D'ANNUNZIO'S ICARIAN MYTHOPOESIS

Abstract

Some of D'Annunzio's works reflect the poet's fascination with airplanes taking shape in the incarnation of Icarus the aviator. This essay explores how the references to the Icarus Myth are interconnected. It deals first mainly with D'Annunzio's novel Forse che sì forse che no. Then, it shows how the theme resurfaces during the poet's participation in World War I and his interest in aviation. Finally, it illustrates how the different patterns of meaning continue to evolve during the last stage of the poet's life to become ultimately, through a synthesizing creative act, D'Annunzio's Icarian mythopoesis.