About Gianni Rodari
In 1920, in Italy, a boy, Gianni, was born into the family of a baker. He often fell ill, cried, and was difficult to educate. The kid himself became interested in music and literature, played the violin and read books by Nietzsche and Schopenhauer, unusual for children.
The soul of the family was a father who knew how to have fun and fill the life of his wife and three sons with joy. His death was a heavy blow to Gianni, his mother, the brothers Mario and Cesare. Mom worked day and night to somehow feed her family.
The boys studied at the theological seminary, because there was no need to pay there and with all their hearts they hated study, a boring measured life and the poverty surrounding them. Gianni spent all his time in the library in order to somehow kill time, and then he got a taste and it was no longer possible to tear him away from books.
In 1937, Gianni's torment ended with the end of the seminary. The young man began to work as a teacher in order to earn money and help his mother, while studying at the University of Milan. However, with the outbreak of war, the life of Gianni Rodari changed ...
1952 became a significant year in his fate - it was then that the future writer arrived in the USSR, where, over time, his fairy tales were loved more than at home. In 1970, the Andersen Prize received by Gianni brought him long-awaited fame.
About the Tales of Gianni Rodari
Tales of Gianni Rodari are fantastic stories in which there is no banality or obsessive morality, everything in them is simple and at the same time filled with magic. Reading the fairy tales of Rodari, an adult will be surprised more than once by the gift of the author to invent unusual characters. The child always reads or listens with burning eyes about the miracles that happen in fairy tales, empathizes with the heroes.
One way or another, it must be extraordinary person and love children very much, to write such wonderful tales, fill them with joy and fun, shade them a little with sadness, but only a little.
Gianni Rodari himself really wanted the children to treat his fairy tales like toys, that is, to have fun, come up with their own endings to stories that they would never get tired of. Rodari tried to help parents get closer to their children and was very happy if the book was not just read, but also aroused in children the desire to speak, argue, and invent their own stories.
I would like to finish our a brief history about the life and work of Gianni Rodari in his own words: "Books are the best toys, and without toys, children simply cannot grow up kind."
The works of Gianni Rodari have won the hearts of children all over the world. According to the writer, books, like toys, should teach the child the basics in an entertaining way. life principles. This is how Gianni Rodari tried to make his works for children: bright, burning, instructive. The years of his childhood cannot be called prosperous, however, he did not get angry at life: in his fairy tales there is a lot of light and humorous, but they are not without sad aspects of social inequality. After all, a book should be truthful, open all aspects of life, even if it is a fairy tale about a boy with an excessively loud voice, or about poor Cipollino, or about the journey of toys before Christmas.
Biography of the writer
The writer comes from a baker's family. Unfortunately, the father of the future writer died of pneumonia when Gianni was a ten-year-old boy. The family was left on the shoulders of one mother. In addition to Gianni, Rodari had two more sons.
For lack of funds for a secular school, the boys go to study at a theological seminary. How Rodari did not like these classes, so boring and monotonous! So I ran after to the library to somehow have some fun. There he was fond of the books of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, completely uncharacteristic for a teenager.
Graduation was a great joy. The young man enters the university, in parallel begins to work as a teacher, because it was necessary to support the mother, who was exhausted in order to feed her sons. Life began to improve, but this period did not last long: the war began.
Rodari was not taken to the front - he was recognized as unsuitable for military service due to poor health. Difficult economic conditions, lack of money forced the writer to join the fascist party. Although he did not stay a member for long, joining the Resistance.
After the war, Rodari worked as a journalist, writing children's books. 1953 brought happiness to the personal life of the writer: he marries, and four years later becomes a father. His daughter Paola became an only child. During these years, he does not publish works, he is engaged in journalism (in 1957, Rodari was certified as a professional journalist).
The writer received worldwide recognition after he was awarded the Andersen Prize, a prestigious literary award.
Rodari died in 1980 from a serious illness.
The formation of creativity
How did the works of Gianni Rodari for children begin to appear? The list of them is quite impressive. This includes fairy tales and short stories and even poetry. creative activity the writer began in 1950, releasing a small collection of poems, and after that - the fairy tale "The Adventures of Cipollino". Then he was appointed editor-in-chief of a children's magazine - this dictated the direction of writing.
Especially the fairy tale about the onion boy, a fighter against social injustice, fell in love with the USSR. Already in 1953, young residents of the Union began to read it with interest. The translation was supervised by S. Marshak himself.
In the late 60s, Rodari devoted his time entirely to journalism, temporarily giving up writing children's works. He only works with the younger generation.
