- 01Transcriber's notes and edition information
- 02Title page and contents
- 03Stories Five to Ten of Day the Fifth
- 04Stories One to Ten of Day the Sixth
- 05Stories One to Ten of Day the Seventh
- 06Stories One to Ten of Day the Eighth
- 07Stories One to Ten of Day the Ninth
- 08Stories One to Five of Day the Tenth
- 01The Sixth Story
- 01Author’s gratitude and purpose of consolation
- 02Why lovesick ladies need comfort
109 the decameron giovanni boccaccio
In this course, you will discover the timeless art of storytelling through Boccaccio’s vivid tales of love, luck, deception, and survival. Master how characters use wit, courage, and quick thinking to navigate scandal, desire, and social change. Learn how these stories reveal human nature with humor, sharp observation, and lasting insight.
12Chapters
114Lessons
412Topics
Certificate of completion included
This course was produced by Cavua from a public-domain text.
Skills this course leaves you with.
- Analyze the narrative structure and framing device of The Decameron
- Interpret themes of love, luck, deception, and survival across selected stories
- Explain how Boccaccio uses wit, irony, and social observation to shape character interactions
- Connect the tales to historical attitudes toward class, morality, and social change
- Compare recurring motifs and moral lessons across the day-by-day story sequence
Curriculum
The full table of contents.
Every chapter, every lesson, every topic — laid out before you enroll. Click any chapter to expand it.
- Chapters
- 12
- Lessons
- 114
- Topics
- 412
- 01Author's dedication to ladies in love
- 02Opening of the First Day
- 03The Black Death in Florence
- 04Responses to the plague
- 05Plague customs and burial practices
- 06Florence and the countryside devastated
- 07The seven young ladies at Santa Maria Novella
- 08Pampinea's proposal to flee Florence
- 09The young men's arrival and invitation
- 10Departure for the country villa
- 11Pampinea's election and household orders
- 12Afternoon music, rest, and the first storytelling session
- 13Master Ciappelletto's false confession and death
- 14Ciappelletto’s confession to the friar
- 15Ciappelletto's false confession and absolution
- 16Public veneration and sainthood
- 01Jehannot urges Abraham to convert
- 02Abraham inspects the Roman clergy
- 03Abraham's baptism in Paris
- 01Melchizedek and Saladin's question of the three laws
- 01The three rings and the three laws
- 02Dioneo's framing of the story
- 03The monk, the girl, and the abbot's temptation
- 04The monk's rebuke and pardon
- 01Fiammetta's lesson on prompt answers
- 02The King of France's journey to Monferrato
- 03The marchioness prepares to receive the king
- 01The marchioness's banquet of hens
- 02Emilia's tale of the inquisitor and the layman
- 01Bergamino rebukes Messer Cane's parsimony
- 02Primasso and the Abbot of Cluny
- 01Messer Ermino de' Grimaldi's avarice
- 02Guglielmo Borsiere rebukes his niggardliness
- 01Guglielmo Borsiere rebukes Messer Ermino's avarice
- 01Gascon lady rebukes the King of Cyprus
- 02Master Alberto's courtship and witty reply
- 03Filomena's queenship and the day's new theme
- 04Evening dance and Emilia's song
- 01Filomena's opening and Neifile's tale
- 02Martellino's feigned healing at Saint Arrigo's body
- 03Accusation, torture, and rescue from the Provost
- 01Rinaldo d'Asti robbed on the road
- 02The widow's hospitable lodging
- 01Messer Tedaldo's sons squander their inheritance
- 02Alessandro's journey and the disguised abbot
- 03The princess reveals her marriage to Alessandro
- 04Papal blessing and renewed wedding feast
- 05Return to Florence, Paris, and England
- 01Landolfo Ruffolo's rise and ruin in trade
- 02Shipwreck, the chest of jewels, and rescue in Corfu
- 03Return home with recovered wealth
- 01Andreuccio's arrival in Naples and the false sister's scheme
