Gwyneth Andrea T.

Bagaipo Grade 11-STEM

Author’s Biography
Giovanni Boccaccio was a prominent Italian writer, poet,
and scholar in the Middle Ages. Along with Dante Alighieri and
Francesco Petrarca, known as Petrarch. They were often called the
Three Crowns of Italian Renaissance Literature and Poetry due to
the drastic change that was to occur in western civilization
anticipated in their works. Even before the printing machine was
invented, these authors revolutionized literature. The Decameron,
which he finished by 1353 and in which his ten characters narrate 100 episodes of daily life,
is his most well-known and important work. The Black Plague, which had just struck
Boccaccio's home region Tuscany, is vividly described in the work, which also covers a
variety of religious issues. Giovanni served as a mediator for different cultures classical and
medieval Italian, French, and Latin and Christian and pagan and thus he proved to be a
prominent figure in the European humanist literary culture which was focused on the
renaissance and beyond thus explaining his position as one of the Three Crowns of Italian
Renaissance literature.
Additionally, The Three Crowns of Italian Renaissance Literature and poetry, Giovanni
Boccaccio, Dante Alighieri, and Francesco Petrarca contributed to the promotion of Tuscan
as a respectable literary language. Bocaccio focused more on Latin and studies of ancient
literature in the latter stages of his career, creating an influential genealogy of Roman and
Greek mythology, writing a biography of Dante, and delivering public lectures on that
author's writings.

Background of the Story

Plagued by Love Boccaccio lived during the Italian Renaissance-a time of
great achievements in art, music, and literature. Like Chaucer's Canterbury
Tales, The Decameron is a collection of tales set within a frame story. The
frame, or outer story, is about ten characters who flee to the country to escape a
plague that is ravaging Florence, Italy. For ten days they amuse themselves by
telling stories, each day selecting a "king" or "queen" who presides over the
storytelling. Their 100 tales make up the bulk of The Decameron. As this
selection begins, the queen of the day decides that it is time to tell her own
story.

"Federigo's Falcon" is a tale of courtly love. In medieval times, marriages were

often arranged. As a result, couples sometimes looked outside marriage for
romantic attachments. This practice was not considered scandalous as long as
Gwyneth Andrea T. Bagaipo Grade 11-STEM

the love remained idealized. Federigo is devoted to a married woman, Monna

Giovanna (mo'nä jö'vä'nä) , and will sacrifice anything to gain her love.
Setting or Settings
The First part of the story where the stories characters are introduced happened in the
Tuscany region of Italy specifically in the capital city, Florence. After spending far more than
federigo could afford, he lost almost all of his entire fortune leaving only a small farm and a
falcon with the finest breed in the whole world and could no longer live the life he has been
living in Florence therefore, he was aspired to leave to Florence and move to Campi, where
his little farm situated. He then moved on to meet with Monna who visited her family’s estate
on Campi, in accordance with Florentine custom.

Characteriaztion
 Don Federigo degli Alberighi
Direct Characterization: “Federigo, the son of Messer Filippo Messer Alberighi, who for
his deeds of chivalry and courtly manners was more highly spoken of than any other squire
in Tuscany.”
In this statement, It describes federigo’s personality and how others view him by saying that
he was highly spoken for his chivalry and courtly manner more than any squire in Tuscany
which meant he was well known and highly thought of within his community.
Indirect Characterization: “And With the object of Winning her love, he rode at the ring,
tilted, gave sumptuous banquets, and distributed a large number of gifts, spending money
without any restraint whatsoever.”
In this statement, the author hints to the readers that federigo was generous towards the
people he fancies. It also implies that he was wealthy in terms of money. Additionally, his
polite manners and noble character can be often can be seen on multiple different occasions,
one instance being when even after he lived an impoverished life he retain his polite manners
and the customs of the nobility, like keeping his prized hawk or preparing a sumptuous dish
despite the situation he was in.

 Monna Giovanna
Direct Characterization: “Who in her time was considered one of the loveliest and most
adorable women to be found in Florence.”
In this statement, Monna’s physical appearance is describing as adorable and lovely.
Indirect Characterization: “But since she has no less chaste than she was fair, the lady took no
notice”
In this statement, It insinuates Monna’s loyalty towards her husband, as she is an honorable
woman. Her maternal attachment, however, surpasses her honorable character when she finds
Gwyneth Andrea T. Bagaipo Grade 11-STEM

herself a young widow caring for an ill kid. As a result, she takes advantage of Federigo's
fondness for her to request the valued hawk that her son desires.

 Monna Giovanna’s Son

He is the son of Monna Giovanna and her wealthy husband and the heir to his father's
wealth. He is unnamed in the novel and is characterized as a "young boy" without a specified
age. sadly passes away later from illness, much like his father, but he is very fond of
Federigo, and the two of them became close over the year that his mother and he spent in the
countryside, where Federigo's lone remaining property is located. Seeing how much federigo
adored his falcon, monna’s son refrained from asking to claim the falcon as his own. This
statement reveals the boy's sense of conceited entitlement, albeit it is slightly softened by his
consideration of Federigo's feelings. Although this attempt to preserve frederigo’s last sense
of pride will be all for nothing since he then goes on to request that Giovanna obtain
Federigo’s falcon for himself. This lack of empathy towards federigo is what results the death
of the falcon he desired.

