From the beginning of the semester in English 147: Renaissance, I somehow knew it was going to be an interesting class. Most of what we were reading (except Paradise Lost) I have not read, especially the different version of Faustus, Volpone, and Faerie Queene; which, ended up being one of my favorite readings from the class entirely. I really appreciate reading the Faerie Queen and I look forward to reading the other books that Spenser wrote as well. Throughout the class, we have read poetry as well, and I am almost certain I learned more about sonnets and iambic pentameters than I have even in 105 or any other English class. When we started with Utopia by Thomas More and watched the film A Man for All Seasons, I was indifferent about it. …show more content…
Faerie Queene which stood for the religious aspect all the way through, including Queen Elizabeth and Saint George. I learned that there were ways to include religious aspects and mix them with imagery and metaphors. Even instill religion into characters as well like Redcrosse and Una. With these two works that we read at the beginning of class, you really got the two separate personality traits of the authors we were going to read throughout the semester. Religion and standing up for what you believe in and doing what you thought was best was something that would reoccur throughout. Poets even instilled that religion in poems such as Herbert, Jonson, and More. Herbert has a prime example of this and the poetry even sounds like a verse in most of these cases with religion and poetry. With religion comes Heaven and Hell and we learned a lot about Heaven and Hell. The aspects of what Hell consisted of and how the Devil / Satan was depicted in Renaissance works. Faustus was a prime example of this as well as Paradise Lost even though we did not finish it. We have read works that have depicted both ends of the spectrum. They have shown us that the Devil is real just as well as God is real and in order to have one you have to have the …show more content…
I thought what I learned in this class was a lot more than I learned this semester. It being my second to last semester, I’m glad I ended up taking this class. I found a new appreciation for Renaissance, I walked into the class not knowing if I was going to like it and ended up really appreciating what I took from it. Works like Volpone, Faustus, The Alchemist, Faerie Queene and that does not do the poetry justice. Poetry such as The Flea and Shakespeare’s poems were ones that would stick with me in a special way. It is rare when I like works we read in classes, they normally are forgotten in a few weeks; but, like a class I took from Henson – we read all good works and I will continue to read them annually.
Reading half of Paradise Lost by Milton even proved to be vital as well, simply because I have learned more about the book than I have previously. Just by ending with Paradise Lost I really got into what the book was about and what it was conveying also. And, although we did not finish it was still a good last few classes that were taking place about Paradise
The Renaissance Period is widely known for the abundance of amazing portraiture that circulated around Europe. During the Renaissance, Albrecht Dürer, a German artist painted a self-portrait in 1500 that had qualities that differed from the usual style of artist in that time (Chauhan). Jean Clouet also painted a portrait for the King of France and became the official court painter. Both artists had a talent for portraiture, while their styles were quite different. King Francis I wanted to be seen as a powerful man, and appointed Clouet to paint him in a classically renaissance way that highlights his wealth and authority. Dürer, described as a cocky, self-centered man, painted himself in a light that is unique and puts him on a ‘holy’ pedestal (Stokstad 356). In this essay I will show how although both paintings have clear differences with their style, both men in the compositions are conveyed in a great and very powerful sense.
However, extra academic courses helped expand my knowledge in these areas. I was able to take Phycology and Sociology, in High school. The study of why people do what they do really intrigued me because I was nothing like my siblings. Phycology and Sociology expanded my vocabulary and literacies. I looked at history from a different perspective, which interested me. It also introduced me to humanities courses. I pretty much skated by in my English classes. The books we read, I had no interest in, and I did not feel like I was getting anything out of my classes. This was until my senior year. My English teacher taught us how to read. I do not mean the words, but the content. Different methods of active reading, and note taking helped me have a deeper understanding of the content I was reading. The shift in instruction which was historically influenced helped me progress in my literacies (Panther, 2015, presentation). I could relate to the novels we were reading. For the first time in my education, I was reading novels that made me want to keep reading. After this, I began reading for myself, rather than
Though the Renaissance era included all of Europe, Italy was the cradle of the movement. The cities of Florence, Rome and Venice were of great importance to this period. Major artists created art mainly in these three. As the center of Italy, Rome held the residence of the Pope and many other important factors. Throughout history, the Roman Catholic Church was very insistent on promoting their ideas. During this time, they used artists and their creativity to promote the Bible and other aspects of their beliefs. Artists were paid, or commissioned by patrons (often the Pope) to create art they wanted. One of the most ambitious patrons was Pope Julius II, who realized the impact visual images had on people’s ideas (Kleiner, 599). Pope Julius II was called the warring Pope, because he often went and involved himself in wars. He also held very humanistic ideas. Because of this, Michelangelo’s relationship to Pope Julius II was very different from his relationship with Pope Leo X, who succeeded Julius II. Julius, because of his adaptions to humanistic thoughts, he let Michelangelo express himself to the fullest, even when forcing him to paint the Sistine Chapel. Leo X, however, was very critical of everything Michelangelo set out upon. This resulted a strained relationship, and eventually abandonment of projects that were supposed to be completed. It is clear that Pope Julius II had a liking for Michelangelo, while the Medici’s looked on him as a type of lowly artist subject to their will.
