Quest' Anima Gentil Che Si Diparte
The poem is a lament for the death of a beloved, with the speaker describing their grief and sorrow at the loss. The gentle soul that has departed is praised for its beauty and virtues, and the speaker expresses regret that they did not appreciate it enough while it was alive. The poem explores themes of mortality, loss, and the transience of human life.
By Francesco Petrarca · First published 1344 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Elegy, Romanticism · 172 words
First lines
ON LAURA DANGEROUSLY ILL.
That graceful soul, in mercy call'd away Before her time to bid the world farewell, If welcomed as she ought in the realms of day, In heaven's most blessed regions sure shall dwell.
There between Mars and Venus if she stay, Her sight the brightness of the sun will quell, Because, her infinite beauty to survey, The spirits of the blest will round her swell.
If she decide upon the fourth fair nest Each of the three to dwindle will begin, And she alone the fame of beauty win, Nor e'en in the fifth circle may she rest; Thence higher if she soar, I surely trust Jove with all other stars in darkness will be thrust.
What this Textopian page supports
Quest' Anima Gentil Che Si Diparte is listed on Textopian as a poem by Francesco Petrarca, dated 1344 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Francesco Petrarca
- Date: 1344 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Elegy, Romanticism, Philosophical Poetry, Sonnet
- Length: 172 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for Quest' Anima Gentil Che Si Diparte by Francesco Petrarca
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is characterized by its emotional expression and personal reflection, typical of lyric poetry.
- Elegy — The poem addresses themes of loss and mourning, particularly regarding the illness of Laura, fitting the elegiac tradition.
- Romanticism — The focus on individual emotion and beauty aligns with Romantic themes, particularly in the portrayal of Laura.
- Philosophical Poetry — The exploration of beauty and the afterlife reflects philosophical inquiries common in Petrarch's work.
Tags
Italian Literature · Renaissance Poetry · Sonnet · Love Poem · Mourning · Loss · Grief · Sorrow · Longing · Yearning · Melancholy · Nostalgia
More by Francesco Petrarca
- Fifteen sonnets of Petrarch (1350)
- Voi, Ch' Ascoltate in Rime Sparse Il Suono (1343)
- Per Far Una Leggiadra Sua Vendetta (1343)
- Era 'L Giorno Ch' Al Sol Si Scoloraro (1343)
- Quel Ch' Infinita Providenza Ed Arte (1343)
- Quand' Io Movo I Sospiri a Chiamar Voi (1344)
- Si Traviato E 'L Folle Mio Desio (1343)
- La Gola E 'L Sonno E L' Oziose Piume (1344)
- All works by Francesco Petrarca