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Renaissance Influence On American Literature

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During the Middle Ages of Europe, many empires within the European continent suffered due to disease and conflict. The black plague, The Great Schism and the literacy rate within the common population at a historically low record, the European empires struggled to maintain its power with the rise of new Middle Eastern, Asian, and American empires. However, with the Italian city-states thriving from trading on the Mediterranean Sea and the constant flow of new information, a period where people are becoming more educated in multiple fields began to arise. Through the development of humanism and the percentage of literacy increasing due to man focusing on the studies of the classical works of Greece and Rome and the printing press, the Renaissance changed man 's view of the world, especially in the fields of art, literature, and science.
With man 's focus straying away from religion to focus on the study of classical works, art was used to show the less religious sides of the world. Document A show two pieces of artwork, one created the middle ages of Europe, known as "Madonna enthroned between Two Angels," and one created during the Renaissance, known as the "Mona Lisa." "Madonna enthroned between Two Angels," display many religious symbols, such as Mother Mary and Baby Jesus, have …show more content…

Another field of study that was affected by the Renaissance is literature. As seen in Document B, excerpts from Everyman, written by an unknown author, and Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, show the change in perspective taking place as the influence of the Renaissance increases. Everyman focuses on religious themes and the need to worship God and the need to "give audience, and hear what he doth say." However, Hamlet focuses on the need for man to express his ideas and started to compare man to god, "in apprehension how like a god." The comparison of man and god in Hamlet shows how man 's perspective has changed from the Middle Ages, where god was the supreme being of the

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