Teaching Ariosto’s Furioso through sixteenth-century editions

In recent decades, early editions have increasingly come to be considered a crucial component for a better understanding of Italian classics and their reception. By focusing on the publishing history of a text we are able to analyse these works through innovative perspectives. The Orlando furioso is an ideal platform from which to explore this teaching approach because, from a very early date, its reception was deeply intertwined with publishing strategies. The aim of this essay is to suggest that the use of sixteenth-century editions of the Furioso in the classroom enables a highly effective approach to Ariosto’s poem and discloses an efficacious method of teaching its themes. In order to point out the didactic importance of the publishing history of a work, I shall present three ways to teach Italian literature today: through genres, themes, and an interdisciplinary approach.