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Causes of the Rise of Critical Activity in Renaissance England In the last quarter of the 16th century, the need for a proper understanding of the nature and function of poetry was widely felt.Various causes contributed to this need: First, much confusion prevailed regarding the true nature of poetry.There was the medieval view which regarded poetry as a mere 'toy', a mere playing, or at best, 'versified Rhetoric', rather than serious art by itself.Second, the new courtly circles under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth had a high sense of the virtue of poetry, though they were not articulate.The best in the Puritans attacks is represented by Stephen Gosson's School of Abuse, and the best of the replies is Sidney's Apology for Poetry.Fourth, the hostility of the Puritans posed a challenge to the status and value of Poetry, and the result was replies and counter-replies.Serious efforts were, for the first time, made to explain, discuss and expound the nature of poetry.The outburst of poetry in this period called for a theory of poetry.

Causes of the Rise of Critical Activity in Renaissance England In the last quarter of the 16th century, the need for a proper understanding of the nature and function of poetry was widely felt. Serious efforts were, for the first time, made to explain, discuss and expound the nature of poetry. Various causes contributed to this need: First, much confusion prevailed regarding the true nature of poetry. There was the medieval view which regarded poetry as a mere ‘toy’, a mere playing, or at best, ‘versified Rhetoric’, rather than serious art by itself. Second, the new courtly circles under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth had a high sense of the virtue of poetry, though they were not articulate. The outburst of poetry in this period called for a theory of poetry. Inquiry into the nature and function of poetry was but the logical corollary of intense creative activity. Third, with the re-discovery of Aristotle’s Poetics in Italy, there was much critical discussion in Italy, and France regarding the nature, value, and function of poetry, and this could not but influence writers in England. It gave a powerful stimulus to critical activity in England. Fourth, the hostility of the Puritans posed a challenge to the status and value of Poetry, and the result was replies and counter-replies. The best in the Puritans attacks is represented by Stephen Gosson’s School of Abuse, and the best of the replies is Sidney’s Apology for Poetry.