Many of the works of Gianni Rodari are put into films, and in one of them he acts himself.
The success of "Cipollino" prompted the writer to create his subsequent fairy tales about Gelsomino and the Blue Arrow. He also writes numerous short stories, stories, instructive poems - these are the works of Gianni Rodari. Their list is so long that we will focus on the largest and most famous. Let's start with the very first one that brought popularity to the writer - "The Adventures of Cipollino"
Rodari the Storyteller: "The Adventures of Chippolino"
This tale immediately comes to mind as soon as the question is asked: “What works did Gianni Rodari write?” Which of the children did not feel sad with Pan Pumpkin, did not get angry at the oppressor Senor Tomato, did not admire the brave boy Cipollino ?!
The tale fell in love with readers around the world, experienced numerous productions on theater stage, animation and film versions. Particularly fond of the work in the USSR. Probably because serious questions of class inequality are raised in the fairy tale. This distinguishes many of the children's works of Gianni Rodari.
The tale tells about the poor Cipollino, whose father, by an absurd accident, is thrown into prison - he inadvertently stepped on the foot of Prince Lemon, the ruler of an imaginary country of vegetables. Promising to rescue his parent, the onion boy goes on a journey. It should be said that Rodari does not specify the name of the country, which indicates its universality. At the head - Prince Lemon and Countess Cherry, they have a manager - Senor Tomato. All of them will be punished by Chipollino and his newfound friends.
Thus, in a relaxed game, bright and funny characters, young readers discover the truth about a world where there is social injustice and oppression of the poor. Rodari tried to draw a parallel with the fairy tale "Pinocchio", however, in its author Collodi, the issues of social discord, poverty and injustice, although they sound, are not reflected as clearly as in "Cipollino".
"Gelsomino in the Land of Liars"
Gianni Rodari did not tolerate lies. He considered liars and hypocrites to be the greatest enemies of man. In his opinion, only the truth could break the shackles of untruth. She, like a smashing voice, must break the lie. Such a gift and endowed Rodari Gelsomino.
The plot of the tale takes place in the Land of Liars, where main character- the boy Gelsomino (translated into Russian as "jasmine"), who has a super-loud voice. At first, the boy does not understand whether this is a gift or a curse. However, making sure that he has no place among ordinary people, Gelsomino leaves his hometown. Traveling, he gets into Magic world- a country where everyone tells a lie: in the store they sell ink instead of bread, people say insults to each other instead of compliments, artists draw implausible pictures, and only fake money is in circulation. Even animals must obey this rule: cats bark, cows neigh, dogs meow, and horses low.
Blame it all - the dictatorship of King Giacomon. At first, Gelsomino does not understand what is happening around, but soon gets used to new conditions, makes friends, among whom there is even a three-legged cat, which, unlike other relatives, does not want to bark in principle. Friends expose the king, and the country begins to live in an atmosphere of truth.
It is noteworthy that the works of Gianni Rodari gave the world winged sayings. One of them concerns the wonderful voice of Gelsomino. The fact that a person speaks like Gelsomino means that he is excessively loud. Sometimes the expression "sings like Gelsomino" can be defined as high praise in the manner of a solo performance. The same name is used for an exceptionally honest person.
There were several translations of the fairy tale, it was very fond of the inhabitants of the USSR, like the numerous works of Gianni Rodari for children.
"Journey of the Blue Arrow"
Childhood Rodari can hardly be called happy and joyful. All the sadness, the injustice of this state of affairs, when kids from poor families cannot receive gifts because their parents have no money, resulted in the fairy tale “The Journey of the Blue Arrow”.
The toys that live in the shop window see a boy every day who looks sadly at the electronic train. The mother of the child has no money to buy a toy: she has not yet paid for the Christmas gifts of the past two years. Incidentally, the original we are talking about about Christmas gifts, while in translation - about New Year's.
The toys decide to put an end to injustice and go on a trip to the children who were left without gifts at Christmas. This list was shared with them by the assistant to the owner of the store. The boy himself Francesco at this time is taken hostage during the robbery of a toy store. The police do not believe in his innocence, but the owner of the shop, an elderly Fairy, whose seriousness is only a fake mask, saves the boy.
"Tales on the Phone"
Tales on the Phone are imbued with special poeticism. These works by Gianni Rodari are based on folklore motifs. Such are the tales of the candied fruit palace, which could be tasted by everyone in the square.
These short stories are full deep meaning: you need to be attentive (a tale about a boy who lost things and even parts of his body all the time), kind, sympathetic. However, you also need to be able to look at the world from an unusual side ("Blue traffic light").
