumes published: Maia, Elettra, Halcyon, and Merope.
Origin
On July 7, 1899 d'Annunzio wrote to his editor Treves about a long and complex lyrical work he was developing. The seven books of the Laudi were named after the stars in the PleiadesPleiades
Pleiades can refer to:Astronomy and science*Pleiades , an open cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus**Pleiades in folklore and literature, interpretations and traditional meanings of the star cluster among various human cultures...
cluster. Of these, the first three were published in 1903, while Merope was published in 1912.
D'Annunzio began to write poetry again after an extended hiatus (his last lyrical work, Poema paradisiaco was dated 1893), during which he was leading an eventful life between journeys, political experiences and the newly established sentimental bond with actress Eleonora Duse
Eleonora Duse
-Life and career:Duse was born in Vigevano, Lombardy, and began acting as a child. Both her father and her grandfather were actors, and she joined the troupe at age four. Due to poverty, she initially worked continually, traveling from city to city with whichever troupe her family was currently...
. Halcyon is seen by the poet as a radical departure from his previous work, in which he feels he will be writing more freely, abandoning models, forms and characters from the past without giving up to the extremely vast culture that, in fact, springs through Halcyon, going from Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
quotations and Italian Renaissance
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
reminiscences.
Structure
Halcyon comprehends 88 poems, ordered by a structural method that does not reflect the chronological order of composition. Between the first ("La tregua"), and the last one ("Il commiato") the ideal of a Summer spent within sentimental joy and poetical accomplishment outlines. The collection is divided into five sections interrupted by four long dithyrambsDithyramb
The dithyramb was an ancient Greek hymn sung and danced in honour of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility; the term was also used as an epithet of the god: Plato, in The Laws, while discussing various kinds of music mentions "the birth of Dionysos, called, I think, the dithyramb." Plato also...
.
Its best known poems are perhaps La pioggia nel pineto (Rain in the Pinewood) and La sera fiesolana (Evening in Fiesole
Fiesole
Fiesole is a town and comune of the province of Florence in the Italian region of Tuscany, on a famously scenic height above Florence, 8 km NE of that city...
). These two lyrical works are commonly learned in the Liceo as high examples of Decadentist
Decadentism
Decadentism was an Italian artistic style based mainly on the Decadent movement in the arts in France and England around the end of the 19th century. The main authors associated with decadentism were Antonio Fogazzaro, Italo Svevo, Giovanni Pascoli and Gabriele D'Annunzio...
poetry.
Style
Halcyon is known for its ClassicalClassical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
references, sensuality and vivid erotism. Most of its poems are written in a style that privileges alliterations and intricated rhyming schemes, thus making Halcyon extremely difficult to render in translation.