BRITISH CRITICISM DURING THE RENAISSANCE--Blamiers

BRITISH CRITICISM DURING THE RENAISSANCE--Blamiers

M. Phil English, Bharathiar University--Blamiers--Approaches--Unit I

The RENAISSANCE

BRITISH CRITICISM DURING THE RENAISSANCE

Summary by Dr. S. Sreekumar

Note: The summary is in FIVE parts

PART I

INTRODUCTION

The term ‘Renaissance’ stands for different things for different people. For the students of literature, the term signifies the rediscovery of the classics of Greece and Rome. Scholars edited, translated and commented on the classics during the Renaissance.  With the fall of Constantinople in 1453, scholars drifted to many European cities carrying the literary treasures with them.

With the Renaissance, Europe came into contact with Greek and Latin Classics. This led to an intellectual/cultural awakening in Europe.  Till the Renaissance human activity was centered in the divine scheme of creation and redemption. Classical writers had placed man in the centre of the universe and the ideals of ‘Humanism’ spread throughout Europe.

Classical styles and genres created new models of art. In this new type, poise and polish, balance and decorum became key factors.

I. The complete man —— Sir Thomas Elyot and Roger Ascham

The Renaissance writers laid down rules for the training of leaders. The Book of the Governour by Sir Thomas Elyot was one such book aimed at the training of youth for leadership roles.

a. The Book of the Governour by Sir Thomas Elyot (1490-1546)

This is the first book on English education.

·        It is interesting to note that Elyot recommends the study of Homer ‘from whom as from a fountain proceeded all eloquence and learning’.

·        He says that Aristotle recommended the Iliad and the Odyssey to the young Alexander who later became Alexander, the Great.

·        From the Iliad, Alexander “gathered courage and strength against his enemies, wisdom and eloquence for consultations, and persuasion to his people and army”.

·        From the Odyssey he learned “Ulysses’ example to evade deceptions and treacheries, and how to sift good characters from evil characters”.

Elyot, then turns to Virgil

·        He says that Virgil has a special appeal to the youth. The youth can benefit much by what Virgil writes about horticulture, horses, astronomy, hunting, and the like. Aeneid can stimulate boldness, courage and adventurousness.

Elyot speaks about the usefulness of studying Horace.

·        In Horace, there is much “variety of learning and quickness of sentence”.

·        Elyot recommends Logic, Rhetoric, Cosmography, History and Moral Philosophy. He also distinguishes mere technical agility from true eloquence.

Elyot’s defence of Poetry

Elyot defends poets and poetry against the charge that the works of poets contained “nothing but bawdry”.  In defence of poetry, Elyot argues that even comedy can be a morally instructive mirror of man’s life. He defends Ovid, who is supposed to be the most lascivious among all poets, stating that “commendable and noble sentences” can be found “in the most wanton books”.

Elyot stands firmly against censorship of what the young must read. In a garden a man has to tread on nettles when he gathers the good herbs. Similarly, the young reader must be able to discriminate between good and bad. He would not recommend the teaching of ‘wanton poets’ to all people, but nothing must be excluded from the healthy minded.

Along with enlightened openness, there exists the medieval notion of order and discipline in Elyot. The four elements——earth, water, air and fire—— must keep their proper place to distinguish order from chaos. He believes in the greatness of dance and devotes several chapters in defence of dancing. He says that ordered dance is the true expression of love and it is symbolic of the institution of marriage. Dance is equated with magnanimity, constancy, honor, wisdom and continence and these qualities together are what constitute nobility.

b. Roger Ascham (1516- 68)

Ascham was a classical scholar. He was the Latin secretary under Edward IV, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth. He left a treatise The Schoolmaster, which was published by his widow, two years after his death.

This work does not have the philosophical dimensions of Elyot’s work. His first book, ‘teaching the bringing up of youth”, contains practical advice. But this advice is mostly conventional. His criticism of Malory’s Morte D’Artur as a book of “open manslaughter and bold bawdry” is remembered even today.

Ascham’s second book, ‘teaching the ready way to the Latin tongue’ contains a substantial section entitled, Imitatio. He says that all languages are learned through imitation. The Italian poets follow Virgil, and Virgil follows Homer. Cicero follows Plato and Demosthenes and so on.  In conclusion, Ascham argues that mastery of a language is not an accident. There must be natural aptitude, love of learning, diligence and so on.

To follow——

PART II THE ART OF POETRY—— George Gascoigne & George Puttenham

PART III—THE DEFENCE OF POETRY——Stephen Gosson & Sir Philip Sidney

PART IV—CLASSICAL & NATIVE VERSIFICATION

PART V—Bacon & Jonson

Study material for MPhil English students of Bharathiar University by Dr. S. Sreekumar