Periodic Reporting for period 2 - InProV (An inventory of the prosimetra in vulgar tongue in the early centuries of Italian Literature (1250-1500))
Reporting period: 2021-09-02 to 2022-09-01
Although well-known Italian works, from Dante’s 'Vita Nova' to Boccaccio’s 'Comedia delle Ninfe fiorentine' as well as to Sannazaro’s 'Arcadia' and Bembo’s 'Asolani', are commonly defined as prosimetra, only recently this literary typology combining prose and verse appears to have gained the critics’ attention as a specific form on its own account. Yet a thorough investigation of this phenomenon has not hitherto been attempted. The main objective of the InProV project is to fill this gap by mapping the tradition of the vernacular prosimetra written in the early centuries of Italian literature and providing an inventory of all such texts. This inventory will allow scholars to gain a deeper understanding of the main features of the prosimetric form, which, during the early periods of Italian literature, provided a valid alternative to works composed solely in prose or verse. Additionally, it will be possible in future to update the inventory in accordance with potential new outcomes of further research in this field.
The creation of the inventory encompassed specific facets including the formulation of a comprehensive definition of 'prosimetrum'; the compilation of a list of the prosimetra composed between ca. 1250 and 1500; the establishment of a standardized format for the examination of each text; the systematic analysis of all the prosimetra in accordance with the established format; and finally, the development of a website for the publication of the inventory.
At the end of this research project, I can confidently say that the majority of the set objectives have been effectively achieved. The website www.unive.it/inprov has been created and made accessible since last March. In addition to presenting the entire project, the homepage illustrates the definition of 'prosimetrum' which was adopted for creating the inventory, as well as the problems encountered during the research. The core section is represented by the inventory itself, which provides a detailed analysis of most of the texts included in it according to a predetermined format. Due to the complexity of the task, requiring extensive bibliographic research, the examination of all the prosimetra (more than thirty in total) is not yet completed; however, the website will continue to be updated through the uploading of the missing analyses.
The creation of the inventory encompassed specific facets including the formulation of a comprehensive definition of 'prosimetrum'; the compilation of a list of the prosimetra composed between ca. 1250 and 1500; the establishment of a standardized format for the examination of each text; the systematic analysis of all the prosimetra in accordance with the established format; and finally, the development of a website for the publication of the inventory.
At the end of this research project, I can confidently say that the majority of the set objectives have been effectively achieved. The website www.unive.it/inprov has been created and made accessible since last March. In addition to presenting the entire project, the homepage illustrates the definition of 'prosimetrum' which was adopted for creating the inventory, as well as the problems encountered during the research. The core section is represented by the inventory itself, which provides a detailed analysis of most of the texts included in it according to a predetermined format. Due to the complexity of the task, requiring extensive bibliographic research, the examination of all the prosimetra (more than thirty in total) is not yet completed; however, the website will continue to be updated through the uploading of the missing analyses.
In the first six months of the research project, theoretical exploration of 'prosimetrum' typology revealed the inadequacy of the existing definitions found in both ancient and modern treatises. A comprehensive definition was later formulated to encompass medieval and early Renaissance works in which the use of prose and verse corresponds to an organic project of their authors. A list of prosimetra, comprising more than thirty works, was drawn; a few of them were treated as peculiar cases due to different factors such as incomplete compositions, ambiguous prose-verse boundaries, or a lack of organic cohesion.
A standardized format was established for the examination of all the prosimetra, and tested during the outgoing phase. The final format includes: author's biography, title, textual tradition, period of composition, content and structure, genre classification, list of poems, prose and verse analysis, interactions of the two components, references to author's poetics, and comprehensive bibliography.
The organisation of the project's website was initially delayed due to the need for substantial material. The website (www.unive.it/inprov) now accessible, is formed of five sections including an introduction to the project, events, partners, contacts, and the core inventory list. The website can be easily updated, and the missing analyses have been uploaded progressively as soon as they have been completed. The general introduction contains an overview of the project, explaining the challenges encountered during the research as well as illustrating the definition of ‘prosimetrum’ and the methodology adopted in the creation of the inventory.