Fairy tales condemn laziness, rudeness and even gluttony.
"Grammar of Fantasy"
Rodari not only wrote himself, but also encouraged others to do so, tried to discover in his young readers the gift of writing, to teach them how to invent their own bright, instructive “toy books”. About this is the work "Grammar of Fantasy".
More than once the writer visits the USSR, he is attracted by the education system in the Union - with his thoughts about this, also about the development creativity he shares in this book. It is written in the same light, casual language as works of art, so it is easy to read the work for children and adults.
Some of the chapters are devoted to the theoretical foundations of writing: the structure of the work, the correct design - all this is analyzed using examples of specific works. The author conveys a simple idea: the work of a writer is not a talent that comes from nowhere, this can and should be learned.
Rodari the poet
At the beginning creative career Rodari writes poetry. The most famous in our country is “What do crafts smell like”. This is a call for a truly important profession.
Rodari, true to the principles of communism, believed that the development of the country was in the hands of ordinary workers, simple people, but very important professions. This is what he is trying to convey to the little reader.
In Russia, J. Rodari is probably loved by everyone - both children and adults. They love him for his cheerfulness and inexhaustible fantasy, for his funny humor. Appreciated for respect for the hands of honest workers and for hostility to the white-handed rich. He knew perfectly well what they smelled like. various professions What are the tears of poor children worth. Not hiding the fact that there are a huge number of injustices in the world - in a world where money reigns - Rodari believed in the victory of love and kindness, and with this faith he captivated his readers.
Inventing his fairy tales, Gianni Rodari helped to educate the children of the whole world. He wanted them to be creative people, whether they become astronauts or geologists, drivers or sailors, doctors or confectioners. After all, a vivid fantasy is needed not at all for everyone to be poets, but in order to “not be a slave.”
It is also worth noting that the fairy tales of Rodari bring up masculinity, kindness and honesty in children, making them cheerful and talkative - so that they always remain optimists. It was this goal that he sought to achieve with all his creations.
The characters, born of the fantasy of D. Rodari, appeared from the pages of a fairy tale. The writer met the funny Neapolitan face of his hero in the Palace of Culture, in the foyer of the theater, in the homes of Moscow children. A storyteller's dream came true. The toys that he made “from letters” in his stories turned into real ones. They can be fun for the whole family to play with. Tales of Rodari are the same ordinary toys that help moms and dads get close to their kids, laugh together. On our website you can see online list fairy tales by Gianni Rodari, and enjoy reading them absolutely free.
Chapter 1. Signora at five minutes to Baroness Fairy was an old lady, very well-bred and noble, almost a baroness. “They call me,” she sometimes muttered to herself, “just Fairy, and I don’t protest: after all, one must have indulgence towards the ignorant.” But I'm almost a baroness; decent people know this. “Yes, Signora Baroness,” the maid agreed. - I'm not a 100% baroness, but I miss her...
CHAPTER 1: In which Cipollone crushed the leg of Prince Lemon Cipollino was the son of Cipollone. And he had seven brothers: Cipolletto, Cipollotto, Cipolloccia, Cipolluccia and so on - the most suitable names for an honest onion family. They were good people, I must say frankly, but they were not lucky in life. What can you do: where the bow, there are tears. Cipollone, his wife and sons lived in a wooden shack...
There was once a war, a great and terrible war between two countries. A lot of soldiers then died on the battlefield. We were on our side and the enemy was on theirs. The shooting went on day and night, but the war still did not end, and we began to lack bronze for cannons, iron for machine guns ran out, and so on. Then our Commanding Supergeneral...
October 23 marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of the Italian writer and journalist Gianni Rodari.
Italian writer and journalist Gianni Rodari was born on October 23, 1920 in the town of Omegna in northern Italy. The boy's father, Giuseppe Rodari, was a baker - the owner of a small bakery and a bakery and grocery store.
As a child, Gianni Rodari was sick a lot, he was a very weak child. Despite this, he learned to play the violin, composed poetry, drew with pleasure and dreamed of becoming famous artist. When the boy was 9 years old, his father died. The family has had a difficult time. To feed her family (Gianni had two more brothers - Cesare and Mario), her mother got a job as a servant in a rich house.
Gianni Rodari had to study at the theological seminary - there they not only taught the children of the poor, but also fed and clothed them for free.
After graduating from the seminary in 1937, he was forced to go to work to help his family. Rodari became a teacher in primary school and at the same time attended lectures at the philological faculty of the University of Milan, read literature on philosophy and social science - Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Trotsky, Lenin.
