How did the baroque style shape 17th-century Italian literature?

The 17th-century Baroque style in Italian literature was characterized by a departure from classical restraint in favor of elaboration, ornament, and daring artifice. Rather than a period of mere decadence, as traditionally described, it was a vital era defined by a desire to excite wonder through novelty and ingenuity.123

Key features of this style included:

• Marinism: Named after the poet Giambattista Marino, this movement utilized extravagant metaphors, hyperbole, fantastic wordplay, and sensuality. Marino’s work, such as Adone, exemplified the use of "conceits"—ingenious and far-fetched metaphors designed to startle the reader.43
• Rhetorical Complexity: Writers employed complex rhetoric and allegory to navigate the constraints of the Counter-Reformation and political pressures.21
• Reaction and Reform: The period also saw reactions against Baroque excesses. Poets like Gabriello Chiabrera sought a more sober style modeled on classical meters, eventually leading to the formation of the Accademia dell’Arcadia, which advocated for rational reform.3

While some critics historically viewed this as a decline, modern scholarship recognizes the Baroque as a sophisticated response to the social and political upheavals of the age.21