The Renaissance - Wassace K. Ferguson (New York: Holt, 1940, pp. 1-3)

10/21/2013

"The idea that there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts, after a thousand years of cultural sterility, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries originated with the Italian writers of the Renaissance themselves. Finding the feudal and ecclesiastical literature and Gothic art of the Middle Ages uncongenial to their taste, they turned for inspiration to the civilization of Roman and Greek antiquity...Thus, from the beginning, the double conception of medieval darkness and subsequent cultural rebirth was colored by the acceptance of classical standards."

1. List and define any words in the text that you are unfamiliar.

2. Does the author believe that the Renaissance was a unique and distinctive period in time or a continuation of the Middle Ages? Which of the statements best reflects the author's view and supports your opinion?

3. According to Ferguson, how did writers and thinkers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries view themselves? Were they part of the Middle Ages or a different era - the Renaissance?

4. Read two posts by your classmates and comment on their responses.

97 Comments

ashley searles

10/21/2013 01:07:18 am

my homework: #1 subseguent dont know what that word means
#2 The author thinks its unique cause its says
"the idea that there was a great revival of rebirth"..
#3 middle ages cause it talk about how it looks at there paintings and art work. - ashley ;)

Damien.C.elv5

10/21/2013 07:33:13 am

I think that number 3 is wrong because in the paragraph it stated that the writers were part of the Renaissance.

OLIVIAELV5

10/22/2013 05:41:56 am

I agree with Damien it does state that they were in the renaissance.

Michael y

10/24/2013 10:53:28 am

I think so to because they said that the writers where part of the renaissance and didn't say anything about them being in any other parts.

Ally.m.elv1

10/21/2013 08:38:29 am

I think 3 is wrong because they passage says that the writes are part of the renaissance.

tamisha walker

10/21/2013 10:22:16 am

I think 3 wrong because renaissance is a whole thing not just part their togther

layton.d.elv1

10/21/2013 09:33:39 am

that's wrong #3

lilly griffin

10/21/2013 11:47:13 am

1.revival organated uncongcnial sterility feudal antiguity subsequent accemptance 2.my opinion is that the author thought it was a continuation period because, he says how it turned from one thing to aother 3.they view them selves as sicilized and special because most people in that time did not know what it was so they were amazed witch made them feel special

William Smith

10/22/2013 04:59:21 am

I agree with you on number 3

sarahwhite elv2

10/23/2013 04:47:12 am

I agree with you Lilly because it says all of that stuff in the passage or story.

Cynthia.t.evl3

10/24/2013 11:45:31 am

I agree

lilly griffin

10/21/2013 11:51:18 am

I think u should restate number 1 because there was a lot of big difficult words

devin.L.evle.2pired

10/22/2013 05:43:49 am

I agree

Nathaniel patchen

10/23/2013 05:09:29 am

really ashley only one word

Tyler.J.Elv 3

10/23/2013 08:46:18 am

Why were they unique?

Cynthia.t.elv3

10/24/2013 11:44:50 am

I agree to with them

niya bennett.e1

10/21/2013 01:25:40 am

1.sterilty,eclesiastical and uncongenial

2. I think the author does belive that the reaissance was a unique because it says finding the feudal and ecclesiastical literature and gothic art of the midle ages uncongenial to their taste they turned inspiration to the civilazation of rome and greek antiquity.

3.they view themselves as a very god writer and thinker they was apart of the difrent era the renaisance

Ally.m.elv1

10/21/2013 08:40:01 am

I agree with 1 because I had the same ones plus more.

lilly griffin

10/21/2013 11:52:33 am

I agree with 1 because them words were diffuclt to understand

Keya.D.elv.3

10/22/2013 06:58:37 am

good job i agree with 1,2,3

Danniel M. elv1

10/23/2013 01:11:32 am

I agree with number 1, I also didn't understand those words.

Michael y

10/24/2013 10:57:15 am

I didn't understand some of the words either

sarahwhite elv2

10/23/2013 04:48:51 am

good job Niya I agree with you.

madison. elv.5

10/23/2013 07:20:20 am

Did not write definitons

Nahyme.R.elv5

10/24/2013 12:44:42 pm

Weren't you suppose to write the definitions?