Despite the nature, origins and even existence of the Renaissance being subject to intensive investigation by many historians, the traditional understanding of the European renaissance as being defined as the bridge between the Middle Ages and modern era has resonated in society throughout time. Exemplified through the influx of creative arts, literature and philosophy of that time, Swiss cultural historian Jacob Burckhardt defined this bridge as being the result of an immense intellectual transformation in humanity. In fact, the term ‘renaissance’, coined by the French historian Jules Michelet, can be translated to mean ‘new birth’ or ‘rebirth’. Spanning roughly through the 14th to 17th centuries, the renaissance is often recognised as the time of a revolution of cultural revitalization and exploration. These traditionalist ideas of the Renaissance as developed by Michelet and later expanded by Burckhardt were however ultimately disposed by revisionist historians like Charles Homer Haskins who began a revolt against Renaissance idea, motivated by the goal to deny the era any legitimate historical existence and annex the period to the middle ages. However, the perspectives of these historians in this debate are ultimately a reflection of their own context and purposes. Both Michelet and Burckhardt’s approach reflect their own 19th-century world, whilst Haskins was heavily influenced by his liberal, optimistic 20th-century ideals. A more contemporary approach to the debate is exemplified through historiographer Wallace K. Ferguson. Ferguson had chosen to focus and draw conclusions from the mirrored reflections and controversies surrounding the Renaissance idea that persisted amongst past historians. However, despite argua...
In the past I did not enjoy reading because I never wanted to ever sit down and take the time to read and think about what the author was actually trying to say. I was never really taught how to evaluate and solve the authors mysteries until this semester. Until now I never knew to pay attention to the figurative language, style, and structure because those can really express hidden things about the author. Now that I know how too, I enjoy reading a lot more. I plan on reading more in the future.
Learning is one of the most important concepts that I hold dear to my heart. In order to advance in life that is something you must be able to do. I have learned many different things from various places, but in this year alone, I have learned a tremendous amount of material in honors English 1301. Not only did my professor, Mrs. Minkel, give me the tools needed to make successful scholarly papers, although it came with some challenges, she also provided her students with the tools needed to be a great student overall.
...wledge of linear perspective and some history of the Renaissance era in general. It is an interesting side note that it was not until doing some research on the artists I saw at LACMA days after my visit, did I learn of the relationship between van Eyck and Christus. The fact that I was able to instinctively discern a similarity between the two artists sans prior knowledge indicates that I have gained some comprehension, even if only a small amount, during the course of this class. My love for art has been ever present. Having only viewed and appreciated it for the deep feelings of awe and reverence that it brings up in me, that has always been enough. However, having this experience with just a tiny bit of specific knowledge has made it so much more interesting that I wish to continue gaining knowledge in this area in order to broaden my future experiences.
In the beginning of this semester, English 1302 seemed as though it would be the subject that would be the toughest for me to pass. The pace, the work load and everything in between seemed overwhelming for me. As time proceeded to pass, the course didn’t seem as overpowering. By taking the work one step at a time, it simply became another step to achieve the overall goal of this first half of the semester. I have made improvements as well as learned lessons from my mistakes made along the way.
This class was far more intense than what I expected but I was able to make it through the semester. I learned a lot from this class that I will carry into the future and use in other classes. All of the revision and feedback I have received during the time in the class helped me in the end. I feel like I am gradually becoming a better writer. I will take everything that I have learned in this class and use it for future reference when writing papers. I overall have enjoyed this class this semester.
For me, the most enjoyable work from this past semester was Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in Rue Morgue.” This piece of work is a short story, so it is long enough to captivate my attention and allow me to become invested in the plot while being short enough that the entire work remains interesting. The story’s plot also captures my interest because the mystery aspect of the tale keeps my mind engaged while I attempt to figure out how the murders could have been committed at the same time that the story’s characters do. When Dupin hands the narrator a newspaper with
Vocabulary:This semester,I read the Aesop’s Fables,I learned many new words from those stories. Lots of useful verb and animals’ name,although there still are many words not used in nowadays.
The Renaissance or “rebirth” is a cultural movement that started in Italy during the late 14th century and expanded to the early 17th century. The Renaissance was a bridge that allowed Western Europe to move from the medieval era to the modern era. Renaissance later spread to other parts of Europe. Advances in technology allowed art and architecture to flourish during the Renaissance era. Cities like Florence in Italy saw a spike in artists and architects who have changed from mere paid skilled laborers to professional artists.
In my college career, I have had many classes that provided inspiration and personal growth but the two that stands out at this time are psychology and the Bible as literature. In psychology, I specifically enjoyed learning about research and theories regarding human growth and change across the lifespan. This class helped me understand why and how children develop. The Bible as literature was interesting and I learned things I had not known. This class confirmed that when I need to, I can turn to proverbs for
When I reflect back to the beginning of this semester I am astonished at how much I have learned. English 124 has been a real eye opener for me. Not only have I grown as a writer, but it has challenged me to become more of a critical thinker. In the class we have read many articles on diverse topics, studied theories of history’s greatest philosophers of education, and wrote various styles of papers.
The Renaissance is a term that means rebirth. The renaissance marked a renewed interest in many things such as the arts but also brought about change in the areas of class structure; trade; invention and science. These changes have influenced nearly every social class and industrialized society in the modern world. This paper will show how this unique period in our history impacts our society today.