The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-01-02
A COLLEGE ESSAY.
The Renaissance in English Literature
by William G. CouqhIin.

Inc following We'll written essay on
"The Renaissance in English Litera-
ture" appears in the December num-
Der of the st. Thomas Collegian from
the pen of Mr.. William G.. Coughlin, of
Minneapolis:
The term Renaissance" in it's lit
eral sense, means New Birth" 1t is
the name given to that intellectual
movement which made itself manifest
about the middle of the fifteenth cen
fury, and winch, even to the present
day, influences in no small measure all
departments of art and learning. In
art, especially, are it's influences dis
cernible; in painting, in sculpture, in
architecture, and in literature the gent
us of the fifteenth century still lives.
The modern artist still points with ad-
miration to the immortal works of
Raphael, Michael Angelo, ana host
of others whose names are written in
the book of fame.
In this brief paper, however, we
shall consider the Renaissance move
ment only as applied to English liter
AZURE. This limitation is not a mar
row one, for literature always reflects
the thought and ideals of it's time. Lii
erature, more than any other art. is
mirror of it's age. And in studying the
Renaissance we constantly meet with
the learning and the philosophy of the
fifteenth century.
"The darkest hour is just before the
dawn" The period Immediately pre-
ceding the Renaissance was one in
which English literature was at low
ebb. Chaucer died about the close of
the fourteenth century and the voice
Of his feeble imitators was drowned
in the din and confusion of war. The
hundred years. struggle with France
had checked the wit of the land, and
scarcely had peace been restored when
England was again the scene of strife,
this time between the rival houses of
York and Lancaster. War never nur-
lures literary genius, and in a special
manner is that true of civil discord.
The Wars Of the Roses, while they did
not substantially affect the great ma
jority of, the English people, irnpeded
the advance Of learning: to such a de-
gree that this period remains the most
unproductive in the history of English
literature.
But a brighter day was at hand.
Already news had reached England
concerning the great revival Of learn
ing on the Continent, and she was
quick to imbibe it's spirit. William
Caxton went over to the Netherlands,
where he became interested in the
new art of printing. Here he pub
lished the first book printed in Eng.
lish. Returning to England in 1916,
he was permitted to establish press
at Westminster. The first book that
came from this press was the "Dictes
and Sayings of the Philosophers" and
this was soon followed by many other
works Of classical bearing. The
name of Caxton is to be- honored not
only because he established the first
press in England: but also because in,
the choice of his publications he dis
played remarkable literary taste and
ability. .:. ...s--,
=. 1t was not long before other presses
were established, and flood of liter
allure was poured out upon the eager
minds of the English people. This in
tellectual outburst was attended with
marvellous results. The sleeping gent
us of England finally became aroused,
and her sons began to contribute to
the world many rare specimens of lit
erary effort. At first the field Of po-
etry was the only scene of this reac
ton; but as time advanced and the
movement developed, prose became an
important factor in the literature Of
the Renaissance period. Time and
space will not permit US here to do
more than mention the names of few
writer's who were prominent in the in
PRODUCTION and the development
of this new literature with
good reason the name of Sir
Thomas Mallory may be mentioned
first, for of the new writer's, his works,
were the first to come from the Cax-
ton press. Principal among his writ
ings was Mort Artur,'' which dealt
with the deeds Of King Arthur and
lis knights. Mallory. died in 1470. King
James I. when mere boy, gave evil
dence of literary genius. In 1405 he
wrote THE Kynge's Quhair,'' a 'ove
poem inspired by his affection for the
daughter of the Duke of Somerset.
Two Scotch poets, Dunbar and Doug
las, contributed to the worthy part shat
Scotland took in the development of
English literature. William Dunbar
was author of THE Thistle and the
Rose and the Golden Forge" while
Gavin Douglas wrote "The Palace of