Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
The impact of the Renaissance on modern life
Biography of william shakespeare in english essay
The impact of the Renaissance on modern life
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: The impact of the Renaissance on modern life
English Literature is vast and English literature has always been evolving. Throughout history literature has changed according to the time period but literature has also influenced the culture of that period. Accordingly, this influence has seen the greatest impact during a time known as the Renaissance. The English Renaissance was period dating from 1550-1660 and this was a period of development. The English Renaissance saw a growth in human population, literary Dramas, and one of the greatest authors, William Shakespeare. This huge growth played hand in hand with literature allowing for greater diversity of works and the allowing Shakespeare to create diverse works for his readers. More over, the English Renaissance was a time like no other …show more content…
“In this period England’s population doubled; prices rocketed, rents followed, old social loyalties dissolved, and new industrial, agricultural, and commercial veins were first tapped (Davies).” England was on the upcoming with a greater population but more importantly the rediscovery of literature and art. Britain saw the growth and interest of literature and art drawing the upcoming of the English authors of the renaissance. However, even though the renaissance brought many new authors, none had the influence or creativity that William Shakespeare had. Shakespeare was a talented author with humble beginnings. Shakespeare came from a family with no noble standing or high wealth which usually would’ve stunted an author but Shakespeare would not have been held back. Shakespeare knew the importance of knowledge and so he took this to his advantage. Shakespeare would attend grammar school to help him develop his writing skills but this is where his education would have to end. Being that William came from a family of low-income, Shakespeare wouldn’t be able to attend University. Nevertheless, Shakespeare wouldn’t give up but rather work on his art in a different manner. “By 1592, there is evidence William Shakespeare earned a living as an actor and a playwright in London and possibly had several plays produced.(Biography.com …show more content…
An example of this would be the increase and ability of theater to the public. Before the renaissance, plays were only for the wealthy but overtime Shakespeare was able to change this way of life. William wanted to reach people from all different aspects of wealth so he brought his productions to the people, which lead to crowds that embraced the art of theater. Furthermore, with all these plays more and more people were getting exposed to the English language which was further developing during the English Renaissance. “The classical revival gave to the world the treasures of two great literatures. And in giving to the scholars of Europe the masterpieces of the ancient authors, it gave to them, besides much fresh material, the most faultless models of literary taste and judgment that the world has ever produced (Van Ness Myers).” the English renaissance was more than just a time for the development of dramas or growth of the population but rather this time period marks a time of knowledge revival. Information was being learned all around and Shakespeare was able to jump in and help spread literature with his unique fashion. Shakespeare made literature come to life in his plays which helped bring people into a new way of learning
The Renaissance period also changed through literature. This new change in literature was important because it taught people to read,write and with learning how to read and write gave people the needed components to do for themselves, different ways to think and use knowledge to better themselves.. Many more people got more chances to read and write instead of the select few. This gave people more opportunity at jobs, gave the servants a more chance for freedom.(Doc.b)
The Renaissance, spanning from about the fourteenth century to the seventeenth century, was an age of great change for Europe in terms of culture, literature, art, and music.
As people became more educated, England was pulled out of the Dark Ages. The English Renaissance, which spanned from roughly the 1500s to the early 1600s, was a highly significant time for England. Queen Elizabeth came to power and encouraged education. She was a major advocate for the theatre ("English Online"). The popularity of the study of Greek and Roman texts increased as well (Turnpike, Sherman).
“William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was and English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s preeminent dramatist” (vodppl.upm.edu 2). He was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK, he also passed away in his hometown. “When Shakespeare died in 1616 the event was barely noticed” (Epstein 7). “Shakespeare’s family was initially prosperous but began having financial difficulties in the 1570’s” (Allen 325). “Shakespeare gained his education by attending the local grammar school, King’s New School, where the curriculum stressed a classic education of Greek mythology and roman comedy”(shakespeareinamericancomunites.org 1). He never carried his educational career to a higher level as in a university. “William Shakespeare was not recognized as an actor, poet, and playwright until 1592” (Allen 346).
Approximately from the 14th century entering into the 17th century, the renaissance period is acknowledged for being an era that blossomed with ideas that transcended through its art, and literature. During this period, it gave a rebirth to concepts through the study of classical documents that helped alter certain views that many people may have possessed about their outlook of the world and life. Several great authors and playwrights such as Thomas More, and William Shakespeare would emerge during the renaissance era because they capture the very essence of rebirth and sending an awakening to their audience that had consideration for their text. Thomas More’s most famous work that stamps his commitment to the renaissance era is his work Utopia, as William Shakespeare play Hamlet contributes to the resurgence of this period as well.