After Pioneer, Rodari worked in the Avangard youth magazine, then he moved to the mass left-wing newspaper Paese Sera, where he worked as a literary collaborator until the end of his life. His feuilletons appeared almost daily on its pages. He also published in various Italian publications, led a column for children on the radio.
For three decades literary work Gianni Rodari published more than a dozen books for children - in verse and prose. Rodari's poems (collections Book of Jolly Poems, 1951; Train of Poems, 1952; Poems in Heaven and on Earth, 1960; etc.) showed the writer's ability to reveal the complexity and significance of the world in a familiar and small phenomenon.
The tales of Rodari are very interesting and informative. The most famous of them is the fairy tale story "The Adventures of Chipollino" (1951, the Russian translation of Marshak was published in 1953) about an onion boy and his friends. The heroes of this fairy tale live in a fantasy country inhabited by little men-vegetables, little men-fruits. The fairy tale constantly combines reality and fiction. The author made it a rule: entertaining, talking about serious things. Cheerful, never discouraged, Cipollino protects the poor, fights for justice, opposes cruelty and evil.
The work gained especially wide popularity in the USSR, where a cartoon (1961) was shot on it, and then the film the fairy tale "Cipollino" (1973), where Gianni Rodari starred in an episodic role.
Rodari wrote several more fairy tales: "The Adventures of the Blue Arrow" (1952), "Jelsomino in the Land of Liars" (1959), "Tales on the Phone" (1961), "Cake in the Sky" (1966) and others.
The only book that the author addressed to adults, but which, as he joked, "by mistake" many children read, was "Fantasy Grammar" with the subtitle - "Introduction to the art of inventing stories." In this book, Rodari tries to teach adults to invent entertaining stories to awaken the imagination of their children, to help them develop such a valuable quality for a person.
In Italy, Gianni Rodari remained unknown as a writer for a long time, and he perceived himself only as a journalist. His name became popular primarily due to numerous translations into Russian. Best translations Rodari's poems belong to Samuil Marshak. Only after the Adventures of Cipollino was translated into Russian in 1953 did the triumphal procession of the works of Gianni Rodari begin around the world. Over time, and in the homeland of the writer - in Italy, Rodari's poems and fairy tales began to be included in school textbooks.
Fame came to the writer, millions of copies of books, high literary titles and awards. For the book "Cake in the sky" Gianni Rodari received a pan-European award and a gold medal. High awards were given to "Jeep on TV" and "Book of Errors". In 1967 he was recognized the best writer Italy. And in 1970, for the totality of all the works of Gianni Rodari, the International Gold medal named after Hans Christian Andersen - the highest award in children's literature.
The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources.
Gianni Rodari- famous Italian children's writer and journalist.
As a child, Gianni Rodari was ill a lot, but he worked hard - he learned to play the violin, composed poetry, painted and dreamed of becoming a famous artist.
The boy's father was a broth, and died when his son was 10 years old. The family has had a difficult time. To feed his family (Gianni had two more brothers - Cesare and Mario), his mother got a job as a servant in a rich house.
Gianni Rodari had to study at the theological seminary - there they not only taught the children of the poor, but also fed and clothed them for free.
After graduating from the seminary in 1937, he was forced to go to work. Rodari became a teacher in elementary school and at the same time attended lectures at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Milan, engaged in self-education.
Gianni Rodari liked working with children, he came up with funny and cautionary tales. His pupils built houses from letters, together with the teacher they composed fairy tales.
During World War II, Rodari was released from service due to ill health. After the death of two close friends and the imprisonment of his brother Cesare in a concentration camp, he became a member of the Resistance Movement, in 1944 he joined the Italian Communist Party.
In 1948, Rodari became a journalist for the communist newspaper L'Unita and began writing fairy tales for children. In 1950 the party appointed him editor of a newly created weekly children's magazine, Pioniere, in Rome.
In 1952, Gianni Rodari first came to the USSR, where he then visited repeatedly.
In 1953 he married Maria Teresa Feretti, four years later they had a daughter, Paola.
In 1957, Rodari passed the exam for the title of professional journalist, and in 1966-1969 he did not publish books and only worked on projects with children.
In 1970, the writer received the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Prize, which helped him gain worldwide fame.
After Pioneer, Rodari worked in the Avangard youth magazine, then he moved to the mass left-wing newspaper Paese Sera, where he worked as a literary collaborator until the end of his life.
Rodari wrote many different poems and such fairy tales: "The Adventures of the Blue Arrow" (1952), "Gelsomino in the Land of Liars" (1959), "Tales on the Phone" (1961), "Cake in the Sky" (1966) and others.