Danniel M. elv1

10/21/2013 02:01:22 am

1).I am unfamiliar with the words uncongenial,and ecclesiastical.
2).I think that he does believe that the renaissance is a unique and distinctive period in time because he said ''There was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts.''
3).I think they are a part of the renaissance becaus thy were a part of the sixtenth and fifteenth century

layton.d.elv1

10/21/2013 09:34:43 am

I agree 1 2 and 3

tamisha walker

10/21/2013 10:24:31 am

I agree to number 2

arrawn y. elv. 5th

10/24/2013 09:28:06 am

yes, i agree

riley.r.elv3

10/21/2013 05:27:55 am

1. List and define any words in the text that you are unfamiliar.

2. Does the author believe that the Renaissance was a unique and distinctive period in time or a continuation of the middle Ages? Which of the statements best reflects the author's view and supports your opinion?

3. According to Ferguson, how did writers and thinkers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries view themselves? Were they part of the middle Ages or a different era - the Renaissance?
1. Here are some words I don’t know the meaning of:
A. Sterility
B. Ecclesiastical
C. Uncongenial
2. The author believes that the renaissance period was a time of rebirth and the Middle Ages were a time of war and gloomy art.
3. The authors in the middle ages were very proud of themselves and looked at other art in other places for inspiration so they were more rebirth than middle.

Damien.C.elv5

10/21/2013 07:30:55 am

I think that 3 is wrong because it stated in the paragraph that the writers were a part of the Renaissance.

tay.b.elv.1

10/21/2013 06:26:20 am

1.)I don't know the words sterility,antiquity, and subsequent

2.)yes, The idea that there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts, after a thousand years of cultural sterility, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries originated with the Italian writers of the Renaissance themselves

3.)they thought The idea that there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts, after a thousand years of cultural sterility, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries originated with the Italian writers of the Renaissance themselves

William Smith

10/22/2013 05:00:11 am

you have to look up the words you don't understand

Danniel M. elv1

10/23/2013 01:53:05 am

I agree with William.

Damien.C.elv5

10/21/2013 07:28:17 am

1 sterility, ecclesiastical, uncongenial
2 I think that the author thinks its unique because its says in the passage"the idea that there was a great revival of rebirth of reading and arts".
3 they think of them selves to be good writers and that they are part of the renaissance because in the beginning it stated that "The idea that there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts, after a thousand years of cultural sterility, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries originated with the Italian writers of the Renaissance themselves".

chloe.r.elv3

10/21/2013 10:34:15 am

I agree with your opinion in question 3. Great minds think alike!

Madelyn.S.elv3

10/22/2013 07:39:55 am

I think that your answer to #2 is really good. I like the quote you used form the text. I think it goes along with the question very well.

Jason.P.elv5

10/22/2013 08:14:45 am

I agree with you on numbers 2 and 3.

Giselle.G.Elv5

10/23/2013 06:00:07 am

I completly agree with you on number 3.

Tyler.J.Elv 3

10/23/2013 08:47:35 am

I agree with you on number 3.

arrawn y. elv.5th

10/24/2013 09:27:08 am

i agree

Ally.m.elv1

10/21/2013 08:41:13 am

1- sterility,ecclesiastical,
uncongenial,anitquity,
subsequent.

2- Yes I think he does because of this statement.In the first sentence he is talking about the great rebirth and the cultures also the writers.

3- They write about the gothic art and stuff like that. The second sentence supports my reason because they are part of the Middle Ages.

