Defending Literature in Early Modern England: Renaissance Literary Theory in Social ContextWhy was literature so often defended and defined in early modern England in terms of its ability to provide the Horatian ideal of both profit and pleasure? This book, first published in 2000, analyses Renaissance literary theory in the context of social transformations of the period, focusing on conflicting ideas about gentility that emerged as the English aristocracy evolved from a feudal warrior class to a civil elite. Through close readings centered on works by Thomas Elyot, Philip Sidney and Edmund Spenser, Matz argues that literature attempted to mediate a complex set of contradictory social expectations. His original study engages with important theoretical work such as Pierre Bourdieu's and offers a substantial critique of New Historicist theory. It challenges recent accounts of the power of Renaissance authorship, emphasizing the uncertain status of literature during this time of cultural change, and sheds light on why and how canonical works became canonical. |
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Page ix
... Sidney's Defence of Poetry 4 A “gentle discipline”: Spenser's Faerie Queene 5 Epilogue: from text to work? Notes Bibliography Index page xi 1 25 56 88 128 137 172 182 Acknowledgments A number of friends and colleagues at Johns Hopkins ...
... Sidney's Defence of Poetry 4 A “gentle discipline”: Spenser's Faerie Queene 5 Epilogue: from text to work? Notes Bibliography Index page xi 1 25 56 88 128 137 172 182 Acknowledgments A number of friends and colleagues at Johns Hopkins ...
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Contents
1 | |
Elyots Boke Named the Governour | 25 |
Sidneys Defence of Poetry | 56 |
Spensers Faerie Queene | 88 |
from text to work? | 128 |
Notes | 137 |
172 | |
182 | |
Other editions - View all
Defending Literature in Early Modern England: Renaissance Literary Theory in ... Robert Matz No preview available - 2006 |
Defending Literature in Early Modern England: Renaissance Literary Theory in ... Robert Matz No preview available - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
activity aesthetic argue argument aristocratic associated attack attempt authority become body Bower capital chivalric claims concern consumption contemporary court courtier courtly criticism culture dance Defence delight describes desire difference discipline distinction early economic elite Elizabethan Elyot emphases England English example Faerie Queene feudal figure forms Gosson Governour Guyon hand Henry Historicist honor Horatian humanism humanist idleness implies important interest John kind knight labor learning leisure letters literary literature London material means mediation Montrose moral nature nobility noble notes object observes offered ofthe particular play pleasure poet poet’s poetic poetry political position praise production profit Protestant provides question reading reference relation relationship Renaissance represents requires rhetoric role Schoole seems serves sexual Sidney Sidney’s significance sixteenth century social Spenser status suggests temperance texts Thomas Elyot tion traditional University Press virtue warrior writing