Original scientific paper
Poetical Philosophy of Frane Petrić and Literary Poetics of the Sixteenth Century
Ljerka Schiffler
; Institut za filozofiju, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The authoress investigates the sources of the poetical philosophy of the Renaissance philosopher Frane Petrić (Franciscus Patritius, Cres, Croatia 1529 -Rome 1597), especially through several separate thematic wholes comprised in Petrić's commentaries, treatises and dialogues belonging to the early period of his work, from 1553 to 1577: a treatise on poetical furors (Discorso della diversita de' furori poetici), an interpretation of Petrarch's sonnet »La gola, e 'I sonno, e I'ociose piume« (Lettura sopra il sonetto del Petrarca »La gola, e 'l sonno, e l'ociose piume«), a commentary of Luca Contile's rhymes (Le rime di Messer Luca Contile ... ), love philosophy (Uamorosa filosofia), a dialogue discussing the kiss (Il Delfino Dvera del bacio).
Analyzing the basic postulates and characteristics of Petrić's theory of poetry and literary criticism, his theory of furor, the phenomenon of poetic talent, the relation between poetry and philosophy, and some aspects of Petrić's philosophy of beauty and love (the philosophical, theological and literary aspects, as well as the psychological and biological ones), the authoress points at the components of his thought that owe a great deal to the rich philosophical and theological heritage, to the Hermetic, classical Greek, medieval Christian thought and, finally, to the correspondence (differences and peculiarities too) between his work and the poeticological and esthetical theories of his time (Torquato Tasso, Giordano Bruno and others), especially the Renaissance Neoplatonism and Petrarchism.
The authoress finally points at the concepts according to which these texts, although not completely original and new, remain important for Petrić's late systematic work concerning poetics (Della Poetica) and also comparable to the literary theories and philosophical thought of the future.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
81875
URI
Publication date:
7.12.1992.
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