THE REFLECTION OF HUMANISM IN ENGLISH RENAISSANCE POETRY AND DRAMA

Abstract

This article examines the intellectual and artistic reflection of Humanism in English Renaissance poetry and drama. It provides a critical exploration of how Renaissance humanist ideals—centered on individual dignity, reason, and the rediscovery of classical values—shaped English literary creativity. Through a close reading of philosophical and literary sources, the study discusses the contributions of scholars such as Erasmus, Burckhardt, and Kristeller, alongside major writers like Sidney, Spenser, Marlowe, and Shakespeare. The paper argues that Humanism not only revived classical thought but also laid the foundation for modern human consciousness in English literature.