Which historical and philosophical figure's theory of cyclical history (the 'ricorso') informs the structure of 'Finnegans Wake'?
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Correct answer: Giambattista Vico
Joyce utilized Vico’s 'Scienza Nuova,' which posits that history moves through four stages: Divine, Heroic, Human, and Confusion (Ricorso). The circularity of 'Finnegans Wake' reflects this Viconian cycle.
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