LiberCogitatio

E ', considered the first great intellectual age neoclassical. Natural child of the Enlightenment, embodied in himself all the cultural turmoil of the world in which he lived. In his work are all the cultural elements that characterize the age his contemporary Neoclassicism, Enlightenment, pre-Romanticism.
It is certainly possible to analyze the works of Foscolo through a route in which they differ in distinct phases, and indeed we will find works in which they are present together all three elements (even in "Thank You", which seems a step toward the cultural neoclassicism after avanzamentoi of the "Tomb").
On a personal rather abstract, his native Zakynthos, which he called "the cradle of civilization" was always his ideal home, his myth, his real home, so to spend a beautiful sonnet (the famous "To Zante"). For Venice proved equally intense feelings, and as if for the Greek island suffered the charm of the vanity and melancholy, regarded as a second Serene country, to fight for and suffer, for which, not surprisingly, became involved in his political fate.
Indeed, established in 1797 in Venice a democratic government, which took Foscolo public office, a few months later, after the Treaty of Campoformio Parisian literary circle in which Napoleon had to flee, taking refuge in Milan, taken by Napoleon to Austria itself, writer in the Lombard capital shook friendship with Monti and was able to bring Parini.
In Milan he was editor of the Monitor Italian, but a year later he moved to Bologna, where he served as the assistant registrar of a military tribunal. The following year he left office to join up with the rank of lieutenant in the National Guard and, alongside the French, fought against the Austro-Russian (remaining also wounded during a battle). Under the command of the French General Massena part in the defense of Genoa, and when the city was forced to surrender, followed Massena in flight.
In 1804 he went to France for military matters, and here he had the opportunity to spend two years of peace, who employed largely in passionate love, including one with British Fanny Emerytt who gave birth to her daughter Floriana. Back in Italy, he lived in Venice, Milan, Pavia (where he obtained the chair of eloquence at the University), Bologna and Milan again, from where he fled in May of 1815 to avoid having to swear allegiance to the Austrians.
After a brief stay in Lugano and Zurich, the year after he settled in London, accepted in high society. Here flourished economically with the publication of his works, but he squandered it all with the debauchery of the much boasted. Began the construction of a luxurious villa, that failed to fully pay despite the rescue of her daughter Floriana (which, found in London, offered him 3000 pounds). Pursued by creditors, suffered the humiliation of prison, and was then forced to retreat in the village of Turnham Green, where he lived his last years with her daughter.
Autobiographical elements of life of Ugo Foscolo are featured in "Last Letters of Jacopo Ortis," though more often than the autobiography gives way to fantasy, presenting ideals (called later "illusions") according to Foscolo, allow all ' man live his own interiority in a less dramatic, being valid even psychological barriers against suicide. In the "Last Letters of Jacopo Ortis", we outlined all the elements that will be developed in later works, the ideals of his country, poetry, love ... The protagonist follows a different direction by writer: Ortis comes to suicide, but no Foscolo while aspiring to peace and tranquility in its troubled existence.
Materialist and believing deeply in nature "mechanics" of existence (his side of the Enlightenment), he lived in a time of crisis tearing the Enlightenment, much to determine that he had a pessimistic view of life. Foscolo aspired to glory, fame, eternity, but the Enlightenment conception (which saw life without mechanical movements) limiting the realization of these aspirations, as the optics of that philosophy related to the belief that man is a finite being and prone to disappear after death. Pull your file, is the reality of death that induces Foscolo to fall into pessimism. Based on these considerations, such as processes that will be defined as "the philosophy of illusion" that is characterized more as an awareness of the subject and the artist than as a devaluation of the potential and the validity of reason.
"Delusions", in other words, give meaning to the whole existence and contribute to the belief that there is even something that is worth living rather than surrender, and perhaps death itself. Illusions, in essence, is the country, poetry, family, love. In the tombs, however, find the "sublimation" of this process, discovering that "the illusion of illusions" is the same poem.
Besides higher production (Ortis, Odes, Sonnets, Thanks, tombs) there are also other works, notably the so-called phase didimea; is the phase of anti-Ortis, the trip to England, Foscolo mature abandoned the passion and Watch a critical and ironic things in life.
Ugo Foscolo also wrote some tragedies (Ajax, Thyestes and Ricciarda) in imitation of 'Alfieri, in which a prevalence of action exaltation of passion.
Died September 10, 1827. His remains were transferred to Florence until 1871 and were buried in the temple of S. Cross, which he had so much praised in the poem "The Descent of Man."

