The Decameron

3.88(41676 readers)

The Decameron (c.1351) is an entertaining series of one hundred stories written in the wake of the Black Death. The stories are told in a country villa outside the city of Florence by ten young noble men and women who are seeking to escape the ravages of the plague. Boccaccio's skill as a dramatist is masterfully displayed in these vivid portraits of people from all stations in life, with plots that revel in a bewildering variety of human reactions.

Translated with an Introduction and Notes by G. H. McWilliam

Publisher

Penguin Books

Publication Date

4/29/2003

ISBN

9780140449303

Pages

909

About the Author

Giovanni Boccaccio

Giovanni Boccaccio (1313 – 21 December 1375) was an Italian author and poet, a friend and correspondent of Petrarch, and an important Renaissance humanist in his own right and author of a number of notable works including the Decameron, On Famous Women, and his poetry in the Italian vernacular. Boccaccio is particularly notable for his dialogue, of which it has been said that it surpasses in verisimilitude that of just about all of his contemporaries, since they were medieval writers and often followed formulaic models for character and plot.

Questions & Answers

How does "The Decameron" reflect the social and moral values of its time, particularly in relation to love, marriage, and the role of women?

What is the significance of the plague as a backdrop for the stories in "The Decameron," and how does it influence the characters\' actions and interactions?

How do the stories in "The Decameron" critique or satirize the religious orders and the Church during the 14th century?

What themes of fate, chance, and free will are present in "The Decameron," and how do the characters respond to these forces?

How does "The Decameron" use storytelling as a means of exploring human nature, and what lessons can be learned from the characters\' experiences?

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