Italian Literature has a long and illustrious tradition of originality and transcreation . The Latin traditions were preserved by the scholars even after the decline of the western Roman empire. Though initially rare, the arrival and growth of the vernacular literature happened during this time as evidenced by the Provencal poems of Maestro Ferrari Ferrara, Alberto Malaspina, Cigala of Genoa, Buvarello of Bologna, Zorzi of Venice, Sordello, Nicoletto of Turin, and others. Italy lacked legends, tales, epic poems, and satires, so their literature originally came from foreign sources.
The Sicilian School began in 1230 and the literature showed more uniform attributes . Its linguistic importance ( the creation of the first standard Italian ) is more than its subject. It declined in popularity in the 19 th and early 20 th century. The more important writers of the religious literature of these times were Francis of Assisi and Jacopone da Todi.
The Tuscan tongue more suited to literature was put to ambitious use by the artistic guilds which under their able rule brought on a period of socio-political prosperity. Started by Florence it was quickly taken up by all other Guelph states in Tuscany. The popular love poetry was executed with finesse in the hands of Dante da Majano and his ilk, while satire and socio-political commentary was provided by writers like Cenne della Chitarra, Rustico di Filippo and Folgore da San Gimignano. The oldest known humorist was a contemporary of this place and time, Cecco Angiolieri of Siena. The political poetry was practised with a zest by Guittone d'Arezzo, while ideals of chivalry was modified and enhanced by Guido Guinizelli . Allegorical poems also got its first exponent in Brunetto Latini.
The Italian literature saw a huge surge in growth with the renaissance which was anticipated by the works of Dante Aligheiri, Petrarch, and Boccaccio. Dante's the Divine Comedy , Petrarch's Sonnets to Laura and Boccaccio's Decamerone are the standards for the renaissance writers who came after them.
However in the run up to the renaissance we find many different branches of literature like chronicles, ascetics, popular humorous works, political works, drama and the imitators.
The renaissance saw a sea change in the mindset in Italian literature, in which Florence led the way. All forms of literary activities had enhanced qualities , imbibing the attributes of humanism and secularism.
The lull after the renaissance so an ultimate decadence which led to the Reformation , morality and social responsibility again asserted themselves over the excesses of self centered pursuit of beauty and hedonism.
The early Nineteenth century and indeed all through we find a very political spirit animating Italy's thoughts and therefore all literature was also infused by politics. However this trend declined in the later part of the century and politics became lesser in importance and an optimistic realism i nfused the Italian literature.
The beginning of the twentieth century found Italy facing the new concept of post modernism.