- 02The fabricated family reunion and supper delay
- 03Andreuccio discovers the theft
- 04The night encounter and tomb robbery
- 01Andreuccio escapes the tomb
- 02Madam Beritola's exile and loss of her children
- 03Beritola in Lunigiana and Giannotto's service
- 04Giannotto and Spina's imprisonment
- 05Giusfredi's identity revealed
- 06Marriage and family reunion
- 07Scacciato's recovery and marriage
- 08Arrighetto's survival and restoration
- 01Beritola and Giusfredi restored to Sicily
- 02Pamfilo's moral on fortune and beauty
- 03Alatiel's voyage and shipwreck at Majorca
- 04Pericone's desire and Alatiel's surrender
- 05Marato's plot to abduct Alatiel
- 06Marato's escape and the shipboard betrayal
- 07The Prince of the Morea and the Duke of Athens
- 08Constantine's abduction of the lady
- 09Osbech's capture and marriage
- 10Antiochus, the merchant, and the lady at Rhodes
- 11Alatiel Reveals Herself to Antigonus
- 12Return to Famagosta and the Soldan
- 13Alatiel's Account of Shipwreck and Rescue
- 14Antigonus Confirms Her Virtue
- 15Marriage to the King of Algarve
- 01Gautier made regent of France
- 02The princess's false accusation and Gautier's exile
- 03The children's separation in England
- 04Jeannette's rise and the marshal's son falls ill
- 05The physician discovers Jeannette as the cure
- 06Jeannette refuses dishonour and is given in marriage
- 07Perrot's rise in Wales and the count's reunion with his children
- 08The count recognized by his children
- 09Queen of France's confession and the king's proclamation
- 10The count reveals himself to Perrot and Jamy
- 01Bernabo's praise of his wife
- 02Ambrogiuolo's wager and theft
- 03Ambrogiuolo wins the wager
- 04Bernabo orders his wife's death
- 05Sicurano's rise in Alexandria
- 06The reckoning before the Soldan
- 07Ginevra's revelation before the Soldan
- 08Ambrogiuolo's punishment and the couple's return to Genoa
- 01Ricciardo's excessive holy days
- 02Paganino's abduction and Monaco
- 03Ricciardo's failed plea and the lady's refusal
- 04Neifile's queenship and the new storytelling theme
- 05Evening recreation and Pampinea's song
- 01The palace and garden at the third-day retreat
- 02Masetto of Lamporecchio becomes the convent gardener
- 03Masetto's seduction by the nuns
- 01Masetto’s concealed labor and return
- 02Pampinea’s tale of King Agilulf and the queen’s horse-keeper
- 01Horsekeeper's hair-clipping revenge
- 02Lady's confession to the friar
- 03The lady returns the purse and girdle
- 04The friar rebukes his friend
- 05The lady accuses him again
- 01Fra Puccio's penance and the monk's device
- 01Fra Puccio's penance and the monk's affair
- 02Ricciardo il Zima and Messer Francesco's palfrey bargain
- 01Ricciardo's feigned new love
- 02The bagnio deception
- 03Catella's mistaken outrage
- 01Catella and Ricciardo reconciled
- 02Tedaldo Elisei returns in disguise
- 03The pilgrim rebukes Madam Ermellina
- 04Critique of modern friars
- 05Moral comparison of sins
- 06Tedaldo revealed alive
- 07Tedaldo secures Aldobrandino's release
- 08Reconciliation banquet and Tedaldo's return
- 01Tedaldo identified as Faziuolo
- 02Ferondo's jealousy and the abbot's scheme
- 03Ferondo's apparent death and burial
- 04The abbey prison and purgatory deception
- 05Ferondo's purgatory beatings and lessons on jealousy
- 06The abbot's recall of Ferondo and the miracle of his return
- 07Ferondo's homecoming, false purgatory tales, and Benedict's birth
- 01Gillette heals the king and wins Bertrand
- 02Bertrand's marriage and exile to Florence
- 03Gillette's pilgrimage and the widow's house
- 04The countess regains Bertrand through the gentlewoman
- 01Alibech's quest for God's service
- 02Rustico teaches Alibech to 'put the devil in hell'
- 03Alibech's return and the proverb about putting the devil in hell
