Summary
Highlights
Hermeticism is a literary current that developed in 20th-century Italy, specifically between the 1930s and 1940s. Florence was its driving force, with the Vallecchi publishing house and magazines such as 'Solaria' and 'Campo di Marte'. The term 'Hermeticism' was coined by Francesco Flora in his 1936 book, 'La poesia ermetica', and refers to the esoteric tradition associated with Hermes Trismegistus, symbolizing knowledge accessible to a select few.
Hermetic poetry is characterized by its obscurity, enigmatism, and a departure from traditional poetic canons. It is heavily influenced by French Symbolism and Decadentism, aiming to evoke strong feelings in the reader and suggest connections between appearance and essence. The movement flourished in Italy during the Fascist regime, where intellectuals often chose isolation as a form of dissent.
Giuseppe Ungaretti's works, 'L'Allegria' and 'Sentimento del Tempo', were foundational for Hermeticism. Carlo Bo's 'Letteratura come vita' articulated its theoretical underpinnings, advocating for poetry as a pathway to self-knowledge. Hermetic poetry focuses on ontological truth, rejects historical narratives, and imbues words with an initiatic and religious significance. Its style is simple, essential, fragmented, and allusive, fostering a higher form of knowledge through individualistic language.
The period of Hermetic poetry is generally considered to be between the 1930s and 1940s. While some critics include figures like Ungaretti and Montale, the video focuses on poets such as Salvatore Quasimodo, Mario Luzi, Leonardo Sinisgalli, and Alfonso Gatto. Alfonso Gatto, a founder of 'Campo di Marte', initially embraced Hermetic themes of rejecting historical reality but later moved towards a more engaged poetry after participating in the Resistance.
Leonardo Sinisgalli, a 'poet-engineer' from Lucania, integrated family memories and homeland imagery with a mythical atmosphere in his work. Mario Luzi, a significant poet born in 1914, developed his early Hermetic experiences through collections like 'La barca' and 'Avvento notturno'. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to engage with these poets and the topic of Hermeticism.