La Vita Nuova Glossary

La Vita Nuova Glossary

Fortuitous

Happening by chance, without intervention of the will or without apparent reason.

Asperity

Harshness, acidic, severity

Cloistered

Retiring, secluded

Intrinsic

Inseparable, permanent

Arbitrary

Irrational, groundless, whimsical

Debased

Sinful, corrupt

Sonorous

Full toned, resonant

Odoriferous

Having an unpleasant smell

Sanctity

Piety, devotion

Depravity

Corruption, immorality, dissolution

Benevolence

Good disposition towards a person, affectionate sympathy; It is understood as 'friendship love' between God, who bestows sanctifying grace, and man, who performs the act of charity towards God. It is bestowed by Beatrice, who is the intermediary between God and man.

Transfiguration

The act of transfiguring, of being transfigured; change of figure or appearance or expression; it is Dante who changes, becoming another man thanks to Love.

Mockery

Hoax; it translates the italian word 'gabbo', referring to an episode in courtly literature in which the poet is mocked and the effects of this mockery are physical as well as moral.

Canzone

The oldest metrical form of art lyric in Italian literature. It originated from the Provençal cansó and underwent various modifications over time until the Stilnovists and Petrarch. It was accompanied by music. Dante called it "the highest form of vernacular poetry."

Ballad

is a poetic composition of folk origin, connected with song and dance. It has a specific metrical and representational pattern.

Sonnet

Metrical composition of lyrical character, consisting of 14 lines distributed in 2 quatrains and 2 triplets, with rhymes arranged in precise patterns.

Gracious

Showing grace toward others, hence benevolent, benevolent; it is referred to Beatrice's greeting, which performs the miracle of bringing bliss to those who receive it.

Update this section!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this section.

Update this section

After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.

Cite this page