William Smith

10/22/2013 05:00:53 am

you have to look up the words u don't understand

Ally.M.elv1

10/23/2013 06:29:47 am

I did William smith

layton.d.elv1

10/21/2013 09:42:43 am

Q1.sterility means quality or condition of being sterile.
ecclesiastical means relating to the Christian Church or its clergy.
Q2. the renaissance period was a time of rebirth and the Middle Ages were a time of war.
Q3.in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries originated with the Italian writers of the Renaissance themselves

chloe.r.elv3

10/21/2013 10:42:11 am

Looks like none of us knew what sterility meant!
I agree that you believe that the Renaissance was a time of rebirth, but there was more to the Middle Ages than war. I think it was also a time when people were too busy to carry out their ideas which slowed down progress.

erryn.m.elv3

10/22/2013 12:54:58 am

sterilty-means not fertile not able to bare fruit
I agree that the renaissance was a new start but I disagree with it was a time of slow progess I understand many things didn't happen.New art was developing writers improvments they might have it was not important it was progess though!

luke.b.elv3

10/22/2013 07:49:06 am

I looked it up in the dictionary and it means clean from all germs and organisims and also means incapable of reproduction.

Madelyn.S.elv3

10/22/2013 07:45:43 am

You need to elaborate more. all of your answers seem to short to even be considered responses. I think you had the right idea but you need more details.

chloe.r.elv3

10/21/2013 10:31:02 am

1. Sterility means to make sterile, sterile means lacking inspiration or vitality. Feudal is the long bitter hostility between two people or groups. Ecclesiastical means of the Christian Church or clergy. Uncongenial means to be [of a person] not friendly or pleasant to be with. Antiquity means great age;ancient times.
2. The author believes that the Renaissance was a unique and distinctive period of time.
The statement that supports my opinion is the following one:
"The idea that there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts, after a thousand years of cultural sterility, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries originated with the Italian writers of the Renaissance themselves.
3. According to Ferguson the writers and thinkers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries viewed themselves as better educated people, that they were religiously, culturally, and economically sound. Also that their pieces had little to no conflict.

Olivia elv5

10/22/2013 05:44:38 am

I think you sayed everything you were soposed to say well done.

Jason.P.elv5

10/22/2013 08:09:28 am

I agree with you on number 2.

Neocia T. elv.5

10/24/2013 05:47:52 am

good job it looks like you put a lot of thought in it

Kaylee.B.elv1

10/24/2013 11:42:11 am

I agree 100% with #3

amya.b.elv2

10/22/2013 12:53:14 am

1.) - coception- a understanding of what is happening or what your doing
- originated- where something came from or first developed
- uncongenial- not something they liked
2.) I do think the author believes that the renissance were unique. The author called it a rebirthof literature and art.

3.) Ferguson said that the thinkers and writers veiwed themselves as writers and artist and they were apart of the renissance

Jordan.m.elv3

10/23/2013 09:05:01 am

I agree with number 1,2,3

william smith

10/22/2013 04:58:35 am

Q:1 The words i don't understand is feudal - relating to or characteristic of feudalism,ecclesiastical - of or relating to the christian church of it clergy, uncongenial - (of a person) not friendly or pleasant to be with.
Q:2 I think it's continuation of middle age because in the passage it says"after a thousand of years of cultural sterility.so it kept repeating.
Q:3 I think they were part of the renaissance because it says" it's Italian writers of the renaissance.

oliviaelv5

10/22/2013 05:40:21 am

1. Subsequent- coming after something or to follow.
Ecclesiastical-of or relating to the christian church or its clergy.
2.Yes,the idea that there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and arts.
3.They think they are very good writers.they are a part of the renaissance.

devin.l.evle2pired

10/22/2013 05:42:53 am

1)double conception
2)They said that the anther said that it is a rebirth.
3)the world said that it is a rebirth of ides, art.

Keya.D.elv.3

10/22/2013 06:55:48 am

i think u need a little more detail Devin Littlejohn and you was supposed to define the words you dont know i guess by a dictionary

Keya.D.elv.3

10/22/2013 06:56:21 am

i think u need a little more detail Devin LittleJohn and you was supposed to define the words you don't know i guess by a dictionary

Keya.D.elv.3

10/22/2013 06:56:47 am

I think you need a little more detail Devin LittleJohn and you was supposed to define the words you don't know I guess by a dictionary.

