The 16th Century in Literature

Humanism and Critical Thought

• Michel de Montaigne embodied humanist skepticism with his Essays, meditations on self, death, truth, and human experience. 
• Étienne de La Boétie, his close friend, wrote Discourse on Voluntary Servitude, a foundational text in political criticism. 
• Erasmus called for moral and intellectual reform of the Church in In Praise of Folly, an influential satirical work. 
• Thomas More imagined an ideal society in Utopia, reflecting humanist concerns with governance and justice. 
• Jean Bodin, in Six Books of the Republic, laid modern foundations for political thought on sovereignty. 
• Martin Luther, though a theologian, had a major impact on literature through the dissemination of his ideas and use of print.

The Renewal of the French Language

• The Pléiade, a group of poets led by Pierre de Ronsard and Joachim du Bellay, sought to enrich the French language and elevate it through poetry. 
• Ronsard, dubbed “prince of poets,” composed Les Amours and numerous sonnets celebrating beauty and nature. 
• Du Bellay expressed his exile in Rome in Les Regrets and published Defense and Illustration of the French Language to legitimize French literature. 
• Clément Marot, a transitional figure between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, modernized poetry with a more personal tone.

Narrative and Fiction

• François Rabelais revolutionized French prose with Pantagruel, Gargantua, and The Fourth Book, combining satire, erudition, and freedom of tone. 
• He circumvented censorship by publishing under a pseudonym and blending popular comedy with scholarly references. 
• Characters like Panurge reflect free spirit, learned wit, and complex humanity. 
• Marguerite de Navarre composed The Heptameron, a collection of stories blending morality, religion, and the female condition. 
• Pastoral and chivalric novels experienced a revival, notably in Spain with Cervantes and Garcilaso de la Vega.

Theatre and Poetry in England

• William Shakespeare, born in Stratford-upon-Avon, became the leading playwright of the English Renaissance with works like Romeo and Juliet, Richard III, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Merchant of Venice. 
• His plays were performed at the Globe Theatre under Queen Elizabeth I, using blank verse to achieve rhythm and expressive freedom. 
• Christopher Marlowe, author of Doctor Faustus and The Faerie Queene, influenced Shakespeare through his powerful language and tragic vision. 
• Marlowe was killed in a tavern brawl at age 29, leaving a brief but impactful body of work. 
• The sonnet, originating in Italy, spread widely in England, France, and Spain.

Epic and Classical Traditions

• Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso and Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered renewed the epic poem genre in Italy. 
• These heroic tales echoed the traditions of figures like Roland and Godfrey of Bouillon. 
• Baldassare Castiglione’s The Book of the Courtier helped define the ideals of the cultivated Renaissance gentleman. 
• Geoffrey Chaucer and John Milton, though from different centuries, were sometimes mentioned for context in tracing literary continuities. 
• Montesquieu, though anachronistically referenced, actually belongs to the 18th century, yet comparative mentions may appear in discussions of evolving thought.