Aim: Summarize Influential Literary Works and Techniques of Key Renaissance Writers

Renaissance Writers Change Literature Renaissance writers produced works that reflected their time Used techniques that writers rely on today Dante- Wrote in the vernacular, his native language (Italian) Renaissance writers wrote either for self-expression or to portray individuality of their subjects 2

Petrarch & Boccaccio Francesco Petrarch- one of the early and most influential humanists Considered the father of Renaissance Humanism Wrote in both Italian and Latin Wrote sonnets (14 line poems) Giovanni Boccaccio- Italian writer Best known for the Decameron Series of realistic off-color stories 3

Machiavelli Advises Rulers Wrote The Prince (1513) Examines the imperfect conduct of human beings Focuses on how a rule can gain power and keep it in spite of his enemies He began with the idea that most people are selfish, fickle, & corrupt Not concerned with what was morally right but what was politically effect Argued that in the real world of power and politics, a prince must sometimes mislead people and lie to their opponents Must also gain the trust of others 4