Keya.D.elv.3

10/22/2013 06:56:58 am

I think you need a little more detail Devin Little John and you was supposed to define the words you don't know I guess by a dictionary.

madison. elv5

10/23/2013 07:22:18 am

be specific

Jordan.m.elv3

10/23/2013 09:08:29 am

I agree with a keya needs more detail

mariano rojas

10/22/2013 06:02:09 am

1.ecclesiastical,Gothic,Thus,antiquity.
2.the author is like saying that the Renaissance are aparter and it call the dacker ages.
3.they were with the Renaissance by thr chage of time whith them too.

Keya.D.elv.3

10/22/2013 06:52:46 am

1). subsequent-occurring or coming later or after
ecclesiastical-of or pertaining to the church or the clergy;churchly ;clerical;not secular
uncongenial-agreeable,suitable,or pleasing in nature or character
2). Yes because he talks about it.The statement that says " Finding the feudal and ecclesiastical literature and Gothic art of the middle ages uncongenial to their taste, they turned for inspiration to the civilization of Roman and Greek antiquity.
3). I believe they viewed themselves by turning for inspiration to the civilization of Roman and Greek antiquity.

Madelyn.S.elv3

10/22/2013 07:36:01 am

1. There are many words that I am unfamiliar with in the passage. A few of which are sterility, ecclesiastical, uncongenial, antiquity, and subsequent. I did a quick web search and found that sterility means "the quality or condition of being sterile", ecclesiastical means "of or relating to the Christian Church or its clergy", uncongenial means "(of a person) not friendly or pleasant to be with", antiquity is "the period before the Middle Ages", and subsequent means "coming after something in time; following". (I used the Google dictionary to define these words)

2. I think that the author believes that the Renaissance was in fact a unique and distinguished time period. I think this because the author writes that "there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts, after a thousand years of cultural sterility". This leads me to believe that he thinks that there was a change in culture during this time.

3. According to Ferguson, the writers and thinkers of the fifteenth century viewed themselves as part of the Renaissance. The writers and thinkers of the sixteenth century viewed themselves as part of the Middle Ages.

luke.b.elv3

10/22/2013 07:51:55 am

I agree 100% with your number 3 answer

Jason.P.elv5

10/22/2013 08:06:57 am

I agree with you on number 3

Jason.P.elv5

10/22/2013 08:13:46 am

I meant number 2

Keya.D.elv.3

10/23/2013 12:37:36 am

Good job Madelyn that was agood response!

Dalton L.elv3

10/24/2013 05:50:58 am

I agree with you on your answer for question two.

Kaylee.B.evl1

10/24/2013 11:37:32 am

I agree with you on all of answers

Jason.P.elv5

10/22/2013 07:46:28 am

1) The words that I am not familiar with are sterility, ecclesiastical, uncongenial, antiquity, conception and, subsequent.

2) I think that the author thinks that the Renaissance was a unique and distinctive period in time because he states, "The idea that there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts, after a thousand years of cultural sterility, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries".

2) The writers and thinkers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries viewed themselves as part of the Renaissance because they didn't like the literature and the Gothic art so they wanted inspiration from the Roman and Greek antiquity and they started the Renaissance.

Dalton L.elv3

10/24/2013 05:52:10 am

I agree with you on question three.

talden.j.elv.5

10/22/2013 07:47:22 am

1.uncongenial- it means not friendly or pleasant sent to be with.
2.I think he is saying it was unique because he states that thus from the beginning the double conception of medieval darkness and subsequent cultural rebirth.

