Evoluzione emotiva. Una riflessione sul canone letterario fra Settecento e Ottocento

The very concept of canon has undergone several changes over the last decades, having first been criti- cized as a mere instrument of power. Yet, its importance on the literary scene remains unquestionable. Today, there is no longer a single canon, but rather a plurality of canons which are gradually rewritten thanks to literary, cultural, sociological and economic-based theories. By using topical examples, this paper will prove how, in the eighteenth and nineteenth century lit- erary canon, themes, authors and genres are in a state of constant change. The evolution of the concept of canon, or canons, could suggest a new emotional approach that can release this tool from economical and social circumstances.