Sylvia
Leopardi's poem "To Sylvia," is about a young woman called Sylvia, who suffered from tuberculosis. In this poem, Leopardi describes Sylvia's terrible loss of life and vitality, which becomes a symbol for his own loss of health and happiness throughout his own life. Overall, Sylvia's demise represents the disillusionment and disappointment the speaker faced when confronted with the harsh reality of the world.
The Moon
Leopardi often references the moon in his poetry, exploring its mystical and symbolic connotations. For example, in "Night-Song Of A Wandering Shepherd of Asia," Leopardi's speaker questions the existence of the moon, describing it with a host of symbolism. For example, Leopardi depicts the moon as being "an old man, white-haired, infirm, barefoot and half-naked, with a heavy load on his shoulders." Later, the poet refers to the moon's classical association with the Virgin Mary: "Virgin Moon, such is the life of man."
Spring
In his poem "To Spring," Leopardi subverts the typical symbolism associated with the season, including its connection with life and vitality. Instead, Leopardi associates spring with the remainder of the death and decay that is about to occur in winter, thus presenting spring as a bittersweet season.
