Renaissance literary theory and practice : $b Classicism in the rhetoric and poetic of Italy, France, and England 1400-1600

The work surveys the revival of classical rhetoric and poetics from the early fifteenth to the late sixteenth century, tracing how Italian, French, and English writers re‑engaged Aristotle’s Rhetoric and Poetics while navigating the new humanist focus on Latin, Greek, and the emerging vernaculars. By contrasting medieval conventions with the Renaissance’s drive toward “sound literary theory,” it shows how scholars and poets sought a cleaner separation between persuasive discourse and artistic expression. The study repeatedly returns to original texts, offering fresh translations that let readers hear the arguments that shaped the period’s literary culture.

Across chapters on lyric, pastoral, romance, drama and essay, the author evaluates concrete examples to illustrate where classical models empowered creativity and where mis‑applied rhetoric led to literary distortions. The analysis links theory to practice, revealing patterns that still matter for today’s writers and teachers. Listeners will come away with a clearer sense of how Renaissance thinkers both honoured and challenged antiquity, and why those lessons remain relevant.