The term 'humanist' originally referred to a scholar of Classical literature. In the Renaissance and particularly in the Elizabethan age, European intellectuals devoted themselves to the rediscovery and study of Roman and Greek literature and culture. This trend of Renaissance thought became known in the 19th century as 'humanism'. Often a difficult concept to understand, the term Elizabethan Humanism is introduced in Part One and explained in a number of different contexts. Part Two illustrates how knowledge of humanism allows a clearer understanding of Elizabethan literature, by looking closely at major texts of the Elizabethan period which include Spenser's, 'The Shepherd's Calendar'; Marlowe's 'Faustus' and Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.

This is an accessible guide to the basic principles underlying humanism in Elizabethan literature.

A unique account of Elizabethan humanism, dedicated specifically to the Elizabethan period of Renaissance writing Alan Pincombe offers an entirely new approach to the topic by using sixteenth century records of the words humanity and humanist to establish an Elizabethan meaning for the word humanism. It covers an extensive range of material including sources, background, authors and genre in order that the reader may gain a broader picture. The author looks closely at major texts of the Elizabethan period which include Spenser's, 'The Shepherd's Calendar'; Marlowe's 'Faustus' and Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.