What type of literature is the Decameron considered?

The Decameron is considered a collection of stories, specifically framed tales woven together. Written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 14th century, it consists of one hundred tales told by a group of ten young people who retreat to the countryside to escape the plague ravaging Florence. Each character shares narratives that reflect a wide range of human experiences, including love, wit, and folly. The structure of these interconnected stories emphasizes not just the individual tales but also the overarching themes of society and human behavior, making it a seminal work in the short story genre and an important precursor to the modern novel. The classification as a collection of stories captures its essence and narrative style, distinguishing it from other forms of literature like plays, poems, or novels.