Renaissance literature

Pope Sixtus IV, 1477, builder of the Sistine Chapel. Fresco by Melozzo da Forlì in the Vatican Palace.

Renaissance Literature refers to the period in European literature, which began in Italy during the 15th century and spread around Europe through the 17th century. The impact of the Renaissance varied across the continent; countries that were predominantly Catholic or Protestant experienced the Renaissance differently compared to areas where the Orthodox Church was dominant as reflecting on its culture, as well as those areas of Europe under Islamic rule.

The creation of the printing press by Johann Gutenberg encouraged authors to write in the local vernacular rather than in Greek or Latin classical languages, widening the reading audience and promoting the spread of Renaissance ideas. A prime example of the writings of the time are the works of William Shakespeare, who was fundamental in the spread of Renaissance ideas.

Authors of the Renaissance

Among the famous authors of the literary movement of the Renaissance are:

• Dante (Divine Comedy) (arguably a legacy of the Medieval era)
• Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (Oration on the Dignity of Man)
• Erasmus (In Praise of Folly)
• Sir Thomas More (Utopia)
• Boccaccio (On Famous Women, Decameron)
• Machiavelli (The Prince)
• Castiglione (The Book of the Courtier)
• Montaigne (Essais)
• Cervantes (Don Quixote)
• Luís de Camões (The Lusiads)
• William Shakespeare (Hamlet)

The theme of justice

Within Renaissance literature, there seems to be an underlying theme of justice; however, individual characters are not exemplary figures of justice themselves. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, believed that instead of seeking personal revenge, true justice could only be obtained through a body of jurors who were willing and capable of distributing justice to individuals. Thus the characters in Renaissance literature typically defy Aristotelian views of virtue by having little respect for others.

Role of women in Renaissance literature

Women played minor but steadily growing role in Renaissance literature. They were still limited by society because of their gender but, nevertheless, some women did publish books.

The theory of the “Great Chain of Being” in Renaissance literature

The Great Chain of Being was a popularly held idea during the Renaissance period. The “chain” consists of four categories:

1. angels are at the top
2. humans second
3. beasts and plants next
4. and inanimate objects last.

According to this theory, more matter equals less spirit and vice versa. Therefore, as angels are created of the least amount of matter, they possess the most spirit. Beasts and inanimate objects possess little spirit because they have so much matter.

It was also believed that beings within their category were not meant to move up or down. If they began to acquire more and more reason, it was possible for them to move up, however, they were meant to remain at their natural level of being where one’s instincts prevail. For example, humans would not degrade themselves to beasts, nor would they exalt themselves to angels because they were created to be humans; and this would be going against all natural instincts.

A brief chronology of Renaissance literature

Many historians recognize the beginning of the Renaissance Period as 6 April 1341 when Francesco Petrarch was crowned Poet Laureate. This period included revelations in art, philosophy, and science, all which contributed to development of the literature. This was a time of rebirth because many of the principles exposed during the classical time period in ancient Greece and Rome were the basis of Renaissance literature.

In the mid-fifteenth century, Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press. As a result, multiples of texts were made, therefore making the literature more accessible to Europeans.

See also

• Dutch Renaissance and Golden Age literature
• Swedish reformation and Renaissance literature
• Early Modern literature

External links

• 16th Century Renaissance Literature
• 17th Century Literature
• The French Literature
• Scottish Literature
• Hungarian literature
• Polish Literature
• Catalan Literature
• The Decameron
• Petrarch 1
• Petrarch 2
• Printing Press
• The Fall of Rome