- 04Filostrato's reign and the next day's theme
- 05Evening diversions in the garden
- 06Lauretta's song of unhappy love
- 01Boccaccio's defense of loving the ladies
- 02Filippo Balducci and the 'green geese' tale
- 03Fiammetta begins the First Story
- 04Ghismonda and Guiscardo's secret love
- 05Tancred discovers the lovers
- 06Ghismonda's defense of her love
- 07Ghismonda's defense of Guiscardo's nobility
- 08Guiscardo's death and the golden bowl
- 09Ghismonda's farewell and suicide
- 01Fra Alberto deceives Madam Lisetta
- 02Fra Alberto's deception exposed
- 03Escape by the Grand Canal
- 04Ransom and disguise for the festival
- 01Fra Alberto exposed as the angel Gabriel
- 02Three lovers and three sisters in Marseilles
- 03Maddalena's bargain with the duke
- 04Folco discovers the truth and kills Maddalena
- 05Flight to the sea and the aftermath
- 01Gerbino and the Princess of Tunis
- 01Lisabetta and Lorenzo's secret love
- 02The brothers kill Lorenzo and hide the body
- 03Lisabetta's dream, burial, and basil pot
- 01Filomena’s reflection on dreams
- 02Andrevuola and Gabriotto’s secret love
- 03Gabriotto’s death and burial
- 04Andrevuola before the Provost
- 01Andrevuola’s confession and Gabriotto’s funeral honors
- 02Simona and Pasquino’s garden tryst
- 03The poisonous sage and Simona’s death
- 01Girolamo and Salvestra's childhood love
- 02Mother's plan to send Girolamo to Paris
- 03Girolamo's return, secret visit, and death
- 04Salvestra's remorse at the church
- 01Salvestra and Girolamo's burial
- 02Sir Guillaume de Roussillon and Sir Guillaume de Guardestaing
- 03The heart served as a dish
- 01Ruggieri and the physician's wife
- 02The chest, the usurers, and Ruggieri's arrest
- 03Ruggieri's rescue from the chest
- 04Fiammetta receives the crown
- 05Filostrato's song of betrayed love
- 01Fifth Day framing and storytelling session
- 02Cimon's transformation through love
- 03Cimon wins Iphigenia by force
- 04Storm drives the lovers to Rhodes
- 05Imprisonment and the planned double abduction
- 01Cimon and Lysimachus seize the brides
- 02Costanza and Martuccio's separation
- 03Martuccio's counsel to the king of Tunis
- 01Martuccio and Costanza's reunion and marriage
- 02Pietro Boccamazza and Agnolella flee Rome
- 03Separation in the wood and Agnolella's refuge
- 04Pietro's night in the oak and the wolves
- 01Pietro and Agnolella’s marriage at the castle
- 02Ricciardo Manardi and Caterina’s secret courtship
- 03The gallery bed and the nightingale ruse
- 01Ricciardo's discovery and marriage to Caterina
- 02Guidotto's daughter in Faenza
- 01Gianni di Procida and Restituta
- 02King Frederick's sentence and Ruggieri's intervention
- 01Teodoro’s upbringing in Messer Amerigo’s house
- 02Violante and Pietro’s secret love affair
- 03Pregnancy, condemnation, and paternal recognition
- 01Teodoro and Violante's marriage and reconciliation
- 02Nastagio degli Onesti's unrequited love and retreat to Chiassi
- 03The haunted pine-wood vision
- 01Federigo's courtship and ruin
- 02Madam Giovanna seeks the falcon
- 03The falcon served at dinner
- 04Giovanna chooses Federigo as husband
- 01Dioneo's preface on laughter and diversion
- 02Pietro di Vinciolo's neglected wife seeks lovers
- 03The hidden gallant is exposed
- 04Pietro and his wife's bargain
- 05Pietro confronts his wife and the youth
- 06Elisa's day of command and the next debate
- 01Licisca and Tindaro's quarrel
- 02Madam Oretta and the disordered story
- 01Cisti the Baker and Messer Geri Spina
- 01Cisti’s gift of wine to Messer Geri
- 02Madam Nonna de’ Pulci silences the Bishop of Florence
- 01Nonna de' Pulci's retort to the marshal
- 02Chichibio and the crane
- 01Messer Forese da Rabatta and Giotto
- 01Michele Scalza and the Cadgers of Florence
- 01Scalza’s argument for the Cadgers’ nobility
- 02Madam Filippa before the provost
- 01Fresco's rebuke of Ciesca's vanity
