Literature

Prose

ue to the rediscovery of ancient classical writings, the period between 1400 and 1558 was spent researching and translating these ancient works. Scholars were avidly studying ancient literature, therefore little original writing was done. The intense scholarly focus on the ancient texts acted as a period of preparation, especially for England, for the upcoming Renaissance.

In 1470 Morte d'Arthur, by Sir Thomas Malory, was published. This prose collection was a book on the legends of the round table. In 1477 Caxton printed the first book in England. Already, all over Europe, literacy as an elitist privilege was being transformed into a readily available option for laymen. Sir Thomas More, a humanist, wrote reverential and contentious works. He wrote some of the most influential prose of the era, like Richard III, one of his histories.

In one of his writings, Thomas More once pointed out that English translations of the Bible had already been made before his time, yet because the printing press was still a new concept in England at the time, there were very little literate people and therefore few read those translations. The Church had no complaints as long as capable scholars with orthodox beliefs did the translation to the vernacular.

In 1500, William Tyndale attempted to publish his translation. However, at that time, King Henry the 8th was in power, and being a Catholic he objected to Tyndale's heretical ideas. Hence Tyndale fled for Germany. Here he finished translating the New Testament and had it published circa 1525 in Worms. Shortly after commencing his Old Testament translation, he was accused of heresy and beheaded. Coverdale completed his translation, and in 1539 the Tyndale-Coverdale translations (or known as the Great Bible were published in England. By this time Henry the 8th supported the Lutherans, and ordered the Great Bible into all his country's churches. This Bible had a mammoth influence on the English language, and formed the foundations for the King James Version Bible. For decades to come it was the most widely read English book.

By the 1550's, all was set for the upcoming Rebirth of genius, originality and vitality. The preparation was complete.