The Tomb (written in 1806 and published in 1807)

The Song of the tombs is considered, from an outsider's view as "Poetry-hand" being connected to a specific stress resulting from a contemporary chronicle, in fact with the 'Edict of Saint-Claud "signed June 12, 1804 to Due to hygienic demands and egalitarian principles were given provision to bring the graves outside the city walls and plaques were equal. At first Foscolo Lords agreed, but then gained opposing positions. It 'a political poetry in favor of diversity. (Ex: Parini dies in that time and he is horrified that his body may be close to that of an imposter).
It should produce national pride: Italy united, free and independent. Then highlights the importance of the grave things in our beloved remains our memory.
1-22 - Funeral rites and pious affection of the living can not change the negative condition of the deceased, when one is deprived of the enjoyment of the beauty of nature, of hope in the future use of the affections, the existence of a tomb , does not change the negativity. It remains for the late fate of oblivion and set aside.
23-50 - In this part Foscolo wonders why the man should be denied the hope of conquering its own survival, because only through the tomb becomes the memory of a person immortal, and emphasizes a dialogue between the living and the dead opposed to the death of the intensity of the memory alive: thus giving the deceased the possibility of pushing the limits of the human condition. Death is seen as the only consolation for those who have not been able to win the love of others, therefore not riuscirŕ to survive in their memory.
51-90 - This block refers Foscolo edict of Saint-Claude and challenges to its rules, also talks of Parini and his bones dispersed in Milan, claiming that no one has felt compelled to dedicate a stone or not a word to this poet.

The Last Letters of Jacopo Ortis

It is an epistolary novel composed of letters he wrote to Lorenzo Jacopo Ortis ALDERAN and in first person tells the story of its history. It will be then to tell ALDERAN suicide death of James and the impact on the family. The poet identifies himself in James.
Foscolo has taken its cue from the opera "The Sorrows of Young Werther" written by Ghoethe. Reading Goethe understands that Foscolo the contrary fails to contain the emotions, he emerges from the characters by making them become independent. You can find a continuity between passion and love.
In this work are discussed all the issues Foscolo as death, burial illacrilnata, exile, which reassures the beauty, peace, the charm of the evening.

Synopsis: He is a young student Venetian, who as Foscolo believes in the work of Napoleon, was disappointed when in 1917 Napoleon gave Venice to Austria (Treaty of Campoformio) and takes refuge in the hills in Tuscany Hills and Teresa knows he can replace his passion for politics with a love for this woman, who for the little she would marry. Discovered that their love would have been impossible to leave the hills Hills and continues to move to Italy to Lorenzo writing of his disappointment. When it comes to knowledge of the marriage of Teresa decides, after reviewing the last time Teresa (unhappy) and mother to commit suicide with a dagger. Foscolo, unlike James, does not hold back, does not abandon the policy, even after the disappointment, in fact he enlisted.

In the death of his brother John

This sonnet was written in 1802, for the suicide of his brother John, contains, as in all major sonnets, themes dear to Foscolo, like exile, Illacrimo Burial.

Metric: ABAB quatrains CDC DED triplets

Prose: a day if not flee from city to city you will see me sitting on your grave crying your youth cut short by death. The single mother now spends his last days talking about me with your ashes, but I tend vain hands from afar to greet you and my country. Feel the fates against and the secret anxieties in your life were disastrous and I would die too. Foreigners make my bones in the arms of my mother.

On Zakynthos

We treat two important issues for the poet's exile and Illacrimo burial.

Metric: ABAB quatrains CDE CED triplets

Prose: Do not touch the most sacred places where my body was born. Zakynthos you my mirrors in the waters from which came the virgin Venus with her first smile made fertile islands where the poetry of Homer celebrates the white clouds and vegetation on Zakynthos speaking of Odysseus' wanderings by sea and wanted by fate different exile for which the hero returns to his island full of fame, surrounded by the charm that comes from his misfortunes.
You will not have anything but the poetry of your son or mother to me my country's destiny has imposed a tomb where no one therefore will weep over his grave.

The evening

In the quatrains, there is the description of the evening, while in triplets meditations that spring from the heart of the poet. Dense presence d 'enjambment. Sera represents death and the end of concerns and worries.

Metric: ABAB quatrains CDC EDE triplets

Prose: Oh night would probably so dear to me because you are the image of eternal peace (Evening = Image of Death) drops always relied on me and you know reach areas secret of my heart be glad when you accompany the summer clouds and winds that brighten the sky is warm when snow from the air and the shadows become long and dark.
You make me wander with my thoughts on the roads going towards death and meanwhile quest'infelice running time and the worries go with him and with me as I watch you destroy your peace and calm that restless spirit in me.

Le Grazie (unfinished)

This poem contains many literary genres and is very contradictory: in some moments from 'the best, while in other passages we find a poem chilly, perfect, and without sentiment. Foscolo falls in Neoclassicism without realizing that it is a style inappropriate to express feelings.
Graces mentioned are goddesses sent to earth to alleviate the pains of the earth. The work is divided into three hymns:
1 Anthem (Venus) narrates the birth of Venus and the graces from the Ionian Sea, a period in which men are still in their primitive state and that their beauty is enduring soften.
2nd Hymn (Vesta): The poet imagines a ritual in honor of the celebrated because of three women who represent music, poetry and dance.
3rd Hymn (Pallas): Set to Atlantis where Pallas is weaving a veil to protect through the passions of men. Sentiments on the veil are represented mild and high.