- 01Guido Cavalcanti and the Florentine gentlemen
- 01Guido's witty rebuke at the tombs
- 02Fra Cipolla and the promised relic
- 03Fra Cipolla's relics and the coals of St. Lawrence
- 04Dioneo's new theme for the next tale
- 05Elisa leads the company to the Ladies' Valley
- 06The Ladies' Valley and the bathing lake
- 07The young men's visit to the valley
- 08Elisa's song of love's bondage
- 01Arrival in the Ladies' Valley
- 02Gianni Lotteringhi and Mistress Tessa's deception
- 01Peronella and Giannello's secret arrangement
- 02The husband's return and Peronella's deception
- 01Peronella and the vat bargain
- 02Fra Rinaldo and Madam Agnesa
- 01Fra Rinaldo restores the child
- 02Tofano's jealousy and the locked-out wife
- 01Tofano’s reconciliation after jealousy
- 02Fiammetta’s defense of wives against jealous husbands
- 03The wife and Filippo through the wall
- 04Christmas confession in priest’s disguise
- 05The husband’s night watch and the lover’s visit
- 06The wife's exposure of her husband's jealousy
- 07The husband's repentance and the lovers' open affair
- 01Madam Isabella and her two lovers
- 02Messer Lambertuccio's visit and the husband's return
- 01Lodovico's pursuit of Madam Beatrice
- 02The midnight deception in the garden
- 01Anichino's cudgeling of Egano
- 02Sismonda's twine device and Arriguccio's discovery
- 03The brothers confront Arriguccio
- 04The wife's exposure of Arriguccio's drunken misconduct
- 01Lydia’s pursuit of Pyrrhus
- 02The hawk, beard, and tooth tests
- 03The tooth extraction ruse
- 04The pear-tree deception
- 01Tingoccio Mini and Meuccio di Tura
- 02Lauretta's queenship and the day's closing amusements
- 01Friday's pause in storytelling
- 02Lauretta's opening and Gulfardo's bargain with Madam Ambruogia
- 01The priest's pursuit of Mistress Belcolore
- 02The cloak and mortar trick
- 01Calandrino hears of the heliotrope
- 02The Sunday search in the Mugnone
- 03Calandrino's return home with the stones
- 04Buffalmacco and Bruno expose the trick
- 01Madam Piccarda and the rector's importunity
- 02Ciutazza's substitution and the bishop's discovery
- 01Maso spots the judge's breeches
- 02The courtroom prank and exposed judge
- 03The judge's outrage and the provost's silence
- 01Calandrino's stolen pig
- 02The ginger-bolus ordeal
- 01Calandrino fleeced of the capons
- 02Pampinea's tale of Elena and Rinieri
- 03The scholar’s recovery and hidden revenge
- 04The widow’s plea for necromancy
- 05The night ritual at the tower
- 06Elena's plea from the tower
- 07Rinieri's refusal and rebuke
- 08Rinieri's revenge on the tower
- 09The lady's rescue by maid and husbandman
- 01The foolish young lady's punishment
- 02Spinelloccio and Zeppa's revenge
- 01Spinelloccio and Zeppa's shared wives
- 02Master Simone da Villa and Bruno's deception
- 03Bruno flatters Master Simone into friendship
- 04The physician asks to join the merry company
- 05Buffalmacco and Bruno trick Master Simone into the secret company
- 06The nocturnal ride and the dung dyke prank
- 01Buffalmacco and the physician's humiliation
- 02Palermo customs and the barberesses' trade
- 03Salabaetto's courtship by Madam Biancofiore
- 04Biancofiore wins Salabaetto's five hundred florins
- 05Canigiano's scheme and the false warehouse stock
- 06The returned purse and renewed deception
- 07The corsair ransom ruse and final loan
- 08Salabaetto's revenge on Biancofiore
- 09Emilia's accession and release from the fixed law
- 10Evening diversions and Pamfilo's song
- 01Emilia's morning outing and the day's storytelling begins
- 02Madam Francesca's ruse to escape two suitors
- 03Alessandro and Rinuccio in the tomb
- 01Rinuccio and Alessandro's failed errand
- 02Isabetta's secret affair and the abbess's discovery
- 03The abbess's mistaken dress and Isabetta's defense
- 01Calandrino's false pregnancy trick
