COMPARING THE MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE PERIODS IN POETRY AND ART

THE RENAISSANCE LINKS ARE QUITE EXTENSIVE; YOU MAY CLICK ON ANY SECTION YOU WISH TO VIEW AND RETURN TO THE CONTENTS FOR THE BRITISH LITERATURE OR SHAKESPEARE PAGE FROM THE SECTION YOU ARE VIEWING. ALL SECTIONS, HOWEVER, FORM AN INTEGRATED TOTALITY REGARDING THE PHILOSOPHICAL, SCIENTIFIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, MORAL AND LITERARY CURRENTS WE CALL THE RENAISSANCE.

To mark the transition from the Medieval period to the Renaissance, compare the two poems , the first from the Medieval period, and the second from the Renaissance. For each, note the following:

1. Metaphors that organize each
2. The tone of each poem
3. The major figures of speech in each poem
4. Essential similarities and differences
5. The comment each poem makes about its respective period

THE LAST JOURNEY

If a man thought deeply and often
How hard is the journey from sleep to
Active life, how sorrowful is the passage
From active life to the grave, from the
Grave to torment that shall never end, I
Think that he should desire no sin.

ON THE LIFE OF MAN

What is our life? A Play of passion
Our mirth the music of division;
Our mothers' wombs the tiring-houses be
Where we are dressed for this short comedy.
Heaven the judicious sharp spectator is,
That sits and marks still who doth act amiss;
Our graves that hide us from the searching sun
Are like drawn curtains when the play is done .
Thus march we, playing, to our latest rest,
Only we die in earnest--that's no jest.

THE ART