Conduct Books in the Renaissance

Abstract

The aim of my thesis is to identify Baldessar Castiglione's influence on the "conduct book" genre in the English Renaissance.In the first part of my dissertation I focus on the general definition and historical background of the Italian Renaissance. In this context I deal with Castiglione's literary work Il libro del cortegiano, its origin and the purpose of the author. Moreover I pay close attention and analyse Sir Thomas Hoby's English translation of Castiglione's volume, the strengths and weaknesses of the adaptation and the aim of the translator, Sir Thomas Hoby. In addition I draw conclusions from the throrough analysis of the translation. Furthermore in the second part of my thesis I will make a comprehensive study on the basis of Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier. I analyse four English authors's literary works, i.e. Roger Ascham The Schoolmaster, Sir Thomas Eliot The Book Named the Governor, Henry Peacham The Compleat Gentleman and Richard Brathwait The English Gentleman in search of differences and sameness with Castiglione's literary work. In the end of my dissertation I summarize the studies and argue in general the development of the conduct genre in England.