L’infanzia della maturità. Poesia e gioco secondo Toti Scialoja

Toti Scialoja’s poetic journey serves as a compelling case study in the consistent use of alliteration as a structural framework in poetry and literature. This compositional matrix was adeptly employed to craft whimsical verses addressed to children and later, to fashion poignant and intense lyrical compositions. The analysis of this paper places a particular focus on the semantics entwined with repetitive sound patterns, highlighting the poet’s skill in blending starkly contrasting elements to elicit moments of humor. Drawing from Raskin’s Semantic Script Theory of Humor, this study elucidates the mechanisms that render these verses impactful, utilizing contrasting pairs that range from mutually exclusive – or complementary – to gradual, such as the play on antonyms. Moreover, within Scialoja’s repertoire lie dramatic works where phonetic orchestrations act as a cohesive agent, binding together harmonious meanings amidst their narrative essence.