THE RENAISSANCEOutcome: Renaissance Writers

Renaissance Writers

1. Changesa. Many writers followed Dante who wrote in the

vernacular

b. Vernacular (#1): Writers wrote in their native language rather than Greek or Latin

c. This could include Italian, German, English, and French

d. Renaissance writers wrote for self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subjects- started trends that modern writers still follow

Dante

Renaissance Writers

a. Dante (#2.1)i. Italian poet, writer, theorist, philosopher, and

political thinker

ii. Born in Florence, Italyiii. Referred to as the “Father of the Italian

language”iv. Wrote “The Divine Comedy” (2.2)

1. Epic poem about Dante’s travels through Hell, Purgatory, & Heaven

(2.3 and 2.4)

2. Broken up into 3 parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradisio

For you gamers out there…

Petrarch

Renaissance Writers

b. Petrarch (#3.1)i. Sometimes called the father of humanismii. Great poet- wrote in both Italian and Latiniii. Wrote sonnets (#3.2) (14 line poems) about a mysterious

woman named Lauraiv. Little is known of Laura other than she died of plague in

1348

Sonnet about Laura Sonnet 292 The eyes I spoke of once in words that burn,

the arms and hands and feet and lovely facethat took me from myself for such a spaceof time and marked me out from other men;

the waving hair of unmixed gold that shone,the smile that flashed with the angelic raysthat used to make this earth a paradise,are now a little dust, all feeling gone;

and yet I live, grief and disdain to me,left where the light I cherished never shows,in fragile bark on the tempestuous sea.

Here let my loving song come to a close;the vein of my accustomed art is dry,and this, my lyre, turned at last to tears.

Machiavelli

Renaissance Writers

c. Machiavelli (#4.1)i. Wrote The Prince (#4.2)ii. Explains how rulers (#5.1) can gain power and keep it in

spite of his enemiesi. Rulers having absolute power (#5.2)

iii. Said most people are selfish, fickle, and corruptiv. Not concerned with what was morally right but what was

politically effectivev. This may involve misleading your peoplevi. One should do (#6.1) good if possible but if evil (#6.2) is

necessary than it can be usedvii. (#6.3)“The End justifies the means”

Machiavelli in Assassin’s Creed

Northern Renaissance Writers

Erasmus Thomas More

Renaissance Writers

Result: Renaissance writers wrote in vernacular and about people and life rather than about God and set many trends that are still used today by modern writers.

Johannes Guttenberg (#7.1) Was an inventor during the mid

1400’s Invented a printing press with

moveable type. This allowed for books to be published

more quickly (#7.2) Guttenberg used his printing press to

mass produce German translations of the Bible.

Spread of literacy and knowledge (#7.3)

Guttenberg

Johannes Guttenberg

This was known as the Guttenberg Bible. It is important because for the first time

more people than ever could get printed copies of the Bible to study for themselves

Now people didn’t need to rely on church/priest for Biblical guidance. (#8.1 and #8.2)

Printing Press

Northern Europe Renaissance

More religious tone, wanted reforms to eliminate abuses in the Church. Led by Christian Humanists.

Erasmus: The Praise of the Folly 1511 (#9) This work attacked extravagance of

Renaissance popes, stating that they were corrupt and no longer practiced Christianity.

Sir Thomas More: Utopia 1516 (#10) Friend of Erasmus, wrote a book that criticized

society by comparing it to an ideal society, in which all citizens are equal and prosperous.