Il nome degli elementi nel sistema narrativo di primo levi

Translated title of the contribution: The name of the elements in the narrative system of Primo Levi

Giusi Baldissone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The Periodic Table, the autobiography of a chemist, made in time and stratified in a structured text as a coming-of-age plot, reveals one main design through the choice of the elements' names. Primo Levi selects the chemical elements that best match the most meaningful moments and characters of the his story, following, on one hand, topics and characters that are strong in his memory and, on the other hand, models that create a bond between chemistry and literature. Therefore, the friends made in schoolrooms, concentration camps or factories determine the presence of names and elements, whilst the template of affinity comes from Goethe as well as from ancient mythology (and the language is borrowed from both of them). The structural homogeneity of the collection resists all editing suggestions and follows its own thread, which today appears to be more and more convincing.

Translated title of the contributionThe name of the elements in the narrative system of Primo Levi
Original languageItalian
Pages (from-to)35-52
Number of pages18
JournalItalianistica
Volume42
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

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