Jerusalem Delivered

Torquato Tasso was a 19th century Italian poet. His most famous poem was La Geruslalemme Liberata. Jerusalem Delivered was written in 1580. This poem is an imaginative version of the fighting between Christian and Muslims in the final months of the First Crusade during the siege of Jerusalem. The poem is in the Italian epic style with strict unity of plot and heightening poetic diction. The action of the epic revolves around Armida, the beautiful witch, sent forth by the infernal senate to sow discord in the Christian camp. Amida's love of a crusading knight turns her faith to Christianity. The poem is full of adventure, conflict and romance.