Aim:Aim:Profile Key Northern Profile Key Northern Renaissance Writers Renaissance Writers

During the During the Elizabethan AgeElizabethan Age

Northern Writers Try to Northern Writers Try to Reform SocietyReform Society

By the late 1400’s, By the late 1400’s, Renaissance ideas had Renaissance ideas had spread to Northern Europespread to Northern Europe Italian humanists were Italian humanists were very interested in reviving very interested in reviving classical languages and classical languages and textstexts

People used them to examine People used them to examine traditional teachings of the traditional teachings of the Church Church

Northern humanists were Northern humanists were critical of the failure of the critical of the failure of the Christian Church to inspire Christian Church to inspire people to live a Christian people to live a Christian lifelife

Of particular importance Of particular importance to humanists was educationto humanists was education

Christian HumanistsChristian Humanists Best known of Christian Best known of Christian Humanists were Desiderius Humanists were Desiderius Erasmus & Thomas MoreErasmus & Thomas More

1509- Erasmus most 1509- Erasmus most famous work famous work Praise of FollyPraise of Folly

PPoked fun at greedy merchants, oked fun at greedy merchants, lovers, scholars, and priestslovers, scholars, and priests Believed in a Christianity of the Believed in a Christianity of the heart, not of ceremoniesheart, not of ceremonies

1516- More wrote 1516- More wrote UtopiaUtopia Tried to show better model of Tried to show better model of societysociety Utopia means “No Place” in GreekUtopia means “No Place” in Greek Book about imaginary land where Book about imaginary land where greed, corruption, and war don’t greed, corruption, and war don’t existexist

The Elizabethan AgeThe Elizabethan Age Mid 1500’s- Renaissance Mid 1500’s- Renaissance spreads to Englandspreads to England

Period known as Elizabethan Age Period known as Elizabethan Age (Queen Elizabeth)(Queen Elizabeth) Did much to support development Did much to support development of English, Art, & Literatureof English, Art, & Literature

William Shakespeare- William Shakespeare- Most famous writer of Elizabethan Most famous writer of Elizabethan AgeAgeRevered the classics and drew on Revered the classics and drew on them for inspiration and plotsthem for inspiration and plots Works display masterful command Works display masterful command of the English language and deep of the English language and deep understanding of human beingsunderstanding of human beings

Plays include Plays include Macbeth, Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, & Juliet, King Lear, & Midsummer Night’s DreamMidsummer Night’s Dream

Printing Spreads Printing Spreads Renaissance IdeasRenaissance Ideas

Chinese invented block Chinese invented block printing in which a printer printing in which a printer carved words or letters on a carved words or letters on a wood block, inked the block, wood block, inked the block, and printed paper on it.and printed paper on it.

1440- Johann Gutenberg 1440- Johann Gutenberg developed a printing press developed a printing press

Made it possible to produce books Made it possible to produce books quickly and cheaplyquickly and cheaply Gutenberg printed a complete Bible Gutenberg printed a complete Bible (Gutenberg Bible)(Gutenberg Bible)

Printing Press enabled a Printing Press enabled a printer to produce hundreds printer to produce hundreds of copies of a single workof copies of a single work

Result: Books cheap enough that Result: Books cheap enough that many could buymany could buy