Writers of the
Renaissance
A New Kind of Literature
“How-to” Books
Poets, artists, & scholars
mingled with politicians at the
courts of Renaissance rulers.
A literature of “how-to” books
sprang up to help ambitious
men & women who wanted to
rise in the Renaissance world.
Niccolo Machiavelli
 Florentine Diplomat
 Met many important
politicians of the day, but
none had more impact on
him than Prince Cesare
Borgia.
 Borgia was a cunning,
cruel man, whom
Machiavelli did not truly
like, but he thought that a
leader like Borgia was the
only person who could
unite Italy
Niccolo Machiavelli (continued)
 Unfortunately for
Machiavelli, he was dismissed
from office when the Medici
Family came to rule Florence.
 The lack of a job forced him
to switch to writing about
politics.
 In order to impress the
Medici family & gain
influence, he wrote The
Prince.
The Prince
 Machiavelli advised
HINT!
rulers that
“…the ends justifies
the means.”
 What does that
mean?
 Record an example
of this occurring in
everyday life.
Francesco Petrarch
 One of the first
humanists
 Famous scholar &
teacher
 Also wrote poetry
 His sonnets to
Laura, an imaginary
ideal woman, are
considered some of
the greatest love
poems in literature.
Francesco Petrarch (continued)
 Believed that the classical
writers were committed to virtue
in public and private life.
 The study of ancient Greek and
Roman literature came to be
called classical education.
 Knowledge of classical Greek
and Latin became the mark of
an educated person.
 What did we say was another
word for Greek and Roman
influence?
Canzone #3
It was on that day when the sun's
ray was darkened in pity for its
Maker, that I was captured, and
did not defend myself, because
your lovely eyes had bound me,
Lady.
What happened to Petrarch in this
poem?
Sir Thomas More
 An English Humanist
 Interested in the Classics
 What
are the classics?
 In 1516 he published
Utopia
 Let’s read an excerpt
from that work…
Utopia
 “Under such a system, there’s bound to
be plenty of everything, and as
everything is divided equally among the
entire population, there obviously can’t
be any poor people or beggars.”
 What does More describe in this
excerpt?
 Let’s define the word utopia…
Utopia
 The word utopia has come to mean “an ideal
place or society.”
 He contrasted his life in Europe with his
description of an imaginary, ideal society. The
word utopia has come to mean “an ideal place or
society.”
 In More’s imaginary world, all male citizens were
equal. Everyone worked to support the society.
More on More
 Later in life More served under King
Henry VIII of England.
 Because More refused to agree that the
king was the supreme head of the
church in England, King Henry had him
executed.
 Some 400 years later, the Catholic
Church made More a saint for his
service to the Church.
Your Utopia!
Characteristics of
Your Utopia
Name of Utopian
Nation
Geographical
Location
 What is your
view of what a
perfect world
should be?
 Please see
handout.
Politics and
Governmental Style
Economy and Trade
Social Values
Slogan that
summarizes the
societies’ most
important goals.
Written Description
Writers for a New Audience
 Scholars like More wrote mostly in
Latin. In northern towns & cities, the
growing middle class demanded new
works in the vernacular.
 This audience particularly enjoyed
dramatic tales & earthly comedies.
William Shakespeare
 English poet &
playwright
 Between 1590 & 1613,
wrote 37 plays that are
still performed around
the world today
 He wrote comedies,
historical plays &
tragedies
S:\World History\Renaissance & Reformation\Videos\William_Shakespeare_Bio.3gp
Hamlet
 Prince Hamlet is visited by his father's ghost &
ordered to avenge his father's murder by killing King
Claudius, his uncle.
 After struggling with several questions, including
whether what the ghost said is true and whether it is
right for him to take revenge, Hamlet, along with
almost all the other major characters, is killed.

In a final duel, Hamlet is mildly cut with a sword which
has been tipped with poison. In his slow death he
utters what is regarded as the most famous monologue
in all theater literature…
Hamlet
“To be, or not to be: that is the
question: Whether 'tis nobler in
the mind to suffer the slings
and arrows of outrageous
fortune, or to take arms against
a sea of troubles, and by
opposing end them?”
Words of Wisdom
 Machiavelli & Castiglione wrote “how-to” guides
for nobles who wanted to rise to power.
 Now it’s your turn to write a “how-to” guide, but
not for nobleman of the Renaissance… for the
Freshman of Appoquinimink High School.
 Write 10 guidelines for Freshman Survival at AHS.
Remember, we want to help them make it to
graduation in 4 short years. So impart some
wisdom!
 This will be collected! 
Giovanni Boccaccio
 The Decameron
 Ten individuals fleeing from the plague into
the countryside tell stories.
 The Decameron is believed to have influenced
Geoffrey Chaucer and his famous book of the
Canterbury Tales.
“Heaven would indeed
be heaven if lovers were
there permitted as much
enjoyment as they had
experienced on earth”
Writing Sample
 Today we will examine another piece of
famous Renaissance literature. Dante’s
Divine Comedy vividly describes the nine
layers of hell. Your task is to describe the
ninth, and most wicked, level of hell. Utilize
as many of your senses as possible in your
description (taste, touch, vision, smell,
hearing, etc).
Name: ____________________________________
Directions: Use this graphic organizer to take notes during the classroom discussion regarding Dante’s Inferno.
LEVEL TITLE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
DESCRIPTION
Dante Aligheri
 Inferno is the first part of The Divine
Comedy – an epic poem
 Dante is guided through the nine
circles of hell by the Roman poet,
Virgil.
 Each circle gradually increases in
wickedness until he finally meets
Satan.
The nine circles of hell ~
First Circle (Limbo)
 Second Circle (Lust)
 Third Circle (Gluttony)
 Fourth Circle (Greed)
 Fifth Circle (Anger)
 Sixth Circle (Heresy)
 Seventh Circle (Violence)
 Eighth Circle (Fraud)
 Ninth Circle (Treachery)

Lost
Here he is
astray, in a
gloomy woods,
ready to enter.
Limbo
 People who
did not
actively sin,
but who also
did not
actively
accept Christ
Lust
 Paolo and
Francesca
 Francesca was
married to
Paolo’s brother
Gluttony
 Gluttons are
forced to lie in
“slush” and foul
 Icy rain
symbolizes the
cold, loneliness
that comes from
selfishness
Greed: Popes Trying to Push Heavy
Money Bags up a Hill.
Anger
 The wrathful
fight each other
in the gurgling
water.
 They withdraw
into the black
sulkiness where
they can find no
joy.
 Constant anger
Fraud
 Geryon
 The face of an
honest man,
 The furry paws
of a lion
 Poisonous sting
of a snake-like
tail
 The
journey
Treachery
 Satan is waist deep in ice, weeping tears from
his six eyes, and beating his six wings as if
trying to escape, although the icy wind that
emanates only further ensures his
imprisonment.
 Each face has a mouth that chews on a
prominent traitor
Writing Sample Rubric
 Please see handout.