The literature of the northern Renaissance reflected a movement toward secularism by criticizing the established social order and religious doctrine.
After 1450, Renaissance humanism ideas began to spread throughout Europe. During the late 15th and early 16th century, some countries such as Germany, France, England, the Netherlands, and Poland started to incorporate Renaissance influences in the works of literature as well as the arts. The Northern Renaissance was closely linked to the Protestant Reformation which portrayed the permanent conflicts between Protestant groups and the Roman Catholic Church due to the Protestant objections concerning the Catholic doctrines, rituals, and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Church. Besides, rather than focusing on religious themes, the Renaissance literature as well as art styles adapted to local customs by showing the ordinary people's everyday life.
