Renaissance 文艺复兴 英美文学论文.docx

Renaissance 文艺复兴 英美文学论文外语系 英语教育班 周卫华 0907013235 Renaissance Renaissance in European history, refers to the period between 14th century to 17th century. It started in Italy and ended in England and Spain. “Renaissance” means “revival”, the revival of interest in Ancient Greek and Roman culture and getting rid of conservatism in feudalist Europe and introducing new ideas that express the interests of the rising bourgeoisie. Brief Introduction § There arose an interest in the manuscripts surviving from ancient Greece and Rome. Classical learning and philosophy were enthusiastically studied. § The intellectual wisdom of ancient Greece and Rome encouraged a rebirth of human spirit，a realization of human potential for development and creation § Never before in human history were men and women so eager to create and discover something newIn Italy a group of artists，scientists，politicians，and writers created the most brilliant page of culture and science in Renaissance Europe § Examples: Copernicus (哥白尼) asserted that the earth was not the center of the universe； The passionate Petrarch produced sonnets that influenced Shakespeare and many others； Boccaccio(卜伽邱) wrote tales of eternal charm: The Decameron； Marco Polo (马可波罗) made journeys into the remote kingdom of China； Michelangelo，Leonardo da Vinci (达芬奇)，Raphael (拉斐尔)，and Titian (提香) created paintings and sculptures that are invaluable treasures of the world Essence and features § Essence: It is the reflection of the rise of the bourgeoisie in the sphere of cultural life. § Features: A thirsting curiosity for the classical literature. The keen interest in the activities of humanity. Humanism Humanism is the essence of the Renaissance. It sprang from the endeavor to restore a reverence for the Greek and Roman civilization based on the conception that man is the measure of all things. Contrary to the subordination of individuals to the feudal rules and the sacrifice of earthly life for a future life in the medieval society, Renaissance humanists found in the classics a justification to exalt human nature and came to see that human beings were glorious creatures capable of individual development for perfection. By emphasizing the dignity of human beings and the importance of the present life, they voiced their beliefs that man did not only have the right to enjoy life, but had the ability to perfect himself and to perform wonders.Emphasizing the power, value and dignity of the human beings and holding that human beings are glorious creatures The core of Renaissance thought is the greatness of man/giants . This is best summarized in the lines of Shakespeares Hamlet What a piece of work is man; how noble in reason; how infinite in faculty, in form and moving how express and admirable; in action how like an angel; in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals. These Italians, and many others, helped to make Italy the center of the Renaissance movement in Europe. The movement changed the medieval Western Europe into a modern one