Renaissance Literature
in England
What
is
Renaissance?
• The word " Renaissance" is a French word which
means " rebirth "
• Refers to the literary works produced during the
English Renaissance, a cultural movement that
spanned from the late 15th century to the early
17th century.
• This period saw a revival of classical learning,
humanist ideals, and artistic flourishing, greatly
influenced by the Renaissance that began in Italy.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
1. Influence of Humanism – Writers focused on
human potential, individualism, and classical
texts from ancient Greece and Rome.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
How Did Humanism Shape English Renaissance
Literature?
• Focus on Human Potential and Individualism
• Revival of Classical Texts (Greek and Roman
Influence)
• Emphasis on Education and Intellectual Growth
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
2. Development of English Drama – The rise of
professional theater, with playwrights like William
Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, transformed
drama into a sophisticated literary form.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
The Transformation of Drama in the English
Renaissance:
• Professional Theaters Were Built
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
The Globe Theatre
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
The Globe Theatre was a famous open-air playhouse
in London, built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain’s
Men, Shakespeare’s acting company. It had a circular
or polygonal shape with a thrust stage, allowing the
audience to surround the performers on three sides.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
The Globe’s Role in Renaissance Literature
• Shakespeare’s Plays – The Globe became the main
stage for Shakespeare’s famous works like Hamlet
and Macbeth, shaping English Renaissance literature.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
• A Hub for Drama – It showcased plays by other playwrights,
including Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson.
• Expanding Audience – Unlike medieval theatre, The Globe made
drama accessible to both the rich and the poor.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
• Innovation in Literature – Playwrights
experimented with new literary styles like blank
verse and soliloquies, which defined Renaissance
drama.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
The End and Legacy
• In 1613, The Globe burned down due to a cannon
misfire during a performance of Henry VIII.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
• It was rebuilt in 1614 but later closed in 1642
when the Puritans banned theatre.
• A modern reconstruction, Shakespeare’s Globe,
was built in 1997 and still stands today as a
tribute to Renaissance theatre and literature.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
The Transformation of Drama in the English Renaissance:
• Playwrights Made Drama More Sophisticated
• New Writing Style: Blank Verse and Iambic Pentameter
•New Types of Plays
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
3. Use of Vernacular English – Writers moved
away from Latin and began crafting literature in
English, making works more accessible to the
public.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
How Did This Change Literature?
• Literature Became Available to More People
• English Became a Literary Language
• English Literature Created National
• PrideLatin Declined as the Main Literary Language
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
4. Sonnet and Poetry Innovations – The
period popularized the English
(Shakespearean) sonnet, perfected by poets
like Sir Philip Sidney and Edmund Spenser.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
What is a Sonnet?
•A sonnet is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and structure.
•It originally came from Italy, where Petrarch made it famous
(Petrarchan sonnet).
•English poets changed and improved it, creating new styles.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
Types of Sonnets in the English Renaissance
1. Petrarchan Sonnet (Italian Sonnet) – Introduced by Sir Thomas Wyatt
Structure:
Octave (first 8 lines): Introduces a problem or idea.
Sestet (last 6 lines): Gives a resolution.
Rhyme scheme: ABBAABBA CDECDE (or variations).
Theme: Usually about unattainable love.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
Types of Sonnets in the English Renaissance
2. Shakespearean Sonnet (English Sonnet) – Perfected by William Shakespeare
Structure:
Three quatrains (3 sets of 4 lines): Develops an idea or argument.
Final couplet (2 lines): Offers a twist or conclusion.
Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
Theme: Love, time, beauty, mortality, and human nature.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
Types of Sonnets in the English Renaissance
3. Spenserian Sonnet – Created by Edmund Spenser
Structure:
Similar to the Shakespearean sonnet but with a more interlocking rhyme scheme.
Rhyme scheme: ABAB BCBC CDCD EE.
Theme: Romantic and idealized love.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
5. Religious and Political Themes –
Literature often explored themes of
monarchy, divine right, and the
Reformation.
Key Features of English
Renaissance Literature
The Important Themes and Historical Concepts in
Literature
• The Role of Monarchy in Literature
• The Divine Right of Kings
• The Reformation and Religious Themes
Key William Shakespeare Christopher Marlowe Edmund Spenser
Writers
Sir Philip Sidney Thomas More
Works of William Shakespeare
Hamlet – A prince seeks Romeo and Juliet – Two young
revenge for his father’s murder, Macbeth – A nobleman, driven lovers from rival families meet a
leading to betrayal and tragedy. by ambition, kills the king and tragic fate.
faces his downfall.
Works of Christopher Marlowe
A scholar sells his soul for
A shepherd rises to power
power but faces eternal
as a ruthless conqueror.
damnation.
Work of
Edmund Spencer
The Faerie Queene – An allegorical
poem celebrating virtue and Queen
Elizabeth I.
Work of Sir Philip
Sidney
Astrophil and Stella – A sonnet
sequence about unrequited love and
longing.
Work of Thomas More
Utopia – A fictional
society exploring political
and social ideals.
The Literary Forms
Sonnet: A 14-line poem, typically written in iambic
pentameter, that explores themes of love, beauty, politics, and
human nature. Shakespeare and Spenser were famous
sonneteers.
The Literary Forms
Drama: Plays that explore a wide range of
human experiences, often with a focus on
tragedy and comedy. The plays of Shakespeare
and Marlowe are prime examples.
The Literary Forms
Prose: Non-poetic writing, including historical
works, essays, and political treatises. Notable
works include Sir Thomas More's *Utopia* and
Francis Bacon's essays.
Conclusion
The Renaissance transformed English
literature, shaping language, drama, poetry, and
thought. Its influence continues in modern
storytelling, theater, and political philosophy.
Thank
you!!
Prepared by:
Abegail P. Manzanares
