The Renaissance Period in English literature
Introduction
The Renaissance Period in English literature is also called the Elizabethan Period or the Age of
Shakespeare. The middle Ages in Europe were followed by the Renaissance. Renaissance means the
Revival of Learning, and it denotes in its broadest sense the gradual enlightenment of the human mind
after the darkness of the Middle Ages.
Historical Background
With the fall of Constantinople in 1453 A.D. by the invasion of the Turks, the Greek scholars who were
residing there, spread all over Europe, and brought with them invaluable Greek manuscripts. The
discovery of these classical models resulted in the Revival of Learning in the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries. The essence of this movement was that “man discovered himself and the universe”, and that
“man, so long blinded had suddenly opened his eyes and seen”. The flood of Greek literature which the
new art of printing carried swiftly to every school in Europe revealed a new world of poetry and
philosophy. Along with the Revival of Learning, new discoveries took place in several other fields.
Vascoda Gama circumnavigated the earth; Columbus discovered America; Copernicus discovered the
Solar System and prepared the way for Galileo. Books were printed, and philosophy, science, and art
were systematised. The Middle Ages were past, and the old world had become new. Scholars flocked to
the universities, as adventurers to the new world of America, and there the old authority received a
death blow. Truth only was authority; to search for truth everywhere, as men sought for new lands and
gold and the Fountain of Youth—that was the new spirit, which awoke in Europe with the Revival of
Learning.
Key Facts
• The word ‘renaissance’ is a French word which means ‘rebirth’. The people credited with
beginning the Renaissance were trying to recreate the classical models of Ancient Greek and
Rome.
• The Renaissance period was the succeeding epoch of the Middle Ages which was the gap
defining the classical and modern period. Often branded as the Dark Ages, the Medieval period
was characterized by some years with famine and pandemics such as the Black Death.
• During the 14th century, the philosophy of humanism began to emerge in Italy. Humanism
emphasizes that man is the center of the universe and that all human achievements in art,
literature, and science should be regarded. Instead of relying on the will of God, people began to
act according to capabilities.
• In 1450, Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of movable printing press revolutionized
communication and publication in Europe. As a result, publications of humanist thinkers like
Francesco Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio were printed and distributed to elite and common
people.
• In addition, the growth in trade and commerce between the East and West set the stage for the
Renaissance.
, FAMOUS PEOPLE
• The emergence of rich cultural history through art began in Florence, Italy when wealthy citizens
and families supported developing artists. Among the well-known supporters of this movement
was the Medici family.
• Also known as the House of Medici, the Medici family were a family of wealthy bankers of
Caffaggiolo who emigrated to Florence in the 12 century. They became the most wealthy and
powerful family in Florence by the 13th century and produced four popes: Leo X, Clement VII,
Pius IV, and Leo XI. Moreover, they were known to finance arts and humanities.
• With powerful members of the Medici family, the Renaissance movement soon spread in Italian
cities of Venice, Milan, Bologna, Ferrara, and Rome. By the 15th century, the idea of Renaissance
spread through France and other parts of Europe.
• Some of the most famous intellectuals who dominated the Renaissance included Leonardo da
Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, William Shakespeare, John Milton, William Byrd, Niccolo
Machiavelli, Giotto, Dante, Thomas Hobbes, Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Rene
Descartes, and Erasmus.
• At the end of the 16th century, the Age of Exploration emerged with sailing discoveries made by
Bartolomeu Dias, Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and other known explorers.
• In the first half of the 16th century, a number of political events were driven and influenced by
the Renaissance. The beginning of the Roman Golden Age began with the appointment of Julius
II as the new pope.
• In 1509, Henry VIII of England came to power, while France was ruled by Francis I in 1515. By
1530, Charles V became the Holy Roman Emperor. Prior to this, in 1527, Charles V dismissed
Rome in order to prevent the annulment of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon which later led
to the establishment of the Church of England.
• By 1558, England’s Golden Age began with the crowning of Queen Elizabeth I. Two years earlier,
Charles V abdicated the Spanish throne and Philip II took over.
Characteristics
Humanism
The chief characteristic of the Renaissance was its emphasis on Humanism, which means man’s concern
with himself as an object of contemplation. This movement was started in Italy by Dante, Petrarch and
Boccaccio in the fourteenth century, and from there it spread to other countries of Europe. In England it
became popular during the Elizabethan period. This movement which focused its interest on ‘the proper
study of mankind’ had a number of subordinate trends.
Aspects of Humanism
• The first important aspect was the rediscovery of classical antiquity, and particularly of ancient
Greece. During the medieval period, the tradition-bound Europe had forgotten the liberal tone
of old Greek world and its spirit of democracy and human dignity. With the revival of interest in
Greek Classical Antiquity, the new spirit of Humanism made its impact on the Western world.
