Gelli e Borghini su Dante e Omero

The article examines the Renaissance debate on the relationship between Dante and Homer, focusing on the interpretations of Gelli and Borghini. The comparison between the two poets becomes a critical tool for assessing the value of the Commedia, the role of the vernacular, and the criteria of Aristotelian poetics. Gelli tends to elevate Dante to the level of Homer, emphasizing the power of his natural genius, capable of independently formulating poetic rules; Borghini, more cautious, acknowledges Dante’s greatness but rejects absolute comparisons, preferring to evaluate him within his own genre and in relation to Aristotelian norms. Overall, the comparison with Homer reflects broader issues—such as Florence’s cultural primacy, the imitation of classical models, and the definition of the canon—and has a lasting impact on Dante’s critical reception in subsequent centuries.