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Table of Contents
Giovanni Boccaccio was among the founders of the Renaissance. His greatest work, Decameron, has claimed fame for over 600 years and has cast an influence on other writers like Francesco Petrarch who translated the masterpiece into Latin. Boccaccio was also a humanist and is sometimes regarded as the founder of Humanism.
See the fact file below for more information on the Giovanni Boccaccio or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Giovanni Boccaccio worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Early Life
- Giovanni Boccaccio was born in Italy in 1313. The exact date and place of his birth is uncertain. However, it is known that he spent his childhood in Florence.
- His father was a prominent merchant and his mother also belonged to an illustrious family.
- Boccaccio attended school in Florence and was taken into work at the age of 10. He was sent to Naples in 1327 to study business and law; however, his growing interest in literature drew him away from studying these subjects. He eventually gave up on studying and dedicated himself entirely to writing.
Literary Career
- At a young age, Boccaccio started mingling with the elite of society. He began working with public offices in Florence and was sent on diplomatic missions to places such as Padua, the Romagna, and Avignon.
- When his father died in 1348, he returned to Florence and became guardian to his younger brother. Boccaccio’s lifelong friendship with Francesco Petrarch began two years later in 1350 as the writers often worked closely with each other.
- Boccaccio completed the great Decameron in 1353 which narrates one hundred stories of seven women and three men who reside in a country villa for 10 days after escaping the plague in Florence.
- Decameron has influenced Europe for the longest time and great writers such as Shakespeare and Chaucer are known to have borrowed from this masterpiece. Renowned poets such as George Eliot, Tennyson, Keats, Longfellow, and Swinburne have also written poems revolving around the Decameron.
Literary Works
- Boccaccio also produced an excellent piece of work on classical mythology from 1350 to 1374 entitled De genealogia deorum gentilium (‘On the Genealogy of the Gods of the Gentiles’) which was written in Latin and focused on classical mythology and culture.
- From 1354 to 1355, Boccaccio worked on writing The Corbaccio, about the problems of one-sided love. Boccaccio’s admiration for Dante compelled him to write the Biography of Dante (1355-1364).
- Another well known effort, On the Fates of Famous Men (1355-1374), describes the downfall of influential men. He also composed Concerning Famous Women, a noteworthy volume of biographies of famous women, written from 1360 to 1374.
Later Years
- Disappointing relationships and deteriorating health made Giovanni depressive and his writing started showing signs of bitterness especially towards women.
- He attempted to burn and sell his work, letters, manuscripts and library while Petrarch convinced him not to burn his belongings but offered to purchase them from him. After his death, Boccaccio’s literary collections were presented to the monastery of Santo Spirito in Florence.
- Although never married, Boccaccio was a father to three children. He passed away on December 21, 1375.
Giovanni Boccaccio Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Giovanni Boccaccio across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Giovanni Boccaccio worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Giovanni Boccaccio who was among the founders of the Renaissance. His greatest work, Decameron, has claimed fame for over 600 years and has cast an influence on other writers like Francesco Petrarch who translated the masterpiece into Latin. Boccaccio was also a humanist and is sometimes regarded as the founder of Humanism.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Authors Online
- Great Giovannis
- What’s in a Name?
- Giovanni’s Journey
- Renaissance Men
- Words from a Word
- Judge by the Cover
- Giovanni Speaks
- Flourishing Florence
- 10 Days, 100 Stories
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Link will appear as Giovanni Boccaccio Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 17, 2019
Use With Any Curriculum
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