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What is the story told in Giovanni Boccaccio’s Il filocolo?
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Giovanni Boccaccio
Italian poet and scholar Giovanni Boccaccio, detail of a fresco by Andrea del Castagno; in the Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia, Florence.
Il filocolo (c. 1336), which translates to "The Love Afflicted," is a prose work composed of five books that chronicles the loves and adventures of Florio and Biancofiore. The narrative is derived from the medieval romance known as Floire et Blancheflor.12
As one of Giovanni Boccaccio’s early literary experiments, the work reflects his efforts to elevate the Italian language by incorporating learning and rhetorical ornament into traditional chivalric themes.12