As far as the research results and their exploitation and dissemination are concerned, I participated in 3 conferences; in one of them I also organised and chaired a panel. In addition, I myself organised a two-day international conference, which was held at Ca' Foscari University of Venice in the final year. One of the delivered papers was included in 1 peer reviewed publication. I am now working on 3 more peer reviewed publications including the edition of the proceedings of the international conference which I organised, the critical edition of one of the prosimetra included in the inventory, and a monograph synthesizing the extensive material provided on the project’s website. In order to amplify my research's visibility, I also took part in a couple of interviews which appeared on the websites of both the partner and host organisations. Moreover, in September 2021 I was invited to talk about my project by Radio Ca' Foscari as part of the European Researchers' Night.
A standardized format was established for the examination of all the prosimetra, and tested during the outgoing phase. The final format includes: author's biography, title, textual tradition, period of composition, content and structure, genre classification, list of poems, prose and verse analysis, interactions of the two components, references to author's poetics, and comprehensive bibliography.
The organisation of the project's website was initially delayed due to the need for substantial material. The website (www.unive.it/inprov) now accessible, is formed of five sections including an introduction to the project, events, partners, contacts, and the core inventory list. The website can be easily updated, and the missing analyses have been uploaded progressively as soon as they have been completed. The general introduction contains an overview of the project, explaining the challenges encountered during the research as well as illustrating the definition of ‘prosimetrum’ and the methodology adopted in the creation of the inventory.
As far as the research results and their exploitation and dissemination are concerned, I participated in 3 conferences; in one of them I also organised and chaired a panel. In addition, I myself organised a two-day international conference, which was held at Ca' Foscari University of Venice in the final year. One of the delivered papers was included in 1 peer reviewed publication. I am now working on 3 more peer reviewed publications including the edition of the proceedings of the international conference which I organised, the critical edition of one of the prosimetra included in the inventory, and a monograph synthesizing the extensive material provided on the project’s website. In order to amplify my research's visibility, I also took part in a couple of interviews which appeared on the websites of both the partner and host organisations. Moreover, in September 2021 I was invited to talk about my project by Radio Ca' Foscari as part of the European Researchers' Night.
The project represents an important contribution to the field of Italian Literature as it provides in-depth knowledge on the rich tradition of vernacular prosimetra, a topic that has hitherto lacked comprehensive scrutiny in the field of Italian studies. Through the examination of the particular ways in which poetry and prose interact in these works, the inventory serves as an indispensable resource for acquiring a profound understanding of the distinctive features inherent to this hybrid literary typology. The prosimetric tradition – we must emphasize – has played a pivotal and yet somewhat overlooked role in shaping the course of Italian literary history.
On a professional note, the InProV project has undoubtedly enhanced my profile as a scholar in early Italian literature. Spending the outgoing phase at the prestigious University of Notre Dame, participating in Italian and international conferences, as well as organizing a two-day international conference at the host organisation, have provided fantastic opportunities for disseminating the research findings and kindling interest in the under-explored tradition of vernacular prosimetra. Moreover, these encounters have added depth to my academic work and nurtured stronger connections with fellow scholars in the field. Looking ahead to concrete career opportunities, this action has opened up new avenues that I am actively exploring, such as pursuing academic and ministerial grants. While obtaining them is undoubtedly a challenging endeavour, I am confident that the experience and expertise acquired through the InProV project will serve as a valuable asset in this fiercely competitive pursuit.
On a professional note, the InProV project has undoubtedly enhanced my profile as a scholar in early Italian literature. Spending the outgoing phase at the prestigious University of Notre Dame, participating in Italian and international conferences, as well as organizing a two-day international conference at the host organisation, have provided fantastic opportunities for disseminating the research findings and kindling interest in the under-explored tradition of vernacular prosimetra. Moreover, these encounters have added depth to my academic work and nurtured stronger connections with fellow scholars in the field. Looking ahead to concrete career opportunities, this action has opened up new avenues that I am actively exploring, such as pursuing academic and ministerial grants. While obtaining them is undoubtedly a challenging endeavour, I am confident that the experience and expertise acquired through the InProV project will serve as a valuable asset in this fiercely competitive pursuit.