How, when and why the so-called Chirping of Birds pointed out the Harmony of the World in deas of Harmony in Medieval Culture and Society

In a famous essay Leo Spitzer studied the theme of birds chirping, arguing that in literary composition it represents and expresses the harmony of the world. In fact in European literature birdsong it served to represent different situations. In the classical tradition predominates (without being exclusive) a more aggressive, annoying and disturbing feeling about the singing of the birds. The buzzing of bees must have seemed more harmonious. In the medieval tradition the chirping is then called upon to represent more and more insistently the harmony of the world. It will become evident in the poetic tradition Romance and Germanic. Even in the twelfth century, however, the singing of birds could represent markedly different views on what was harmonious: we try to show it, in particular, comparing the description and evaluation of the song of the birds in De avibus of Hugh of Fouilloy with some texts of the Carmina Burana, in particular Altercatio Phyllidis et Flore (CB 92), which could refer to the Aviarium parodying. In the post-medieval the literary tradition manifests knows these contradictions and differences (medieval and pre-medieval) and subtly playing with them and develops it. This is exemplified quickly with cases that lead us to our times. The expression Shakespearean put to epigraph - that’s what our research promises - may finally be read with greater pleasure and gusto.