Giovanni Pascoli (1855–1912) was a founding figure in modern Italian poetry. His use of natural imagery and his incorporation of dialect into formal verse paved the way for twentieth- century poets. Primarily inspired by his devotion to family and his grief over the early deaths of his parents and siblings, Pascoli’s masterworks include Myricae and Canti di Castelvecchio. He was also a renowned professor of Italian literature at the University of Bologna.