Renaissance Period, Renaissance Period Summary, Renaissance Period Features, Renaissance Period Writers, Renaissance Period Historical Events.
- Name: Renaissance Period
- Duration: 1500-1600
Renaissance Period Summary, Try.Fulfil
Renaissance Period - Historical events:
Some most significant historical
events happened in this period. These are: Black Death, Rise of Florence, The
Peace of Augsburg, Politics and Reformation etc.
Renaissance Period: Literary Features:
- Re-birth or Re-generation,
- Humanism,
- Desire for thought and actions,
- Desire for unlimited power and wealth,
- Free thinking,
- Nationalism,
- Individualism,
- Puritanism etc.
Renaissance Period Summary:
Renaissance is a Latin word meaning
re-birth, revival, or re-awakening. The revival of Greek learning, classic
literature or knowledge in England is known as Renaissance. It starts in Italy
in 13th century and over the 14th and 15th
century and it spreads over the whole Europe. The Renaissance is the revival of
classical learning, the awakening of the minds of men, the freedom of thought
and action. Renaissance is a movement or feeling against old customs and
medieval dogmatism. We know that, after the fall of the then Constantinople/Byzantine
so many Greek scholars left the city and spread all over the Europe especially
in England. They spread classic literature and knowledge which is known as the
primary background of Renaissance.
It is generally accepted that the
Renaissance period began with the beginning of 15th century and
continued till the Restoration in 1660. This period is divided into four ages by
the names of the political figures:
The
Renaissance Period is divided into 4 different ages:
- Elizabethan Age
- Jacobean Age
- Commonwealth Age
- Caroline Age
a) Elizabethan Age:
The duration of this age is from
1558-1603. Elizabethan age is named after Queen Elizabeth-1 who reigned over England
1558-1603. This age is often called the golden age of English literature.
Elizabethan
Age: Major Writers:
William Shakespeare
(1564-1616):
Shakespeare is the most influential
English dramatist. He is famous for his keen observation about human
psychology. Shakespeare was mostly called the Bard of Avon. He wrote 2 narrative
poems and 154 sonnets. Similarly, Shakespeare is mostly known for his 37
dramas.
Some of
Shakespeare’s notable dramas:
Othello,
Macbeth, King Lear, Merchant of Venice, As You Like It etc.
Edmund Spenser
(1552-1599):
Edmund Spenser is the greatest poet
of the Elizabethan Age. He is called the poet of poets because many
later English poets followed his art of poetry. He was also called the ‘Prince
of Poets’ in his time.
His
famous writings are: The
Faerie Queene, The Shepherd’s
Calendar, Amoretti, Epithalamion etc.
Francis Bacon
(1561-1626):
Francis Bacon is a scholar, philosopher. He is famous for his prose
writing. He is called natural philosopher. He is also called the father of
‘English Essay’.
Some of
his notable works are:
The Wisdom of the Ancients, The New Atlantis etc.
b) Jacobean Age:
This age was named after King
James-1, who reigned England from 1603-1626.The word ‘Jacobean’ is derived from
‘Jacobus’, the Latin version of James. Some historians like to
call the last 5 years of this age as a part of another age which they call the
Puritan Age. The poets of this age were famous for writing Metaphysical Poetry.
Jacobean
Age: Major Writers:
John Donne
(1572-1631):
John Donne was an English poet,
scholar, soldier. He is the leader and founder of Metaphysical School.
He is regarded the greatest love poet in the English Literature. He is one of the contemporaries of
Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare.
His
famous works: The
Sun Rising, A Valediction:
Forbidding Mourning, The Good
Morrow, Batter my Heart etc.
Andrew Marvell
(1621-1678):
Andrew Marvell is a famous
metaphysical poet. In his metaphysical writing, he relates to John Donne and
George Herbert. He was the follower of John Milton. He was a scholar at Holy
Trinity Church.
His
Famous works: To His Coy Mistress, Definition of Love, The Garden etc.
George Herbert
(1593-1633):
George Herbert is a Welsh poet. He
is a priest of the church in England. He is one of the metaphysical poet. He is
regarded as ‘one of the foremost British devotional lyricist’. He is a religious
poet.
His
famous works: The
Collar, Easter Wings etc.
c) Caroline Age:
This age was named after Charles (1625-1649),
the ruler of England. Caroline is derived ‘Carolus’ which is Latin
version of Charles. This age is also a part of Puritan Age.
Famous
writers of Caroline age:
Robert Herrick
(1591-1674):
Robert Herrick is a famous poet of
Caroline Age. He was a clergyman. He is called ‘The Greatest Cavalier Poet’.
His
Famous writings: To
Daffodils, Delight in Disorder, The Night Piece of Julia etc.
Thomas Carew
(1595-1640):
Thomas Carew was one of the
Cavalier Poets. He was greatly guided by Ben Jonson and John Donne.
His
famous works: To
Saxham, To my friend G.N etc.
Richard Lovelace
(1617-1657):
Richard Lovelace was an English
Poet. He was a cavalier poet.
His
famous works: To
Lucasta, To Althea from Prison, Going to the Warres etc.
d) Commonwealth Period:
The duration of this period is from
1649-1660. This age is also a part of Puritan Age. There was no monarch in
England in this period.
Famous
writers of Commonwealth period:
Thomas Hobbes
(1588-1679):
Thomas Hobbes was a political
philosopher. He was best known for his marvellous work Leviathan.
His famous works: Behemoth, Leviathan etc.
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