Realism in Renaissance Literature
...ent subjects. The subjects included things such as philosophy, travel, and history. The writers also wrote in many different styles and forms. Two styles that stood out were the plain style and the Ciceronian style. Because of the use of many subject and the various styles, the literature was really able to reflect the common man. The poetry that was written during the Renaissance also contained an abundance of the use of realism. The writers experimented in writing and began writing pastoral poems and using allegories in the poems that they wrote. Pastoral poetry shows and reflects the rural life of the people in England, and it shows the aspect of everyday society that was not commonly seen in previous works of literature. By using allegories in poems, the author could show the underlying meaning of the aspects such as the social, moral, and religious. Once again the use of realism is apparent in the poetry by the representation of ordinary people and everyday life. Realism is seen in many works of the Renaissance period. Two of the more popular pieces of literature of this time are Paradise Lost and Dr. Faustus. In Paradise Lost, realism is seen in the fact that there are so many references to the Bible. While this aspect could be viewed as a religious feature, it can also be viewed as realism. This fact is true because Adam and Eve represent the common people because they both took part in the eating of the “forbidden” apple. Because they did this they sinned, just as everybody does throughout the course of their life. In Dr. Faustus realism is shown through Dr. Faustus himself. Alth...