1. Renaissance Literature

2. Italian Renaissance Writers begin to use Vernacular (common language) as well as Latin Self-expression Portray individuality Revival of the classics –Greece and Rome

3. Francesco Petrarch Date: 1304-1374 Work: Poet Description: Father of Renaissance Humanism –Wrote sonnets in Italian and Latin

4. Giovanni Boccaccio Date: 1348 Work: Decameron Description: Realistic off-color stories about people avoiding the plague –Presents both tragic and comic views (drama)

5. Baldassare Castiglione Date: 1528 Work: The Courtier Description: True Renaissance Man –Taught how a young man should behave –“How to book” for being a ladies man

6. Vittoria Colonna Date: 1492-1547 Work: Poetry/ Helped write The Courtier Description: Female poet married to a noble at war –Wrote poetry and sonnets –Expressed emotions

7. Northern Renaissance Examined traditional teachings of the Church Critical of the Christian Church Wanted to reform society Promoted education (including women)

8. Desiderius Erasmus Date: 1509 Work: The Praise and Folly Description: Christian Humanist (Holland) –Poked fun at greedy merchants, heartsick lovers, etc. –Believed, to improve society people should read the Bible

9. Thomas More Date: 1516 Work: Utopia Description: Book about an imaginary land where greed, corruption, and war have been eliminated –Wrote in Latin and translated into vernacular languages

10. Christine de Pizan Date: 1364-1430 Work: The Book of the City of Ladies Description: Female author, educated in French –Questioned different treatment of boys and girls –Goal to educate both sexes

11. William Shakespeare Date: 1592 Works: Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and many more Description: London, Globe Theatre –Revived the classics –Revealed souls of men and women through dramatic conflict –Examined human character flaws

12. Comedies All's Well That Ends Well As You Like It Merchant of Venice A Midsummer Night's Dream Much Ado about Nothing The Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Tragedies Antony and Cleopatra Hamlet Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet Histories Henry V Henry VIII