In most of the studies concerning the history of Italian literature, Rocco Scotellaro (1923-1953) is defined as a Neorealistic poet and writer; and, of course, it is undoubtedly correct to claim this, considering the period in which he wrote and was involved with his political Socialist activity, i. e. during the Fascist Regime and soon after World War II. But, according to a more detailed textual analysis, Scotellaro’s literary achievements seem to go far beyond the boundaries of this definition and reach multifarious kinds of results. His two collections of verse, È fatto giorno and Margherite e rosolacci, his unfinished autobiographical novel, L’uva puttanella, all published after his premature death and translated into English, French and German, are the main expression of his strong need to give voice to the country people of Basilicata (also called Lucania), the region where he was born, and to their personal hopes, fears and dreams. Tricarico, a small village near Matera, was his hometown; in his fictional and informative works (numerous sociological and ethnographic enquiries about rural people, the main of which is Contadini del Sud), Tricarico stands for all Southern Italy rural people and their archaic condition. He ideologically belonged to the “Comitato di Liberazione” and fought for a radical change as bravely and efficiently as he could, in order to cope with the numerous basic deficiencies of his country, to tackle the problems and overcome the obstacles his political opponents and local enemies caused him. There is a key which can help account for Scotellaro’s achievements, in a first time as a mayor in Tricarico and, afterwards, as a researcher of sociology at the Osservatorio di Economia agraria (Centre of Agrarian Economy) in Portici, near Naples. A very strong motivation and a political persuasion, very similar to faith (the Gospels, Pirandello’s and Kafka’s works and some American poets, like Edgar Lee Masters, had a great impact on his imagination and vibrant sensibility), seem to provide such a key, and can also explain the substantial results he obtained during his activity, elaborating new ideas and strategies to help his people. He chose to concentrate his energies and maximize the impact of his work, eliciting an emotional response from such readers as Carlo Levi, who encouraged him to keep on with his literary projects, Manlio Rossi Doria, the economist, one of his masters and best supporters, and George Peck, the American historian and anthropologist, who introduced him to the American literature. The present essay is, therefore, intended to focus on how the experimentalism of Scotellaro’s verse testifies to his powerful inspiration and multifaceted prosody; a particular use of local peasantry lexicon and idioms, together with an ability to vividly represent his innermost thoughts and feelings, enlivens his poetry with an astounding variety of tones and creates a symbiotic relationship between art and life. His passionate interest in all genres of literature (his works comprise verse, narrative, drama, and also a film script in collaboration with Linuccia Saba), sometimes intertwining with one another, can also explain his persistent efforts to express himself in the most complete, articulated, and fascinating way.

The Bright Light of Will and Hope: Rocco Scotellaro and His Poetry / DE CRESCENZO, Assunta. - (2013), pp. 63-102.

The Bright Light of Will and Hope: Rocco Scotellaro and His Poetry

DE CRESCENZO, ASSUNTA
2013

Abstract

In most of the studies concerning the history of Italian literature, Rocco Scotellaro (1923-1953) is defined as a Neorealistic poet and writer; and, of course, it is undoubtedly correct to claim this, considering the period in which he wrote and was involved with his political Socialist activity, i. e. during the Fascist Regime and soon after World War II. But, according to a more detailed textual analysis, Scotellaro’s literary achievements seem to go far beyond the boundaries of this definition and reach multifarious kinds of results. His two collections of verse, È fatto giorno and Margherite e rosolacci, his unfinished autobiographical novel, L’uva puttanella, all published after his premature death and translated into English, French and German, are the main expression of his strong need to give voice to the country people of Basilicata (also called Lucania), the region where he was born, and to their personal hopes, fears and dreams. Tricarico, a small village near Matera, was his hometown; in his fictional and informative works (numerous sociological and ethnographic enquiries about rural people, the main of which is Contadini del Sud), Tricarico stands for all Southern Italy rural people and their archaic condition. He ideologically belonged to the “Comitato di Liberazione” and fought for a radical change as bravely and efficiently as he could, in order to cope with the numerous basic deficiencies of his country, to tackle the problems and overcome the obstacles his political opponents and local enemies caused him. There is a key which can help account for Scotellaro’s achievements, in a first time as a mayor in Tricarico and, afterwards, as a researcher of sociology at the Osservatorio di Economia agraria (Centre of Agrarian Economy) in Portici, near Naples. A very strong motivation and a political persuasion, very similar to faith (the Gospels, Pirandello’s and Kafka’s works and some American poets, like Edgar Lee Masters, had a great impact on his imagination and vibrant sensibility), seem to provide such a key, and can also explain the substantial results he obtained during his activity, elaborating new ideas and strategies to help his people. He chose to concentrate his energies and maximize the impact of his work, eliciting an emotional response from such readers as Carlo Levi, who encouraged him to keep on with his literary projects, Manlio Rossi Doria, the economist, one of his masters and best supporters, and George Peck, the American historian and anthropologist, who introduced him to the American literature. The present essay is, therefore, intended to focus on how the experimentalism of Scotellaro’s verse testifies to his powerful inspiration and multifaceted prosody; a particular use of local peasantry lexicon and idioms, together with an ability to vividly represent his innermost thoughts and feelings, enlivens his poetry with an astounding variety of tones and creates a symbiotic relationship between art and life. His passionate interest in all genres of literature (his works comprise verse, narrative, drama, and also a film script in collaboration with Linuccia Saba), sometimes intertwining with one another, can also explain his persistent efforts to express himself in the most complete, articulated, and fascinating way.
2013
978-1-4438-4623-3
The Bright Light of Will and Hope: Rocco Scotellaro and His Poetry / DE CRESCENZO, Assunta. - (2013), pp. 63-102.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/559771
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