ITALIAN LITERATURE

Reporter: Jenetta
M.Maraganas
 Publius Vergilius Maro

 -usually called Virgil or Vergil (/ˈvɜːrdʒɪl/) in English, was an ancient Roman poet of the
Augustan period. He wrote three of the most famous poems in Latin literature:
the Eclogues (or Bucolics), the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid. A number of minor
poems, collected in the Appendix Vergiliana, are sometimes attributed to him.Virgil is
traditionally ranked as one of Rome's greatest poets. His Aeneid has been considered
the national epic of ancient Rome since the time of its composition. Modeled after
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, the Aeneid follows the Trojan refugee Aeneas as he struggles
to fulfill his destiny and reach Italy, where his descendants Romulus and Remus were to
found the city of Rome. Virgil's work has had wide and deep influence on Western
literature, most notably Dante's Divine Comedy, in which Virgil appears as Dante's
guide through Hell and Purgatory.
"Rebirth"
In this case a rebirth of art and language
 Northern Italy

 Began around 1300 and lasted until 1600. It later

spread north.
 Thriving cities
 A wealthy merchant class
 Classical heritage of Greece and Rome

 These 3 advantages help foster the Renaissance in Italy.

 The reason why Northern Europe lagged behind Italy
during the renaissance is because England and France
were locked in a hundred years’ war.
 Overseas trade sparked by the Crusades led to the
growth of large city-states in northern Italy.
 The rest of Europe was mostly rural

 Why would cities help the renaissance?

 Cities are often places where people exchange new ideas.

 Also called the “Black Death”.
 Killed up to 60 percent of the population in these cities.
 - i.e. Florence population went from 85,000 to 30,000.

 Because of a reduced population there was a shrink for

business expansion. Wealthy merchants began to pursue
other interest, such as art.
 City-states were small and ran their own affairs.
 Many citizens were very active in the political life.

 Merchants were the wealthiest, most powerful class and

they dominated politics.
 Merchants earned their social rank.
 - They believed they deserved power and wealth because of
their individual merit.

 The Medici family ruled Florence .

 1434- won control of Florence’s government.
 Influenced members of the ruling council by giving
them loans.
 Virtually the dictator for 30 years.
 Renaissance leaders looked down on the art and
literature of the Middle Ages.

 Wanted more learning from Greek and Romans time.

 Study of classical texts led to Humanism.
 - Focused on human potential and achievements.

 Popularized the study of subjects such as education,

history, literature, and philosophy.
 = These Subjects are called Humanities.
 Middle Ages = wearing rough clothing and eating the plainest of
foods proved your loyalty to God.

 Humanist believed that a person could enjoy life without

offending God.
 - The wealthy openly enjoyed material luxuries, fine music, and
tasty foods.

 Even church leaders became more worldly enjoying beautiful

mansions, threw lavish banquets, and wore expensive clothes.
 Glorified the Human body.
 Painted the sistine chapel.
 Made sculptures more realistic by carving natural
postures and expressions that reveal personality.
 Carved the statue of David.
 Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, and a Scientist = A true
“Renaissance Man”
 Painted – “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper”
 Learned from Michelangelo and Leonardo’s work.
 Painted the School of Athens.
 Sofonisba Anguissola was the first woman artist to gain
an international reputation.
 Painted portraits of prominent people such as King
Phillip II of Spain.
 Writers began to write in the vernacular, meaning
their native language rather than Latin.
 Renaissance writers wrote for self-expression or to
portray the individuality of their subjects.
 Early Humanist
 Great poet
 Wrote in both Latin and
Italian
 Best known for
Decameron
 Sarcastic and off-color
humor
 Author of The Prince
 “A prince must be strong
as a lion and shrewd as a
fox”
 The book supports
absolutism and does not
support civil liberties.