L'ordalia
Encyclopedia
L′ordalia, is the third novel by Italo Alighiero Chiusano
, published in 1979 . The title recalls the ordeal
, a judicial practice by which, during Middle Ages, the guilt or innocence of the accused was determined by subjecting them to a unpleasant, usually dangerous experience.
, upon which the temporal power of the Pope is based, is a forgery. His disillusionment is so great that he leaves Rome and sets out on a life of adventure in search of the truth about himself, the world and the Church. In his wanderings through medieval Italy (it is the year 1000) he encounters many situations, some happy and some terrifying, and manages to defeat all his enemies. Master and guide in his journey is a wise monk, Petro, who faced himself directly the ordeal bearing his faith up above his head. In this journey, Runo takes part into battles, discovers true love in the arms of a beautiful countryside girl, and, eventually, meets the young emperor Otto III, to whom he reveals the secret of the forgery in the hope that Otto will build a Church without temporal possessions and power.
in 1979 .
, by Umberto Eco
, was published. There are many similarities between the two novels: the time set (middle ages), the novel typology (meant as a bildungsroman
, or coming-of-age novel), as well as the main character (a novice) and his helper (a wise monk, with the role of the master). These many similarities, and the notoriety of L′ordalia in 1979 , of whom a literature expert such as Umberto Eco was definitely aware, make L'ordalia to be very likely one of the first sources of inspiration of The name of the rose. Moreover, it is worthwhile here to emphasize the important role given by Chiusano to the main character's diary, symbol of his experience and evolution throughout all his adventures. It is chosen to link the main character's story, with the reader's one. And one can think of it as chosen by Eco to link Runo's story, with Adso's one, by means of the incipit: Naturally, a manuscript.
Italo Alighiero Chiusano
Italo Alighiero Chiusano was an Italian independent writer, literary critic, Germanist, literary historian, essayist, author of dramas, and journalist.Chiusano authored several television screenplays.-Biography and works:...
, published in 1979 . The title recalls the ordeal
Trial by ordeal
Trial by ordeal is a judicial practice by which the guilt or innocence of the accused is determined by subjecting them to an unpleasant, usually dangerous experience...
, a judicial practice by which, during Middle Ages, the guilt or innocence of the accused was determined by subjecting them to a unpleasant, usually dangerous experience.
Theme
Runo, a young scribe at the papal court in Rome, discovers that the famous Donation of ConstantineDonation of Constantine
The Donation of Constantine is a forged Roman imperial decree by which the emperor Constantine I supposedly transferred authority over Rome and the western part of the Roman Empire to the pope. During the Middle Ages, the document was often cited in support of the Roman Church's claims to...
, upon which the temporal power of the Pope is based, is a forgery. His disillusionment is so great that he leaves Rome and sets out on a life of adventure in search of the truth about himself, the world and the Church. In his wanderings through medieval Italy (it is the year 1000) he encounters many situations, some happy and some terrifying, and manages to defeat all his enemies. Master and guide in his journey is a wise monk, Petro, who faced himself directly the ordeal bearing his faith up above his head. In this journey, Runo takes part into battles, discovers true love in the arms of a beautiful countryside girl, and, eventually, meets the young emperor Otto III, to whom he reveals the secret of the forgery in the hope that Otto will build a Church without temporal possessions and power.
Critics
The novel became very appreciated by the critics very soon after the publication, winning the prestigious Premio Selezione CampielloPremio Campiello
The Premio Campiello is an annual Italian literary prize.A Jury of Literary Experts identifies books published during the year and, in a public hearing, selects five of those as finalists. These books are called il Premio Selezione Campiello...
in 1979 .
Inspired novels
One year after the publication of L′ordalia, the novel The name of the roseThe Name of the Rose
The Name of the Rose is the first novel by Italian author Umberto Eco. It is a historical murder mystery set in an Italian monastery in the year 1327, an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in fiction, biblical analysis, medieval studies and literary theory...
, by Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco Knight Grand Cross is an Italian semiotician, essayist, philosopher, literary critic, and novelist, best known for his novel The Name of the Rose , an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in fiction, biblical analysis, medieval studies and literary theory...
, was published. There are many similarities between the two novels: the time set (middle ages), the novel typology (meant as a bildungsroman
Bildungsroman
In literary criticism, bildungsroman or coming-of-age story is a literary genre which focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood , and in which character change is thus extremely important...
, or coming-of-age novel), as well as the main character (a novice) and his helper (a wise monk, with the role of the master). These many similarities, and the notoriety of L′ordalia in 1979 , of whom a literature expert such as Umberto Eco was definitely aware, make L'ordalia to be very likely one of the first sources of inspiration of The name of the rose. Moreover, it is worthwhile here to emphasize the important role given by Chiusano to the main character's diary, symbol of his experience and evolution throughout all his adventures. It is chosen to link the main character's story, with the reader's one. And one can think of it as chosen by Eco to link Runo's story, with Adso's one, by means of the incipit: Naturally, a manuscript.