Renaissance Writers

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Renaissance Writers
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Renaissance Writers Change Literature

• Literature reflected the time
• Purpose self expression, or to portray distinct
  individuality of subjects
• Began trends that modern writers follow
• Wrote in the vernacular

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Vernacular

• Many Renaissance writers wrote in their native
  language (vernacular), instead of Latin

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Francesco Petrarch

• Father of Humanism
• Great poet
• Wrote in both Italian and Latin

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Giovanni Boccaccio

• Wrote about the plague sweeping through Florence,
  Italy in his book Decameron.
• Used tragic and comedic views
• Used humor to illustrate the human condition

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Niccolo Machiavelli

• The Prince 1513
• Political guide on how to gain power and keep it.
• Rulers must be strong, shrewd, crafty, feared and
  loved to succeed
• More important to be politically effective, than
  morally right.

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Vittoria Colonna

• Her poems express personal emotions
• Exchanged sonnets with Michelangelo
• Helped Castiglione get published

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Assignment

• Turn to pages 42 43
• Read the excerpts from each author

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Questions

• Which author has the best writing?
• Which author grabs your attention?
• Which author writes for the best purpose?
• What influence did these writers have over the
  Renaissance?