The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio receives praise for its vivid storytelling and rich depiction of medieval life, offering a compelling and varied narrative structure. Critics highlight its exploration of human behaviors and social norms, though some note its overtly mature themes and dense prose can be challenging. Overall, it remains a landmark in classic literature.

Readers who revel in medieval history, captivating storytelling, and societal satire will enjoy The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. Fans of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales and Marguerite de Navarre's Heptaméron will appreciate its rich narrative tapestry and incisive exploration of human nature.

The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio is set during the Black Death in Florence, where seven young women and three young men escape to a countryside villa. Over ten days, they narrate 100 stories on various themes like love, trickery, and survival, providing a mix of humorous, tragic, and insightful tales. The storytelling framework showcases diverse human experiences and reflects on societal values of 14th-century Italy. This collection contains themes of death and societal collapse.

Bittersweet / Playful / Romantic / Humorous / Nostalgic

- Giovanni Boccaccio wrote The Decameron between 1349 and 1353, in the wake of the Black Death, setting a structure that inspired future storytelling, including Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.
- Boccaccio's work is notable for introducing and popularizing a new form of Italian prose narrative known as the "novella," which played a crucial role in the development of modern short stories.
- The Decameron was one of the first major works to use vernacular Italian instead of Latin, greatly influencing the Italian language's standardization and paving the way for writers like Dante and Petrarch.

**Pampinea**  
The de facto leader of a group of young Florentines who escape the plague in their city by retreating to an isolated villa, where she becomes queen on the first day and sets the rules for storytelling.

**Fiammetta**  
Noted for her beauty, she is an anxious yet generous member of the group, who only begins to assert her own ideas when she takes on the role of queen on the fifth day.

**Dioneo**  
Known for his wit and confidence, Dioneo often tells lewd, subversive stories and is distinctively allowed to tell the final story of each day, generally free from thematic constraints.

**Filostrato**  
A more reserved and sometimes sulky member who, as king for a day, chooses tragic story themes, reflecting his own tendencies towards unhappiness and internal turmoil.

Giovanni Boccaccio

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore The Decameron and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Decameron Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

First Day

The Decameron First Day Summary & Analysis

Second Day

The Decameron Second Day Summary & Analysis

Third Day

The Decameron Third Day Summary & Analysis

Fourth Day

The Decameron Fourth Day Summary & Analysis

Fifth Day

The Decameron Fifth Day Summary & Analysis

Sixth Day

The Decameron Sixth Day Summary & Analysis

Seventh Day

The Decameron Seventh Day Summary & Analysis

Eighth Day

The Decameron Eighth Day Summary & Analysis

Ninth Day

The Decameron Ninth Day Summary & Analysis

Tenth Day

The Decameron Tenth Day Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

The Decameron Character Analysis

theme

Themes

The Decameron Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Decameron Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

The Decameron Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

The Decameron Essay Topics

The Decameron

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Decameron?

Reading Age

Book Details