Renaissance Literature
Johannes Gutenberg 1398-1468 German Blacksmith Moveable Type
Francesco Petrarch 1304-1374 Italian Father of Humanism “new learning” Literary culture – anyone who was considered educated and civilized Sonnets – romantic love, appreciation of nature
Giovanni Boccaccio 1313-1375 The Decameron Italian Humanist Portrays acquisitive, sensual, and worldly society Does not condemn wealth
Baldassare Castiglione 1478-1529 Italian Humanist The Courtier Defined the ideal Renaissance Man
Pico della Mirandola 1463-1494 Oration of the Dignity of Man Italian Humanist Man’s place b/w the beasts and angels– no limits to what he can accomplish
Lorenzo Valla 1407-1457 Italian Humanist The False Donation of Constantine Linguist, studied grammar and rhetoric Father of modern historical criticism
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI (1469-1527) Italian Diplomat Politician in Florence 1512 Spain invade Florence – Machiavelli exiled 1513 The Prince Dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici
Northern Renaissance Literature
Shakespeare 1564-1616 English 36ish plays, 154 sonnets “Invented” modern English
Erasmus 1466?-1536 Dutch Praise of Folly Education key to reform Satire – criticizes RCC, but not too much
Sir Thomas More 1478-1535 English Utopia – 1516 Protested abuses of contemporary society