The English Renaissance: Celebrating Humanity
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Transcript of The English Renaissance: Celebrating Humanity
The English The English Renaissance:Renaissance:Celebrating HumanityCelebrating Humanity
1485-16251485-1625
Life in Elizabethan and Jacobean EnglandLondon expanded greatly as a city
People moved in from rural areas and from other European countries
Strict class system
Busy and crowded; lots of commerce,
craftsmen
Not a clean or safe city—“The Thames was a
beautiful sewer” (224) and disease and criminals ran
rampant Southwark: suburb known for its
“vice” – theaters, gaming, prostitution, etc.
Grew into substantial port and admired European city
Renaissance = rebirth
Rebirth of: •interest in learning, especially that of ancient Greece and Rome
•civilization in general•arts and sciences
Reaction to “Dark Ages” of medieval Europe
Historically speaking…
Exploration by sea: John Cabot, 1497
UK represen
t!
Religious rifts:New sense of nationalism prompted many to question ethics in and teachings of Church
Erasmus (Dutch) – version of New TestamentThomas More – UtopiaProtestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther’s 95 theses
Questioning of Papal authority and Scripture
The Monarchy:
strengthening themselves and the nationHenry VII:
•CatholicCatholic•Restorer of national economy and prestige Restorer of national economy and prestige of of
monarchymonarchyHenry VIII:Henry VIII:•Catholic, at first…Catholic, at first…•Supports Pope against religious dissenters (“Defender of Supports Pope against religious dissenters (“Defender of
the Faith”)the Faith”)
But…But…•Church’s refusal to annul his marriage leads him to break from Church’s refusal to annul his marriage leads him to break from Catholic Catholic faithfaith•Dissolves Church ownership of property, monasteriesDissolves Church ownership of property, monasteries•Has Thomas More executed for refusing to renounce Catholic Has Thomas More executed for refusing to renounce Catholic faithfaith•Marries 6 timesMarries 6 times•Fathers Elizabeth and Mary; has a son, Edward, with his 3rd Fathers Elizabeth and Mary; has a son, Edward, with his 3rd wife, wife, Jane Seymour Jane Seymour
More bangin’ Tudor action…
Edward, Henry VIII’s son, rules from the ages of 9-15 (whatever; that’s like a 7th grader ruling your country)
Parliament drastically changes religious practices•English replaces Latin•Book of Common Prayer required in public worship
England is on its way to becoming a Protestant nation until…We’r
e back, baby!
Mary I takes throne•Restores Roman practices to Church of England•Restores authority of Pope over English Church•Known as “Bloody Mary” for ordering execution of about 300 ProtestantsAnd I could
use a drink. Make it a…
hmm…
Mary rules for 5 years, and then…
Cate Blanchett Elizabeth I takes the throne!
Hey, I wonder if that’s where they got the name
for the Elizabethan period…
•Classically educated; patron of the arts•Reinstated monarch’s rule over Church of England, ending religious turmoil•Established climate of religious compromise•Known as one of the best rulers in English history•Spoiler alert! Dies in 1603
I rule! (literally and figuratively)
The Mary Stuart problem:
•Catholics considered Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, rightful heir to throne of
England (marriage annulment issues)
•Imprisoned by cousin, Elizabeth, for 18 years•Hatched numerous Catholic plots against her•Elizabeth let her live, punished Catholics•Parliament insisted on beheading Mary in 1587
Elizabeth… arrgh…
Life after Elizabeth…the Stuarts
Hey, I wonder if that’s where they got the name
for Jamestown…
James I (well, James VI of Scotland, but James I of England)•Son of Mary Stuart•Named by Elizabeth as her successor•Protestant•“Jacobean” era (from Latin for James)•Expanded England’s position as world power (colony in VA)
•Believed in “divine right” of monarchs•Power struggles with Parliament•Persecuted Puritans (who migrated to Plymouth
Colony) Smell you
later, Jimmy!
I may have divine right,
but this outfit is just
wrong…
Sonnet cycle: A series of sonnets, usually fit Sonnet cycle: A series of sonnets, usually fit loosely together to form a storyloosely together to form a story
Heavy hitters: Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, Heavy hitters: Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, ShakespeareShakespeare
Two major rhyme schemes: Petrarchan/Italian Two major rhyme schemes: Petrarchan/Italian and Shakespearean and Shakespearean
Shakespearean rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, Shakespearean rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, efef, ggefef, gg
Finally, the good stuff…
Lyric over narrative poetryPsst! Lyric
poem: a short poem with one speaker (not
necessarily the poet) who expresses
thought and feeling.
Sonnets! Yeah!
Psst! Sonnet: 14 lines, iambic
pentameter, various rhyme schemes.
Word!
Many sonnets consist of 8 lines setting up one idea, 4 lines responding to that
idea, and a concluding couplet at the end. Rock
and roll!
Renaissance Poetry
Pastoral poetry
•Idealized rustic simplicity of rural life•Heavy hitters: Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh
Hey, I wonder if that’s where they got the name for
Raleigh, NC…
I’m a poet, soldier, explorer, historian and member of the Royal Court. Phew!
It’s tiring being a true Renaissance
man!
Turned away from religious focus and toward classical Turned away from religious focus and toward classical Greek and Roman tragedies and dramasGreek and Roman tragedies and dramas
Christopher Marlowe: First major dramatist Christopher Marlowe: First major dramatist (1580s)(1580s)
Shakespeare (1564-1616)Shakespeare (1564-1616)
People say that if I’d lived past 30 I might have
eclipsed Shakespeare as
England’s greatest
playwright! Dang!
•Started as actorStarted as actor•Famous playwright by 1592 Famous playwright by 1592
•37 Plays: most can be 37 Plays: most can be categorized as categorized as tragedy, tragedy, comedy, or historycomedy, or history
•Deep understanding of what it Deep understanding of what it means to be human helps means to be human helps maintain popularitymaintain popularity
And I might have gotten credit for stuff you wrote! Too bad, suckah!
Renaissance Drama
Not as popular as poetry
Heavy hitters:
Sidney, Raleigh and Thomas Nashe
Sir Francis Bacon: essays, science, philosophy
Which is the more
satisfying bacon:
pioneering English author
or tasty breakfast
meat?
King James Bible •Translated Latin Bible into English•Huge achievement—probably most important in English Renaissance•54 scholars worked 7 years!•Influential, used to this day
Renaissance Prose
Important DatesImportant Dates 1485: Thomas More publishes 1485: Thomas More publishes UtopiaUtopia
1534: Church of England established1534: Church of England established
1535: Thomas More executed1535: Thomas More executed
1549: The Book of Common Prayer issued1549: The Book of Common Prayer issued
1558: Elizabeth I becomes Queen1558: Elizabeth I becomes Queen
1563: 20,000 Londoners die in Plague1563: 20,000 Londoners die in Plague
1564: Shakespeare is born!1564: Shakespeare is born!
Important Dates Important Dates (Cont.)(Cont.) 1594: Shakespeare writes 1594: Shakespeare writes Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet 1599: The Globe Theater opens1599: The Globe Theater opens 1603: Queen Elizabeth I dies; James I 1603: Queen Elizabeth I dies; James I
becomes becomes King of England. King of England. 1606: Guy Fawkes executed for Gunpowder 1606: Guy Fawkes executed for Gunpowder
PlotPlot 1607: Royal Colony of Jamestown established1607: Royal Colony of Jamestown established 1611: King James Bible published1611: King James Bible published 1620: Pilgrims land on Plymouth Rock1620: Pilgrims land on Plymouth Rock 1625: King James I dies. 1625: King James I dies.