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The Rise of Humanism

Humanism • Humanists were so called because they studied the humanities (art, history, philosophy, literature). • Christian humanists criticized society. • A reverence for the classics and pride in the English language led to distinguished translations. • Humanists disagreed on religious issues.

During the Renaissance, literature reflected another important influence: humanism.At this time, the universities of Europe buzzed with new ideas—about the worth and importance of the individual, about the spiritual value of beauty in nature and art, about the power of human reason to decide what was good and right. Those who taught these new ideas were called humanists,because they studied the humanities(art, history, philosophy, and literature; in other words, subjects that were human rather than sacred) and looked to the classics for wisdom and guidance.

Humanists were often devout Christians—one, in fact, became Pope Pius II—and they tried to reconcile the new ideas with their religious beliefs. In northern Europe, Christian humanists led by the Dutch monk Erasmusstudied ancient Greek and Hebrew so they could read not just the classics but also the Bible and other sacred writings in the original. Naturally, reading the words of history’s greatest thinkers gave Erasmus and his followers high ideals, and they sharply criticized European society, and especially the church, for falling short.

English HumanistsErasmus traveled widely throughout Europe, writing and teaching, and made many friends, among them the artist Hans Holbein the Younger and English writer and scholar Sir Thomas More.Like Erasmus, More saw much to criticize in the way the world was being run and believed humans could do better. In 1516, he published his book called Utopia (from the Greek for “no place”), about a perfect society on an imaginary island. In Utopia, there was no poverty or greed—not even private property; everything was shared, and everyone was equal. War and competition were unknown, and people were governed by reason.

Humanists were concerned with classical learning. One of their aims was to educate the sons of nobility to speak and write in Latin, the language of diplomacy and all higher learning. For humanist writers, however, reverence for the classics created a conflict: should they write their own works in Latin or English? Although many wrote in the classical Latin, others urged scholars to improve English by writing ambitious works in it. In any case, the humanist reverence for classics combined with a pride in the English language led to many distinguished translationsthroughout the period, including the Earl of Surrey’stranslation of Virgil’s Aeneid and George Chapman’stranslations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

Interestingly, the humanists reflected a fact of life during the Renaissance period—religion was a subject dear to most but agreed upon by few. From the outset, humanism was concerned with Christianity; but while early humanists, such as Sir Thomas More, a Catholic, primarily attacked Luther and the Protestants, later humanists, such as Roger Ascham, were earnest Protestants who attacked a more secular humanism coming out of Italy. These men went on to influence later Christian writers, such as the great John Milton.

Reading In the early 1580s, Sir Philip Sidney wrote a defense of literature in response to Puritan attacks claiming that all art was immoral. from A Defence of Poesie by Sir Philip Sidney Now therin of all sciences (I speak still of human, and according to the humane conceits) is our poet the monarch. For he doth not only show the way, but giveth so sweet a prospect into the way, as will entice any man to enter into it. Nay, he doth, as if your journey should lie through a fair vineyard, at the very first give you a cluster of grapes, that, full of that taste, you may long to pass further. He beginneth not with obscure definitions, which must blur the margent with interpretations, and load the memory with doubtfulness; but he cometh to you with words set in delightful proportion, … and with a tale forsooth he cometh unto you, with a tale which holdeth children from play, and old men from the chimney corner. And, pretending no more, doth intend the winning of the mind from wickedness to virtue: even as the child is often brought to take most wholesome things by hiding them in such other as have a pleasant taste. …So is it in men (most of which are childish in the best things, till they be cradled in their graves): glad they will be to hear the tales of Hercules, Achilles, Cyrus, and Aeneas; and, hearing them, must needs hear the right description of wisdom, valor, and justice.

Reading Check 1. According to Sidney, how does poetry fulfill a moral purpose? 2. What details tell you that the tone of Sidney’s essay is serious?