 Monna Giovanna’s Husband

Giovanna’s Husband was an affluent noble that left all his fortune to his son who was just
growing up stating “if his son should die without legitimate issue, his estate should go
to Monna Giovanna, to whom he had always been deeply devoted.” He was one of the
supporting Characters that did not play that much of a role in the story but had an impact
towards the flow of the story for the reason that he was one of the reasons why Giovanna
took no notice to federigo as she was married to her husband.

 Filomena
Filomena is the narrator of "Federigo's Falcon." Elected by her peers as the queen of the
fifth day of storytelling, Filomena chooses the theme of "lovers who have won happiness
after grief or misfortune," the introduction to the fifth day informs the reader. Filomena
introduces the tale, cautioning the other young women in the group to not be rash or careless
in the selection of their suitors, and to take into account the worthiness of the Filomena
doesn't participate herself in the narrative.

 Monna Giovanna’s Brother

Giovanna’s Brothers were supporting characters that brazenly urged Giovanna to remarry
as she was a widow and not only had she been left with a vast fortune but she was still a
young woman even though she had just recently lost her one and only son and her husband.
Even as she was mourning the lost, her brothers gave her little to no peace. Their actions
towards Giovanna later caused her to recall federigo’s high merits and his latest act of
generosity, namely to have killed such a fine falcon in her honor. As Giovanna’s mind was
keen on marrying federigo despite her brother’s materialistic comment (“silly girl, don't
talk such nonsense How can you marry a man who hasn't a penny with which to bless
himself?”), they were forced to hand her over to him.
Gwyneth Andrea T. Bagaipo Grade 11-STEM

Summarization
The story starts with a storyteller named Filomena conversing with other noble ladies and the
queen, by this time it had already been the fifth day of her storytelling with the queen and
other noble ladies. She starts off the story by mentioning a man named Coppo Borghese
Domenichi of whom which made his name as one of the most highly respected men in Italy
and not because of his noble lineage but rather his abilities. In his declining years he
frequently partook in discussing past incidents with his neighbors and other folks, during this
time he frequenty mentioned the story of a young Florentine in the Tuscany region of Italy
named federigo who was the son of Messer Filippo alberighi. He was known for his deeds of
chivalry and courtly manner. Federigo lost his heart to a noble lady whose name was Monna
Giovanna. After squandering his wealth in an attempt to gain Monna’s love and affection,
Monna takes no notice as she was loyal to her husband. In return of squandering his wealth
and to no avail winning monna’s love he finds himself left with only a little farm in campi
and a magnificent falcon. Thus, he moves to campi living a frugal life. Later on Federigo
meets monna’s son on campi as they were spending their summer there per Florentine
custom, monna’s son takes a liking towards federigo’s falcon and aims on to make it his.
However, seeing as how federigo adored his falcon he never ventured to ask for it. Shortly
afterward, Monna’s son gets ill. Monna’s son requests for federigo’s falcon insisting that he
would be better after acquiring the falcon. Monna is well aware of Federigo's feelings for
her, but she is also aware of the man's attachment to the falcon. Monna pays Federigo's farm
an unannounced visit. He decides to honor Monna with a meal before she declares the
purpose of her call.

Federigo, on the other hand, has nothing to offer her. He notices his falcon perched on its
perch. He severes its neck and roasts it on a spit. Monna eats the bird without realizing it is
the animal she has come to request for her son. After dinner, she requests Federigo's falcon.
He can't help but cry. He then reveals that he sacrificed the creature to provide a meal worthy
of Monna. Her son dies a few days later. She marries Federigo after a period of sorrow and
resentment, amidst the persistent pestering of her brothers.

10 Main Events
 Federigo falls in-love with Monna Giovanna and squandering his wealth in an attempt
to gain Monna’s love and affection; and
 As she was loyal to her husband, Monna Giovanna takes no notice to Federigo
 As a result, from squandering his entire fortune, he was left with nothing other than a
tiny little farm and a magnificent falcon
 Monna’s Husband dies, leaving all his fortune to his son, further stipulating that, if his
son should die without legitimate issue, his estate should go to Monna Giovanna, to
whom he had always been deeply devoted.
Gwyneth Andrea T. Bagaipo Grade 11-STEM

 After Monna’s husband dies she becomes a young widow

 Monna’s son happens to be taken ill
 Monna’s son becomes fascinated by federigo’s falcon and long to own it, but as
seeing how much federigo adored his falcon, he never ventured to ask him for it.
 Monna’s son requests for federigo’s falcon insisting that he would be better after
acquiring the falcon.
 Monna after much contemplation went onto federigo to request for his falcon.
Federigo, on the other hand, has nothing to offer her. He notices his falcon perched on
its perch. He severes its neck and roasts it on a spit. Monna eats the bird without
realizing it is the animal she has come to request for her son. After dinner, she
requests Federigo's falcon.
 After seeing how federigo sacrificed his one and only prized position in her honor,
she decides to marry federigo stating that “if only it were pleasing you, i should
willingly remain as i am but since you are so eager or me to take a husband, you may
be certain that i shall never marry any other man except Federigo degli alberighi.”

