Renaissance Essay for BA Students

                  The Renaissance

Renaissance literally mean rebirth. It is the revival of learning of classical literature  between the 14^th and 16^th century. During this period developed, 

I. Spirit of Inquiry. 

II. A spirit of freedom of thought. 

iii. Social, political and religious ideas were all revolutionalized. 

According to Prof. Jobb, "the process of transition in Europe from the medical to modern order". In literature Renaissance means the recovery of the masterpiece of the ancient world and the revived knowledge of Greek and Latin. Hence Walter Pater is right in calling Renaissance "a complex and many sided movement".

Inventions and discoveries: 

The first printing press in England was established in 1476 by William Caxton. Another great invention was the Mariners Compass. 

Capture of Constantinople:

The Eastern Roman Empire captured the Turks in 1453. Greek scholars fled from their land and reached Italy, France and England. Renaissance started in Italy. The three scholars Dante, Petrach and Boccacio ruled over Italy through their writtings. Greek scholars were welcomed by the Italians and posed as patrons of literature and art. The study of language and literature became the fashion of Italy. 

                    Italy - Machiavelli

                    French - Ronsard

                    Spanish - Cervantes

Age of Translation : Renaissance was also an age of Translation. Virgil, Ovid, Cicero, Plutarch were all translated into English. Shakespeare was familiar with classical mythology as he read both Latin and Greek literature. 

The Renaissance in Literature: 

The Renaissance in literature began in England with Sir Thomas More for his famous work "Utopia". It was published in Latin language in the year 1516. Later it was published in English. Few other writers belonging to Renaissance, 

          Spenser - Farie Queen

          Shakespeare - Hamlet

          Christopher Marlowe - Faustus

          Bacon - of Friendship

Renaissance on Education : 

The purpose of education was to fashion, not the scholar, but the man. Importance was given to art and painting. Reformation started in Germany.