3.they state that they were part of the renasanse
4.I agree with you on number three olivia
5.mariono you should write more

Jason.P.elv5

10/22/2013 08:05:39 am

1) Sterile means not productive of results,ides. Ecclesiastical means of or pretaining to the church or the clergy. Uncongenial means not pleasent. Antiquity means the period of history before the Middle Ages. Conception means the start of. Subsequent means occuring or coming later or after.

luke.b.elv3

10/22/2013 08:09:44 am

1. Sterility - incapable of producing, or, clean, free of germs.
Feudal - economic structure
Ecclesiastical - church, clergy, or royals
Uncongenial - not agreeable, not suited in temper
Antiquity - ancientness
Subsequent - occuring later or after

2. Yes, "in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries originated with the Italian writers of the Renaissance themselves. Finding the fuedal Ecclesiastical literature and gothic art of the Middle Ages uncongenial to their taste."
3. They veiwed themselves as associated people with the Renaissance in the fifteenth century and viewed themselves as associated with the Middle Ages in the sixteeth century.

nathaniel.elv1

10/23/2013 05:50:00 am

1. The unfamiliar words I don't get are: sterility, ecclesiastical, uncongenial, and subsequent.
2. Yes, the author believes the Renaissance are a unique period of time. The quote that proves my answer is'' a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts.
3. They thought they were great writes of Italy talking about the Renaissance. They were but not great ones. Yes, they were part of the middle ages because there writers from the middle ages writing about the Renaissance and the Renaissance were part of the middle ages so they were part of the middle ages.

Giselle.G.Elv5

10/23/2013 06:01:41 am

I agree with you on number 2

Giselle.G.Elv5

10/23/2013 05:57:31 am

1) The words I don't understand :
Sterility; Free from living germs or microorganism
Ecclesiastical; Of or pertaining to the church or the clergy
Uncongenial; Agreeable,suitable or pleasing in nature or character
2) Yes, I do think the author thought the Renaissance was unique. He said " there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts after a thousand years of cultural sterility in the fourteen and fifth teen centuries".
3) According to Ferguson I think the writers didn't like the things from the Middle Ages. So they " turned for inspiration to the civilization of Roman and Greek antiquity". Also in the text it states the writers were from the Renaissance era.

Nya.H.Elv5

10/24/2013 12:49:50 am

I agree with your number 2 and all your answers make good sense. Good job, Gisselle.

nathaniel.elv1

10/23/2013 06:17:44 am

Definitions for question 1: Sterility: free from living germs. Ecclesiastical: of or pertaining to the church or the clergy. Uncongenial: agreeable,suitable,or pleasing in nature or character. Subsequent: occurring or coming later of after.

Madison b. elv.5

10/23/2013 07:18:06 am

1. antiquity-: ancient history, especially the period of time during which the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations flourished.

ecclesiastical- of a church; Christian church.

2. I think that the author thinks it is a continuation of the Middle ages."The idea that there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts, after a thousand years of cultural sterility, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries originated with the Italian writers of the Renaissance themselves. '' This quote represents my reasoning because it states that the people that thought it was a rebirth were in fact the same people who were writers of the Renaissance themselves.

3. I think that the writers viewed themselves in a different era, the Renaissance because the renaissance was unique and they had different and new ideas.

TylerJ.Elv 3

10/23/2013 08:43:55 am

1.Sterility-No problems,very clean
Feudal-A group of people in a time period
Ecclestical-A group of people in a time period
Uncongenial-Different of what somebody likes
Antiquity-Old aged
2.He believed they were unique because they wrote literature and had beutiful works of art, that were different from their standards but were accepted.
2b."Finding the fuedal and ecclestical literature and gothic art of the middle ages uncongenial to their taste, they turned for insperation from Rome and Greece.
3.They thought they were better then the middle aged people but looked for insperation from Rome and Greece.
3b.They were from the Renaissance.

Nya.H.Elv5

10/24/2013 12:48:45 am

Good answer, Tyler.

Nya.Elv.5

10/24/2013 12:47:43 am

1. The words i really dont understand are,
-Sterility: barren; not able
-Ecclesiastical: relates to a church
-Uncongenial: not sympathetic or compatible
2. I think he does believe that the Renaissances were a unique and distinctive in their period of time.
3. I think that they viewed themselves good and i think that they were apart of the M/A's.