The first Englishman who wrote under the influence of Greek studies was Sir Thomas More. His
Introduction
The Renaissance Period in English literature is also called the Elizabethan Period or the Age of
Shakespeare. The middle Ages in Europe were followed by the Renaissance. Renaissance means the
Revival of Learning, and it denotes in its broadest sense the gradual enlightenment of the human mind
after the darkness of the Middle Ages.
Historical Background
With the fall of Constantinople in 1453 A.D. by the invasion of the Turks, the Greek scholars who were
residing there, spread all over Europe, and brought with them invaluable Greek manuscripts. The
discovery of these classical models resulted in the Revival of Learning in the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries. The essence of this movement was that “man discovered himself and the universe”, and that
“man, so long blinded had suddenly opened his eyes and seen”. The flood of Greek literature which the
new art of printing carried swiftly to every school in Europe revealed a new world of poetry and
philosophy. Along with the Revival of Learning, new discoveries took place in several other fields.
Vascoda Gama circumnavigated the earth; Columbus discovered America; Copernicus discovered the
Solar System and prepared the way for Galileo. Books were printed, and philosophy, science, and art
were systematised. The Middle Ages were past, and the old world had become new. Scholars flocked to
the universities, as adventurers to the new world of America, and there the old authority received a
death blow. Truth only was authority; to search for truth everywhere, as men sought for new lands and
gold and the Fountain of Youth—that was the new spirit, which awoke in Europe with the Revival of
Learning.
Key Facts
• The word ‘renaissance’ is a French word which means ‘rebirth’. The people credited with
beginning the Renaissance were trying to recreate the classical models of Ancient Greek and
Rome.
• The Renaissance period was the succeeding epoch of the Middle Ages which was the gap
defining the classical and modern period. Often branded as the Dark Ages, the Medieval period
was characterized by some years with famine and pandemics such as the Black Death.
• During the 14th century, the philosophy of humanism began to emerge in Italy. Humanism
emphasizes that man is the center of the universe and that all human achievements in art,
literature, and science should be regarded. Instead of relying on the will of God, people began to
act according to capabilities.
• In 1450, Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of movable printing press revolutionized
communication and publication in Europe. As a result, publications of humanist thinkers like
Francesco Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio were printed and distributed to elite and common
people.
• In addition, the growth in trade and commerce between the East and West set the stage for the
Renaissance.
, FAMOUS PEOPLE
• The emergence of rich cultural history through art began in Florence, Italy when wealthy citizens
and families supported developing artists. Among the well-known supporters of this movement
was the Medici family.
• Also known as the House of Medici, the Medici family were a family of wealthy bankers of
Caffaggiolo who emigrated to Florence in the 12 century. They became the most wealthy and
powerful family in Florence by the 13th century and produced four popes: Leo X, Clement VII,
Pius IV, and Leo XI. Moreover, they were known to finance arts and humanities.
• With powerful members of the Medici family, the Renaissance movement soon spread in Italian
cities of Venice, Milan, Bologna, Ferrara, and Rome. By the 15th century, the idea of Renaissance
spread through France and other parts of Europe.
• Some of the most famous intellectuals who dominated the Renaissance included Leonardo da
Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, William Shakespeare, John Milton, William Byrd, Niccolo
Machiavelli, Giotto, Dante, Thomas Hobbes, Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Rene
Descartes, and Erasmus.
• At the end of the 16th century, the Age of Exploration emerged with sailing discoveries made by
Bartolomeu Dias, Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and other known explorers.
• In the first half of the 16th century, a number of political events were driven and influenced by
the Renaissance. The beginning of the Roman Golden Age began with the appointment of Julius
II as the new pope.
• In 1509, Henry VIII of England came to power, while France was ruled by Francis I in 1515. By
1530, Charles V became the Holy Roman Emperor. Prior to this, in 1527, Charles V dismissed
Rome in order to prevent the annulment of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon which later led
to the establishment of the Church of England.
• By 1558, England’s Golden Age began with the crowning of Queen Elizabeth I. Two years earlier,
Charles V abdicated the Spanish throne and Philip II took over.
Characteristics
Humanism
The chief characteristic of the Renaissance was its emphasis on Humanism, which means man’s concern
with himself as an object of contemplation. This movement was started in Italy by Dante, Petrarch and
Boccaccio in the fourteenth century, and from there it spread to other countries of Europe. In England it
became popular during the Elizabethan period. This movement which focused its interest on ‘the proper
study of mankind’ had a number of subordinate trends.
Aspects of Humanism
• The first important aspect was the rediscovery of classical antiquity, and particularly of ancient
Greece. During the medieval period, the tradition-bound Europe had forgotten the liberal tone
of old Greek world and its spirit of democracy and human dignity. With the revival of interest in
Greek Classical Antiquity, the new spirit of Humanism made its impact on the Western world.
The first Englishman who wrote under the influence of Greek studies was Sir Thomas More. His
