“Federigo's Falcon" by Giovanni Boccaccio

About the author Born June 16, 1313 in Certaldo, Italy and died December 21, 1375 in Certaldo, Italy Giovanni Boccaccio grew up in Florence and began writing poetry as a child His father rejected his son’s literacy, forcing him to give up writing and learn business which turned out to be a lost cause

Giovanni Boccaccio wrote during the end of the medieval period He focused on human conditions instead of spiritual matters He wrote the masterpiece The Decameron which set the contemporary language of his day as a practice of literary expression

Federigo's Falcon Sub-story within the Decameron Involves ten characters who flee to the escape a plague that is devastating Florence, Italy They amuse themselves for ten days by telling stories, picking a “king” or “queen” each day to head up the storytelling The bulk of The Decameron is mostly comprised of the 100 tales they make up In the beginning of the story the “queen” for the day decides that she wants to tell her own story

Federigo is a romantic hero who seeks the love of Monna Giovanna, a well-born woman Federigo’s lose of wealth adds a complication to winning over Monna A sacrifice must be made for love…the question is how big of a sacrifice must be made, and what would you sacrifice for love?