The Effects of the Renaissance On The English Language

The progression in the economy and society would give birth to new ideas. And this period of interest in the European country is known as the Renaissance, a French word for “rebirth.”

The dawn of the Renaissance came first from Italy, then making its way to France, and England. It is difficult to date the Renaissance accurately, but it may be mentioned that in Italy, the impact of Greek learning was felt when the Turkish conquest of Constantinople. The Greek scholars then fled and took refuge to Italy, carrying with them ancient Greek literature in manuscript, which would later be adopted and followed by so many scholars, throughout the world.

The light of Renaissance came very slowly to the isolated island of England; roughly about the beginning of the sixteenth century, but its broad implication in England had heavy influence towards to country. The Renaissance was said to be the discovery of mankind of himself, and of the world, because of its implication.

The coming of the Renaissance flourished the literary, artistic and intellectual development of so many places, as these scholars and artists were inspired by the arts and the scholarship of ancient Greece and Rome.

The Renaissance had many implications towards the European society. Firstly, the Renaissance has affected the mediaeval scholasticism which has kept the thoughts of the human in that current time to be bonded. The useless controversies based on the principles of Aristotelian, and the philosophy behind Christianity, was put behind, thus giving birth to a new form of literature, more advanced, and more humane.

Secondly, the Renaissance signalised a form of rebellion towards the spiritual authority – the authority of the pope. The Renaissance has inspired the curr...

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...cal learning.

As the spirit of Chaucer’s poetry slumbered, few individuals made the effort to bring back the spirit of poetry to England. Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surrey were the ground breakers of the new poetry in England. Wyatt, who travelled across Italy and France was influenced on the ideas of Renaissance. He introduced the sonnet into English literature, and Surrey contributed by writing the first blank verse. Both of these were later adopted by a large number of the best English poets. His sonnets, even if they do not really employ the regular iambic pentameter, created a sense of awareness for most of the poets at that time. Wyatt’s style is by adopting the Italian and French patterns, as well as versification. Fifteen or sixteen of his sonnets uses the Shakespearean formulae. His work is characterised by both grace tenderness, and a great harmony.