A brief overview of the plot of Tasso’s epic, complete with links to all the articles, and a selection of the best of paintings.
history
How the introduction of secular, free and mandatory education in the French Third Republic was depicted at the time, from cradle to doctorate.
A summary of the stories and fate of the 6 leading characters: Godfrey of Bouillon, Prince Tancred, Rinaldo, Clorinda, Princess Erminia and Armida.
The Egyptian army arrives, and the crusaders attack them outside the city of Jerusalem. Despite cunning attempts to kill Godfrey, his crusaders win the day, and deliver the holy city at last.
Rinaldo overcomes the spell on the forest, enabling siege towers to be rebuilt, and a full assault mounted on the city. Tancred and Argante complete their duel, and Erminia saves Tancred’s life.
Charles and Ubaldo show Rinaldo how he has become a woman’s dandy, and get him to return to the crusade with them, leaving Armida seeking her vengeance.
Charles and Ubaldo fly across the Mediterranean in a ship, reach the island where Armida is holding Rinaldo captive in her garden, and ascend its mountain to rescue him.
The crusaders can’t replace their siege towers because the nearby wood is bewitched. Godfrey dispatches a party to retrieve Rinaldo, but he has been abducted by Armida.
Tancred loses Erminia’s trail in a wood, and is tricked into stepping into a dungeon. Battle rages outside Jerusalem, and Godfrey is forced to try to take the city, putting Clorinda at risk.
Armida takes her ten knights, while Erminia secretly leaves Jerusalem to minister to the wounded Tancred. She flees and becomes lost in the country, where she finds a family of shepherds.
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