Slide 1The Black DeathMedieval Explanations of PlagueHumoral MedicineItalian Plague in 1348Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)Decameron (1351)Decameron – The WHATDecameron – The HOW and WHYDecameron – Close ReadingMEDIEVAL PLAGUEENGL 123.003, Fall 2016Thur, 8/25/16The Black Death•1346-1353•Killed <25% of Europe’s population•Moved from East into Europe likely along merchant routes•Population density contributed to death rate•Caused by Yersinia pestis•Bubonic plague – transmitted by flea bites; causes swollen lymph nodes (buboes)•Pneumonic plague – transmitted by infectious droplets; causes pneumonia•Septicemic plague –transmitted by contact with contaminated fluid or tissue; causes skin and tissue to turn black and dieMedieval Explanations of Plague•Causes •God’s punishment for sin•Astrological misfortune•Poisonous air•Prevention•Shut yourself up away from the plague•Keep humors balanced•Live moderately & avoid excess•Spend leisure time near fragrant plants•Recreation and psychological distraction, including literature! (keeping yourself happy)“Happiness lifts people’s spirits and strengthens their mind and body so that they will not succumb to contagion” (Marafioti, 2015)Humoral Medicine•Four humors black bile yellow bile phlegm blood melancholic choleric phlegmatic sanguine•Disease due to imbalance•Individual differences•Different kinds of doctors:•Physicians •Surgeons & barbers•ApothecariesItalian Plague in 1348•First wave of the Black Death in Europe•60% of Florence population died•No treatments may have damaged reputation of medicine•Physicians published “plague tracts” to educated common and noble people on plague causation, prevention, & treatmentGiovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)•Italian poet best known for his prose work, Decameron •Born in Florence to a wealthy merchant •Learned merchant/business trade•Studied canon law in Naples•Witnessed the plague of 1348Decameron (1351)•Written between 1349 and 1353 •Series of 100 stories told by characters over 10 days•Frame Story •Story that sets up another story•Vivid depiction of Florence plagueSome scholars say that Boccaccio was influenced by the medical profession (Wray, 2004)… others say that he influenced medicine (Marafioti, 2005).Decameron – The WHATProem (Preface)•How does the narrator explain why he feels compelled to tell these stories?•What is the purpose of the book?•Who is the audience? How can we tell?Day 1: the frame story about plague in Florence •How do the people of Florence respond to the plague?•Some people cut loose, abandon morals, attempt to ignore, shut themselves away•How and why are the common people disproportionately affected by the plague?•What does Pampinea argue? How does she justify it?•How do the three young men come to join the women?•Where do they go and what do they do there?Decameron – The HOW and WHY•The narrator claims that his tale gets more delightful after the “grisly beginning.” •According to the narrator, why does he include the plague in the introduction? •On the level of the narration, why might Boccaccio have framed his story in this way?•What are some of the words that Boccaccio uses to name the plague? •Is there any significance to these word choices?•Do you get the sense that Boccaccio agrees or disagrees with the various behaviors that he describes? •Consider the impulse to flee the city in relation to the proem.•What about the doctors? Is he critiquing their prevention strategies?•Where do we see contagion impacting culture or culture impacting contagion?•What impact does the plague have on the community of Florence?Decameron – Close Reading•In a small group, choose a short passage from the reading. •First, explain what is happening in the passage (the what).•Second, consider how the passage is written (the how). •Third, attempt to explain why the passage was written this way (the