- 01Fortarrigo's gambling theft at Buonconvento
- 02Angiolieri's accusation and Fortarrigo's shameless plea
- 01Calandrino's love for Niccolosa
- 02Bruno's talisman trick
- 03Niccolosa's feigned welcome and Calandrino's trap
- 04Dame Tessa's furious discovery and scolding
- 01Calandrino sent back to Florence
- 02Pinuccio's plan to lodge at the inn
- 03The mistaken beds and the hostess's quick cover-up
- 01Talano's warning dream
- 01The wolf attack and the wife's punishment
- 02Ciacco and Biondello's dinner trick and revenge
- 01Biondello's beating and Ciacco's revenge
- 02Solomon's counsel on love and marriage correction
- 01Giosefo's beating of the froward wife
- 02Dom Gianni and Pietro's mare conjuration
- 03Pamfilo's kingship and the new day's theme
- 01Neifile's canzonet and the close of the ninth day
- 02Pamfilo's opening of the tenth day
- 03Messer Ruggieri and the king's proof of fortune
- 01Ghino di Tacco's capture of the Abbot of Cluny
- 02Ghino's cure for the stomach-complaint
- 03The abbot's reconciliation of Ghino with Pope Boniface
- 01Nathan's palace of hospitality
- 02Mithridanes's envy and murder plot
- 03Nathan's counsel and the coppice encounter
- 01Messer Gentile's rescue of Madam Catalina
- 02The banquet and Persian custom
- 01Messer Gentile's restored promise
- 02Dianora's impossible winter garden
- 03Gilberto's generous release and Ansaldo's refusal
- 01King Charles's desire for Messer Neri's daughters
- 01King Charles's self-conquest and the marriage of the two ladies
- 02Lisa's love for King Pedro
- 03Minuccio's song and the king's promise
- 04The king visits Lisa in her chamber
- 05Lisa's recovery and the royal reward
- 01King Pedro's reward to Lisa and Perdicone
- 02Titus and Gisippus at Athens
- 03Titus's secret love for Sophronia
- 04Gisippus offers Sophronia to Titus
- 05Gisippus persuades Titus to accept Sophronia
- 06The secret marriage and Titus's departure
- 07Public accusation and Titus's defense of Gisippus
- 08Titus defends the secret marriage
- 09Gisippus in exile and the murder charge
- 10Gisippus welcomed into Titus's household
- 11Friendship praised as the highest virtue
- 01Saladin's disguise and arrival in Lombardy
- 02Messer Torello's first night of hospitality
- 03The lady's banquet and gifts for the strangers
- 04Torello's farewell and crusade departure
- 05Capture in Acre and service to Saladin
- 06Saladin's recognition and Torello's honor
- 07False report of Torello's death
- 08The wife's remarriage deadline and Torello's despair
- 09Saladin's farewell and the enchanted departure
- 10Torello's awakening at San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro
- 11Recognition at the wedding feast
- 01Gualtieri's refusal to marry
- 02Griselda's marriage and rise to marchioness
- 03The children's supposed deaths
- 04Gualtieri repudiates Griselda
- 05Griselda prepares the false wedding feast
- 06The revelation of Griselda's trial
- 07The king ends the brigata's stay
- 08Fiammetta's jealous song
- 09Closing banter and return to Florence
- 01Reply to objections about the stories
- 01Explanatory footnotes on names and translations
- 02Explanatory footnotes on historical and textual references
- 01Glosses on Boccaccio's vocabulary and idioms
- 02Notes on friars, convents, and lay religious orders
- 03Textual and interpretive difficulties in the Decameron
- 01Lisabetta’s basil-pot lament
- 02Historical and textual notes on the story
- 01Fra Cipolla’s patter-sermon and place-names
- 02Notes on the tale of tricks and wordplay
- 01Textual notes and lexical glosses
- 01Explanatory notes and glosses
- 01Glossary and explanatory notes
- 01Explanatory notes on Italian and classical terms
- 01Explanatory notes on translated terms and phrases
- 01Editorial notes and explanatory glosses
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