RENAISSANCE TO ENLIGHTENMENT
in four volumes, Montalvo’s version
recounts the story of Amadis—
a handsome, valiant, yet gentle
knight—and his love for Princess
Oriana, in whose service he
undertakes chivalric adventures
and bold feats against giants and
monsters. Its high ideals, gallantry,
and romance set the standard for
chivalric works that followed.THE BARCASTRILOGY
(1516, 1518, 1519), GIL VICENTEA devotional work, the Barcas
(“Ships”) trilogy by Portuguese
playwright Gil Vicente (c.1465–
1573)—often described as the
“father of Portuguese drama”—
consists of three one-act plays:
The Ship of Hell; The Ship of
Purgatory; and The Ship of Heaven.
Satirical and allegorical, these
three plays—which together are
considered Vicente’s most masterful
work—portray the passengers, who
reflect all classes of Lisbon society,
and their mainly unsuccessful
attempts to enter heaven.THE LUSIADS
(1572), LUÍS DE CAMÕESOften regarded as Portugal’s national
epic, The Lusiads is a 10-canto epic
poem by the great Portuguese poet
de Camões (1524–80) recounting
Vasco da Gama’s sea route to India.
After the introduction, an invocation
to river gods, and a dedication to
King Sebastian, the poem includes
orations by a series of narrators,
including a history of Portugal,
recounted by da Gama, as well as
descriptions of adventures, storms,
and interventions by Greco-Roman
gods. Overall it is a homage to the
Portuguese and their achievements.THE FAERIE QUEENE
(1590, 1596), EDMUND SPENSERThe defining work of English poet
Spenser (c.1552–99), and one of the
great long poems of the English
language, The Faerie Queene is
a religious, moral, and political
allegory. Set in a mythical Arthurian
world, symbolizing Tudor England,
the poem consists of six books, each
of which describes the exploits of
a knight who represents a moral
virtue, such as chastity. The knights
serve Gloriana, the Faerie Queene,
who represents Queen Elizabeth I.
Spenser had planned 12 books, but
died in London at the age of 46
before completing his great work.LE CID
(1637), PIERRE CORNEILLEA verse tragedy in five acts, Le Cid
by French tragedian Pierre Corneille
(1606–84) is seen as the defining
example of French neoclassical
tragedy. Inspired by the story of
Spain’s national hero, El Cid, the
play relates Le Cid’s coming of ageand an incident when he is asked
by his father to challenge his future
father-in-law to a duel. In so doing,
he is forced to choose between the
woman he loves and family honor.PARADISE LOST
(1667), JOHN MILTONMilton’s masterwork, and a supreme
triumph of rhythm and sound, the
epic poem Paradise Lost relates the
biblical story of the fall from grace
of Adam and Eve, and hence of all
humanity. Organized into 12 books
for the final 1674 edition (the first
edition contained 10 books), the
poem interweaves two themes: the
rebellion of Satan against God and
heaven; and the temptation of
Adam and Eve and their expulsion
from the Garden of Eden.PHÈDRE
(1677), JEAN RACINEThe dramatic tragedy Phèdre by
French playwright Jean Racine
(1639–99) is a supreme example of
French neoclassicism. It consists103
John Milton
English poet John Milton is
best known for Paradise Lost,
considered the greatest epic
poem in the English language.
Born in Cheapside, London, in
1608, he began writing while
still a student. But with the
outbreak of the English Civil War
in 1642, he devoted himself to
revolutionary politics, producing
pamphlets defending religious
and civil liberties. Following the
execution of Charles I in 1649
and the overthrow of the
English monarchy, he becamesecretary to the council of state.
Completely blind by 1654, he
was able to continue working
by dictating his verse and prose
to an assistant. Following the
Restoration in 1660, he devoted
himself to producing his greatest
literary works. He died in 1674
in London at the age of 65.Key works1644 Areopagitica, A Speech for
the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing
1667 Paradise Lost (see above)
1671 Paradise Regained
1671 Samson AgonistesUS_102-105_FR_CH2.indd 103 08/10/2015 13:04