Renaissance Renaissance PoetryPoetry

The Renaissance 1485- The Renaissance 1485- 16601660

French word meaning “rebirth”French word meaning “rebirth” Renewed interest in classical learning, Renewed interest in classical learning,

the writings of ancient Greece and Romethe writings of ancient Greece and Rome

Italian RenaissanceItalian Renaissance

1414thth century – 16 century – 16thth centurycentury

Boccaccio, Petrarch, da Boccaccio, Petrarch, da Vinci, Michelangelo, etc.Vinci, Michelangelo, etc.

Vatican’s Sistine Chapel Vatican’s Sistine Chapel done by Michaelangelodone by Michaelangelo

The people are perfectly The people are perfectly proportioned, implying proportioned, implying people were capable of people were capable of perfection. Very perfection. Very optimistic view of optimistic view of humanity.humanity.

English RenaissanceEnglish Renaissance

In contrast to Italian Renaissance, English In contrast to Italian Renaissance, English renaissance was more restrained and pious.renaissance was more restrained and pious.

Regarded classical learning as a means for Regarded classical learning as a means for better understanding the Bible and leading a better understanding the Bible and leading a moral life. Who does this remind you of?moral life. Who does this remind you of?

Humanism: used classical Latin and Greek Humanism: used classical Latin and Greek writings to contemplate humanity and morality. writings to contemplate humanity and morality. Ex. John MiltonEx. John Milton

Renaissance PoetryRenaissance Poetry

English Renaissance Poetry was English Renaissance Poetry was characterized bycharacterized by New poetry that strongly borrowed from old New poetry that strongly borrowed from old

themes or formsthemes or forms Aristocratic in tone and unconcerned with Aristocratic in tone and unconcerned with

working people. – why?working people. – why?

Sir Thomas Wyatt The Elder (1503-1542) & Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517-1547)

worked for Henry VIII as courtiersworked for Henry VIII as courtiers As Henry VIII’s ambassador, Wyatt traveled abroadAs Henry VIII’s ambassador, Wyatt traveled abroad Brought love sonnet to England from Italy.Brought love sonnet to England from Italy. Surrey first used unrhymed iambic pentameter in a Surrey first used unrhymed iambic pentameter in a

translation of parts of Virgil’s translation of parts of Virgil’s AeneidAeneid Neither of them published their poems, since they were Neither of them published their poems, since they were

expected to compose songs and verses to entertain expected to compose songs and verses to entertain the King and not poetrythe King and not poetry

10 years after Surrey’s death (Wyatt died first), Richard 10 years after Surrey’s death (Wyatt died first), Richard Tottel published Tottel published Songs and SonnetsSongs and Sonnets - 96 of Wyatt’s - 96 of Wyatt’s poems and 40 of Surrey’spoems and 40 of Surrey’s

Tottel changed some of the words around, however, so Tottel changed some of the words around, however, so it is now popularly known as it is now popularly known as Tottel’s MiscellanyTottel’s Miscellany

PetrarchPetrarch

Francis Petrarch Francis Petrarch What is a petrarchan conceit?What is a petrarchan conceit? How many lines do they have?How many lines do they have? How many syllables? What meter?How many syllables? What meter? What is an octave and a sestet? What is the What is an octave and a sestet? What is the

difference in terms of content?difference in terms of content? What is the “turn?”What is the “turn?”

Surrey’s “Love that doth reign” (p. 344)

Translation of a Petrarch sonnet. In that Translation of a Petrarch sonnet. In that one, the situation is that the poet loves a one, the situation is that the poet loves a lady, but will not permit him to declare his lady, but will not permit him to declare his love.love.

This is an “English” sonnet.This is an “English” sonnet. What’s the stanza structure and rhyme What’s the stanza structure and rhyme

scheme?scheme?

Surrey’s “Love that doth reign” (p. 344)

1.1. What happens in each quatrain?What happens in each quatrain?

2.2. Where is the turn? What is the turn?Where is the turn? What is the turn?

3.3. What is the conceit? What specific parts What is the conceit? What specific parts of the poem show this?of the poem show this?

WyattWyatt

Whose list to hunt p. 340Whose list to hunt p. 340 They flee from me p. 341They flee from me p. 341

Whose List to Hunt

It’s rumored that Wyatt wrote this about It’s rumored that Wyatt wrote this about his love for Anne Boleyn. Who was she?his love for Anne Boleyn. Who was she?

What does he say about his affection for What does he say about his affection for her?her?

What does What does noli me tangerenoli me tangere mean? What mean? What is the historical reference?is the historical reference?

Whose List to Hunt

What is the rhyme scheme?What is the rhyme scheme? According to the speaker, why is he According to the speaker, why is he

ending his hunt of the hind?ending his hunt of the hind? What advice does he give to potential What advice does he give to potential

hunters of this hund?hunters of this hund? What does he say is written about the What does he say is written about the

hind’s neck?hind’s neck?