RENAISSANCE AND ITS IMPACT ON ENGLISH LITERATURE:

The term ‘Renaissance’ means rebirth. The term is traditionally applied to the intellectual movements that embraced the re-awakening of scholarship and self-emancipation of the individual from the thralldom of institutions. More properly Renaissance is applied to the revival of arts resulting from the rediscovery and imitation of classical models. The French historian Jules Michelet for the first time used this term. It is derived from the Italian ‘Rinascita’ means- ‘rebirth’. To quote Michelet ‘renaissance’ means-

“The discovery of the world and the discovery of man, by man”.

Lamartine sings with the same strain, “man discovered himself and the universe” whereas Taine opines that so long blinded, “had suddenly opened his eyes and seen”.

Italy was the cradle of Renaissance. Renaissance spreads from here. But it dates back to the capture of Constantinople in 1453 by the Turks. With the fall of Constantinople many Greek Scholars flocked to Italy with their manuscripts. The result was that Italian cites became canters of GK study and classical culture. The study of Greek literature and culture spread the perfumes to open up the petals of the sleeping beauty of Europe. The term Humanism sprang up from it. ‘Theocentric’ (i.e.; Man is the centre of the universe) world. The revival of Greek learning gave birth to an enlightened life which trumpets the glory of man and human life. So Mephistopheles says to Dr. Faustus with the sting of Renaissance in his lips-

               

                  

         “Why, Faustus,

       Thinkest thou heaven is such a glorious thing?

         I tell thee, ‘tis not half so fair as thou

          Or any man that breathes on earth”.

                       [Dr. Faustus. Act-II. Sc (iii)]

So we have the same glimpses of Renaissance thought in an oration by Pico Della Mirandola, ‘On the Dignity of Man’. Renaissance came to mean humanism, wonder at the new earth and sky as revealed by the navigators and astronomers, perception of beauty of the Greek and Latin classics. Prof. Babbit of America coins the term ‘humanism’ and with this humanistic approach starts the Geographical discoveries. Invention of Printing Press by Caxton, springing of Copernican system of Astronomy, the Reformation landing by Luther, Calvin, Knox & Huss gave a new flood of Renaissance.

          So ‘Renaissance’ from Italy to English wave gives the splendid welcome to the flowerings of English soil. It enlivens the drooping spirit of dark veil of medieval spot. It inspires new blooms – (a) rise of nationalism, (b) spirit of adventure, (c) love of beauty and sensuousness, (d) scientific studies, (e) belief in the dignity of man and enthusiasm for new discoveries etc. European can boast of Copernicus, Vesaluis, Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Leonardo da Vinchi, Michael Angelo, Zwinglis and so on.

         With the sprit of Renaissance various fields were flourished in ‘full throated ease’. From new learning to Humanism, from geographical network to scientific study and invention it spreads its cobweb. Catholicism Protestantism, feudal system to mercantile expansion Renaissance gives blessings to everyone. Classical writers like Aristotle, Erasmus, Cato, Cicero, Virgil, Ovid, Machiavelli, Montaigne, Petrarch, Dante, Boccaccio, Cinthio, inspire the literary magma of England. To quote T.G.Wolliams –

         

   “the free-ringing, liberal tones of the old Greek                                                     

    reacted on the modern world now emerging from tradition bound medievalism”.

        Aristo and Tasso had captured the readers with their powerful poetic genius in Orlando Furioso and Jerusalem Delivered; Castiglione’s The Courtier presented the renaissance ideals of fine courtly conduct and the art of living. Machiavelli’s The Prince serves as a powerful guide of a successful statesman and politician.

       In the geographical field discoveries crowned on Turkish conquests, conquest of Columbus (1492, America), John Cabot’s discovery of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1497, Vasco de Gama’s discovery of new India route to India (1498). The discovery of new trade routes helped to establish the commercial prosperity of countries lime Spain Portugal and England. Copernicus’s theory defends the Plotamy’s theory system of the universe. This theory of Copernicus later was supported by Kepler, a German, Galileo an Italian and William Harvey, the English physician and philologist.

         In the religion sphere Martin Luther brought Protestantism, Reformation came in Germany. Lutherism spread and became a clarion call for revolt. Calvinism and Anglicanism also struck at the root of Roman Catholicism. Decline of Feudal system and coming of foreign merchant became the key note of the renaissance world. The Renaissance blooms in architecture and music and in literature. Michael Angelo, Raphael, Da Vinchi, Titian, Byrd and Orlando Gibbons flourished their paintings and musical strain.

         The impact of the Renaissance was equally evident on all the spheres of English literature. Sir Thomas More’s Utopia (1516, translated in English in 1551 by Ralph Robinson) was certainly influenced by Plato’s Republic. Utopia is considered the masterpiece of English humanism, embodying the concept of an ideal state which would be the opposite of that inert and barren society in which the author lived. English educationists of the period Roger Asham, Sir Thomas Elyot, Sir John Cheke, and Sir Thomas Wilson, Sir Thomas Smith highlighted the significance of not only Latin and Greek languages but are seen to be extraordinary preoccupied with Latinity : Latin pleasures, Latin elegances and Latin ways of living too! Italian sonnet style of Petarch imported to England. Wyatt, Surrey, Sidney, Spenser, Daniel, Drayton and Shakespeare flourish the sonnets in the mastery fashion.

Lyrical works and epical poems also get its full growth in the Renaissance impetus. Spenser’s Hymns in Honour of love and Beautie, pastoral elegy “Astrophel” and love songs- Epithalamion and Prothalamion are the superb flowerings ever bloomed. Moreover, Drayton’s “Idea”, Daniel’s “The complaint of Rosamond” and Ben Jonson’s Moral lurics may be mentioned here too. In Spenser’s “The Faerie Queene”, Daniel’s “The Civil war” and “The Barons war”, epic poetry triumphed the hearts of mankind.

         Prose works also get its foundation like Sidney’s Arcadia, Lily’s Euphues, Lodge’s Rosalynd and Greene’s Pandasto and the essays of Bacon, Sidney, Daniel, Webb and others. In the Dramatic field Gorboduc; the 1^st tragedy based on Seneca was produced. The Misfortunes of Arthur, Jocasta are also of same types. Comedies like “Ralph Roister Doister and “Gammer Gurton’s Needle” were flourished in this era. Lyly, Peele, Greene, Kyd, Marlowe, the master dramatists get the platform to bloom their dramatic flowers. Shakespeare stands supreme in this platform. Sidney’s “An Apology of poetrie” is the criticism of Renaissance epitome.

        So, to conclude there is a new flash of lightening in every sphere of life. This dazzling aura beautifies the whole decorum of Elizabethan literary lotus. From geographical universe, to scientific network, from classical study to modern myth it had its far reaching perfumed showering. The new learning encouraged and stimulated the intellectual curiosity, scholarly research and the spirit of “Queer theory” .Style is the image of man was echoed by Buffon’s “Le Style e’est I’homme”. Masques, mime, drama, fantasy allegory, music, painting sculpture were erupted later on for renaissance spirit. So to quote T.G.Williams once again, the Renaissance mind enlivens- 

  “The will to live and to savour all that life.”      

(‘Colonialism’ has its origin in the seed of Renaissance).

Yes, that’s the panacea of all ages to come.