Neocia T. elv.5

10/24/2013 05:46:23 am

you did not give a sentence to support your opion on number2

Neocia T. elv.5

10/24/2013 05:45:10 am

Q1. The words i don't understand are ecclesiastical, uncongenial, and subsequent
Ecclesiastical: is related to church
Uncongenial: not sympathetic or compatible
Sterility: baren: not able
Q2. Yes i think the author believe that the Renaissance was a unique and distinctive period in time. Finding the feudal and ecclesiastical literature and Gothic art of the Middle Ages uncongenial to their taste, they turned for inspiration to the civilization of Roman and Greek antiquity...Thus, from the beginning, the double conception of medieval darkness and subsequent cultural rebirth was colored by the acceptance of classical standards.
Q3. The writers and thinkers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries view themselves as the beginning. I think they were part of the of the Middle Ages.

Dalton L.elv3

10/24/2013 05:48:27 am

1. I was unfamiliar the the words ecclesiastical, sterility, antiquity, subsequent, and uncongenial.
Ecclesiastical- Of, or relating to the Christian church
Sterility- Not productive of resultd, ideas, ect; fruitless
Antiquity- The quality of being ancient or very old
Subsequent- Ocurring after, succeeding
Uncongenial- Not friendly, pleasant, or agreeable

2. I think that the author believed that the Renaissance was a unique and distinctive time period, because it states " The idea that there was a great revival or rebirth of literature and the arts, after a thousand years of cultural sterility."

3. According to Ferguson, the writers during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries viewed themselves as part of the Renaissance. they weren't to crazy about the Gothic art or literature so they turned to the ways of the Roman and Greek styles.

Nahyme.R.elv5

10/24/2013 12:43:18 pm

I agree with you on number 3 because they really didn't like the Gothic art.

Arrawn y. elv. 5th

10/24/2013 09:40:52 am

Q1) Sterility-the quality or condition of being sterile
Ecclesiastical-of or relating to christion church or clergy
Uncongenial-not friendly or pleasant to be with

Q2) No,because finding the feudal and ecclesiastical literature and gothic art of the middle ages uncongenial to their taste.

Q3) The fifteenth and sixteenth centuries viewed themselves as great and were the rebirth of literature.They were turning to the civilization of Roman and Greek.

Kaylee.B.elv1

10/24/2013 11:34:05 am

1) Sterility-The quality or condition of being sterile.
2)The author thinks that the Renaissance is a certain period of time because he says " The idea that there was a great revival or rebirth."
3)The writers and thinkers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries viewed themselves as better educated people and they knew more thing about the world.The writers and thinkers were apart of the Renaissance .

Cynthia.t.elv3

10/24/2013 11:44:08 am

#1 none of words confuse me
#2 I believe he though the renaissance where unique, it also says it in the first sentence.
#3 with the churches and how the art should be. I think the darkness times

Nahyme.R.elv5

10/24/2013 12:39:49 pm

1. sterility-not able to produce children
feudal-according to, resembling
ecclesiastical-relating to the Christian church
uncongenial-unfriendly
antiquity-ancient
subsequent-coming after something

2. I think that the author thought the renaissance was a unique and distinctive period of time. I think this because it states 'Thus, from the beginning, the double conception of medieval darkness and subsequent cultural rebirth was colored by the acceptance of classical standards."

3. According to Ferguson, the writers and the thinkers from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries viewed themselves as part of the Renaissance. i know this because it states ''Finding the feudal and ecclesiastical literature and Gothic art of the Middle Ages uncongenial to their taste, they turned for inspiration to the civilization of Roman and Greek antiquity.'' Which means that they didn't really like the Gothic art of the Middle Ages so they became apart of the Renaissance.

Rob.elv.1

10/25/2013 01:09:49 am

I do not undersand the words sterility, ecclesiastical,uncongenial, and antiquity. The author that the Renaissance was a unique time period because he says that the rebirth of literature arts started in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries rebilding the culture and life of europe and that they got insporation from the Greek and Roman empires. the part that helped find this out was when he states that "They turned for insporation to the civilization of Roman and Greek antiquity." The writers of the fifthteenth and sixteenth centuries thought of themselves as bad and not capable of doing it. The writers were part of the Renaissance.

The Renaissance - Wassace K. Ferguson (New York: Holt, 1940, pp. 1-3)

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