On Humanism in Philip Sidney's An Apology for Poetry

Philip Sidney's An Apology for Poetry was written in the Renaissance,which is a transitional period in the poetics theory.It is an article that carries the ancient Greek and Rome literature and art theory,and carves the new way for the Romanticism.Therefore,Philip Sidney's An Apology for Poetry has significant meanings in the history of western literary theory and criticism.Humanism is a powerful weapon to fight against religious theology,to liberate people's thoughts and to promote the development of literature during the Renaissance period.The spirit embodies in the literature works of scholars and"writers.This thesis mainly analyzes the humanism spirit from three perspectives;the essence of poetry,the social function of poetry and the English poetry rhyme in Philip Sidney's An Apology for Poetry.