Symbolism
The tension between good fortune and unselfish love is represented by the falcon. As a
magnificent, aristocratic, and strong bird, a falcon has the highest position in the bird
kingdom. Yet, a bird experiences mortality. The falcon's might and mortality are both
symbolic of wealth and selfless love, respectively. When Monna Giovanna wonders, "How
can I be so heartless as to deprive such a noble a man of his one remaining pleasure," the
falcon represents fortune's victory over altruistic love. Nearly blocking Monna Giovanna
from approaching Federigo is his falcon, or his sole surviving material item. By preventing
interactions that would have led to love between Monna Giovanna and Federigo, the falcon
represents fortune's victory against altruistic love.

Cultural Implications
There were multiple different situations on which that showed how the culture in
which the story is situated intervened with the story itself. One example is the title of Monna
being given to Giovanna. Monna short for Madonna was the proper way to address a noble
lady similar to calling someone “my lady” in English on medieval times. Not just anyone
would have been referred to as Monna back then, only the rich people. This helps the reader
to understand a bit about Giovanna from the very beginning. Another example is when
federigo tried to woo Giovanna by riding at the ring or tilting. Riding at the ring or tilting was
an equestrian tournament activity practiced at European royal courts. He would have also
given sumptuous banquets, and distributed the large number of gifts. Nowadays, a person
wouldn’t ride horses or give banquets to woo someone. This type of materialistic wooing
would be seen as flaunting or being arrogant in our time. There were also instances when the
Florentine custom was mentioned. The first time it was mentioned was when Giovanna’s
husband died and in doing so left all his fortune to his one and only son if his son dies, his
Gwyneth Andrea T. Bagaipo Grade 11-STEM

wife would inherit his riches. I noticed how it instead of passing his fortune to his wife after
his death, he would pass on his riches to his son. Another incident was when Giovanna and
her son when to their estate on campi during the summer per Florentine custom.

Themes
There are two themes within the story. One being about Courtly Love and Pride. In
medieval times, the idea of courtly love was heavily idealized and romanticize in which
individuals who longed to express their affection would go through noble deeds and sacrifice.
Courtly love was thought to be ennobling, but it was most often expressed between people
who were not married to one another and were usually married to someone else much like
what federigo did in the story. He was so intoxicated with the idea of courtly love he began to
sacrifice and spend all his fortune trying to gain a married woman’s attention. Typically, this
type of affair would remain secret due to its adulterous nature and given the fact that the
secrecy intensified the passion felt between the two people involved. Although in federigo’s
case instead of giving the man a series of tasks to accomplish in typical courtly love scenario,
Monna instead acts aloof towards federigo’s advances. Although courtly love typically ends
with a tragedy in their case, it ends with a happy ending, that of the marriage of Federigo and
Giovanna.

The other is pride. As members of the wealthy class of gentlemen and women, Giovanna
and Federigo take pride in the sense of nobility to which they believe they are entitled and
obligated. Yet, in "Federigo's Falcon," their mutual pride in their nobility is the source of so
much grief. Giovanna expresses her noble status through her sense of propriety. As she is a
married woman she ought to stay loyal and pay no mind to federigo’s advances and yet her
aloofness only further fuels federigo’s love for Giovanna. A few kind and firm words of
rejection may have saved federigo from sacrificing all his fortune. Furthermore this sense of
propriety caused the falcon to be sacrificed. If it had not been for her propriety.

Conflict
In "Federigo's Falcon," the main conflict is that between Federigo and Monna Giovanna.
Federigo's attempts to make Monna Giovanna fall in love with him and her indifference to
him are at the heart of each element of the plot. This type of plot is an eample of “man
against man”. The plot revolves around federigo’s attempts in making Giovanna fall in love
with him and Giovanna’s indifference toward him. This direct opposition is what leads me to
conclude the type of conflict in this story is “man against man”.

 Point of view
The story is written in the third person’s point of view. At the beginning of the story is being
told by a the narrator or storyteller named, Filomena. Who follows the character federigo as
his life unfolds around him.
Gwyneth Andrea T. Bagaipo Grade 11-STEM

 Implication of the Title

In the Title federigo’s falcon. The falcon represents power. Since the Middle Ages,
the falcon is one of the most highly regarded animals in the world. Whoever possessed a
falcon belonged to the nobility. By sacrificing his one and only falcon in honor of Monna
Giovanna. This sacrifice is the theme that revolved the whole story which is love and the
nature of giving and sacrificing.