The Lusiads · Chapter
Epigraph explained
The epigraph presents a series of quotations from various authors, including Giusti, Shakespeare, Camões, Tasso, and Voltaire, reflecting on themes of creation, fortune, and the enduring value of a work.
What happens
The epigraph presents a series of quotations from various authors, including Giusti, Shakespeare, Camões, Tasso, and Voltaire, reflecting on themes of creation, fortune, and the enduring value of a work.
Themes in this chapter
The Power of Poetry
The epigraph emphasizes the transformative and enduring power of literary works, as seen in Voltaire's praise of a nation's delight in a book.
Fate and Divine Providence
Shakespeare's quote touches on the role of chance and fortune in human affairs, a recurring theme in the epic.
Characters to notice
- Luís de Camões
Quoted for his sonnet on the duality of sword and pen.
- Fortune
Referenced in Shakespeare's quote as a giver of prizes.
Key passages
“Il far un libro è meno che niente, Se il libro fatto non rifà la gente.”
Writing a book is nothing if the finished book does not transform its readers.
Giusti's epigraph sets the stage for the epic's moral and didactic purpose.
“Ora toma a espada, agora a penna”
Now he takes up the sword, now the pen.
Camões' sonnet highlights the dual nature of the hero, both warrior and poet.