The antidote to the fear. The rhetorical genres as a link between literature and society. Examples from Italian literature

After a brief historical-methodological overview, this study is meant to prove that the theory of rhetorical genres (deliberative, judicial and epideictic), connected to that of the literary genres, offers scholars more insightful critical opportunities. The nouvelle rhétorique, applied to the analysis of rhetorical and literary genres, permits to unveil the argumentative dimension in literature. We have evaluated some passages of the Decameron and I promessi sposi [The Betrothed], two of the great classics of Italian literature, differing by historical settings, genres and contents. The two books have been analyzed from the rhetorical perspective. I promessi sposi [The Betrothed] may be interpreted as an instance of judicial genre, while the Decameron as deliberative and epideictic genres.