"Shakespeare, William 1564–1616 English Writer." Renaissance: An Encyclopedia for Students. Ed. Paul F. Grendler. Vol. 4. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2004. 83-89. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
The Renaissance, also known as the Middle Ages, is very historic because of the wealth and power that it held. Through economic and political aspects, it flourished into the ripe environment that it is known of today. Although the culture
Across the Universe of Time: Shakespeare’s influence on 21st century society. It is harder to imagine a more universal writer than William Shakespeare. Rarely, if ever, is one of his many plays not being performed anywhere in the world and similarly rare is the tertiary English student who has not examined his work at length. His plays, sonnets and poems are common fodder for high school English departments across the globe.
William Shakespeare has become landmark in English literature. One must be familiar with the early days of English literature in order to comprehend the foundation of much of more modern literature’s basis. Shakespeare’s modern influence is still seen clearly in many ways. The success of Shakespeare’s works helped to set the example for the development of modern dramas and plays. He is also acknowledged for being one of the first writers to use any modern prose in his writings.
The impeccable style and craft of Shakespeare’s writing has always been looked upon with great respect, and it continues to serve as an inspiration to writers and thinkers today even as it did when it was being first performed in London. Shakespeare’s modern audience, however, is far less diverse than the one for which he originally wrote. Due to the antiquity of his language, Shakespeare’s modern readership consists mostly of students and intellectuals, whereas in Shakespeare’s own time, his plays were performed in playhouses packed with everyone from royalty to peasants. Because of this, Shakespeare was forced to write on many different levels, the most sophisticated of which appealed to his more elite audience members, while the more straightforward and often more crude of which appealed to his less educated viewers, and the most universal of which still appeals to us.
The Renaissance has been a diverse period and had people who held dear to the art and literature, which have developed over the period. Starting with literature, was well known and popular in forms of plays, which have been presented out to people in that era and even today. One of the writers that have been noticed and presented in different styles in our time is William Shakespeare. William was known for writing most of the popular plays in the 1600’s and for interpreting language which was known for being ‘Shakespearean Language’. These languages in his plays are used from the renaissance era and are more likely seen with in the other writer’s stories as well. Though William was not the only one, there are others before him that has studied
In English literature, the content and the story of a piece are undoubtedly important, but correct use of literary devices is invaluable. And maybe this is what separates many other writers of the Early Modern period from the infamous Shakespeare. And maybe this is why King James I adored many of the Bard’s works. And maybe this is why Shakespeare is still a part of our English curriculum centuries after his glory days.
Throughout the United States and the entire world people are aware of Shakespeare; however, many people wonder why society wants their citizens to continue to read William Shakespeare’s plays and poems. Shakespeare continues to influence today’s environment and brings people together by speaking of a common author that most people know. All across the world, students must read at least one of Shakespeare’s works; which often develop those children who read his works into better writers. During the Elizabethan Era, William Shakespeare experienced an uneventful childhood and had a basic education; however, his life still seems to be shrouded with mystery and raises the argument that he was not only the most successful, but also the most mysterious playwright, actor, and poet from that time period.
Many periods of time throughout history have developed their own forms of literature. From 1558 to 1603, Queen Elizabeth I reigned during the golden age in English history. The Elizabethan Era had a large growth of literature because Queen Elizabeth supported and encouraged the fine arts more than any monarch in England’s history did. The literature of the time was characterized by a new energy, originality, and confidence based on Renaissance humanism. During the Elizabethan Era there were many things that affected the literature and the way authors during this period wrote. During the Elizabethan Era there were religious aspects, major political events and the Renaissance that contributed to the literature, which influence various popular authors during the Elizabethan Era.
In his time, Shakespeare was the most popular playwright of London. As time passed, his smartness covers all others of his age; Jonson, Marlowe, Kyd, Greene, Dekker, Heywood—none had the craft or the kindness of character. He was the master of poetry writing and he did it well. He created the most vivid characters of the Elizabethan stage. His usage of language, both high and low, shows a remarkable fun and insight. His themes fit all generation even to this day.