Elizabethan Theater, Renaissance Elizabethan Theater, Renaissance Humanism, Henry VIII,Humanism, Henry VIII,

Elizabeth I, and ShakespeareElizabeth I, and Shakespeare

Not exactly in orderNot exactly in order

Shakespeare’s LifeShakespeare’s Life Born in Stratford-upon-Avon (England), baptized April Born in Stratford-upon-Avon (England), baptized April

26, 156426, 1564 Married Anne Hathaway at age of 18. She was at Married Anne Hathaway at age of 18. She was at

least five years older than he and pregnant with least five years older than he and pregnant with Susanna. Twins Judith and Hamnet were born in 1585 Susanna. Twins Judith and Hamnet were born in 1585 Hamnet died at age 11Hamnet died at age 11

Lost years 1585-1592Lost years 1585-1592 Well known in theatre by 1592Well known in theatre by 1592 Didn’t return to live in Stratford until about 1613Didn’t return to live in Stratford until about 1613 Died April 23, 1616 (Feast of St. George)Died April 23, 1616 (Feast of St. George)

Wrote 37 plays, 152 sonnets, and Wrote 37 plays, 152 sonnets, and several long poemsseveral long poems

Died around April 23, 1616Died around April 23, 1616

Map of London 1600Map of London 1600

Globe TheaterGlobe Theater

The Reconstructed GlobeThe Reconstructed Globe

What Shakespeare wroteWhat Shakespeare wrote

37+ plays, 37+ plays, including a couple including a couple with co-authorswith co-authors

154 sonnets154 sonnets 2 long poems, 2 long poems,

Rape of Lucrece Rape of Lucrece andand Venus and Venus and Adonis Adonis

A few other middle-A few other middle-length poemslength poems

History on a need-to-know History on a need-to-know basisbasis

Henry VIII – six Henry VIII – six wives, needed to wives, needed to

get divorced so he get divorced so he made England made England

Protestant instead Protestant instead of Catholicof Catholic

Father of Elizabeth IFather of Elizabeth I

Elizabeth IElizabeth I Virgin Queen (never Virgin Queen (never

married at least) lived married at least) lived 1533-1603, Queen 1533-1603, Queen beginning in 1558beginning in 1558

Under her leadership, Under her leadership, the English navy the English navy defeated the Spanish defeated the Spanish ArmadaArmada

Kept England ProtestantKept England Protestant Identified with EnglandIdentified with England Think about her when Think about her when

you read about you read about Hippolyta (Queen of Hippolyta (Queen of Amazons) and Titania Amazons) and Titania (Queen of Fairies)(Queen of Fairies)

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance ““Rebirth” of Humanism of the Rebirth” of Humanism of the

Greeks and Romans, including Greeks and Romans, including their poetry, plays, science, their poetry, plays, science, math, astronomy, chemistry, math, astronomy, chemistry, and interest in the individual and interest in the individual (as opposed to theological (as opposed to theological study)study). Back to Greek and . Back to Greek and RomanRoman SculptureSculpture ArtArt MusicMusic LiteratureLiterature DramaDrama DemocracyDemocracy PhilosophyPhilosophy ScienceScience

Renaissance, continuedRenaissance, continued BEFORE the Renaissance, the Church was in control BEFORE the Renaissance, the Church was in control

so all of these areas of human endeavor were so all of these areas of human endeavor were directed to support of the Church and for worship of directed to support of the Church and for worship of God.God.

In 1400’s (Quatrocento) Italy, France, and by 1500’s In 1400’s (Quatrocento) Italy, France, and by 1500’s England, re-started all of these OUTSIDE of the Church England, re-started all of these OUTSIDE of the Church control, partly because of Protestant Reformation & control, partly because of Protestant Reformation & Science combined, and partly because of manuscripts Science combined, and partly because of manuscripts discovered – writings from Greece & Romediscovered – writings from Greece & Rome

NOW a secular emphasis – not by church people, not NOW a secular emphasis – not by church people, not for church people, not about Godfor church people, not about God Individualism/ Humanism: People are not TYPES, but Individualism/ Humanism: People are not TYPES, but

individualsindividuals People are not represented as primarily SPIRITUAL, but as People are not represented as primarily SPIRITUAL, but as

intelligent and individual, depending on oneself, rather than intelligent and individual, depending on oneself, rather than the social structurethe social structure

Renaissance HumanismRenaissance Humanism ““Renaissance Humanism” = a new concept of Renaissance Humanism” = a new concept of

what humans arewhat humans are Emphasis on the above arts and endeavors, plusEmphasis on the above arts and endeavors, plus

Rich potential of human nature/ “Man’s” potential powerRich potential of human nature/ “Man’s” potential power Free creative play of human talent in every fieldFree creative play of human talent in every field The individual soul apart from all othersThe individual soul apart from all others A person who shaped his own destiny, free in mind & A person who shaped his own destiny, free in mind &

spiritspirit Perspective in artPerspective in art Study of anatomy & astronomy & biologyStudy of anatomy & astronomy & biology Less symbolism and more real, concrete realityLess symbolism and more real, concrete reality Intense interest in things human and earthlyIntense interest in things human and earthly

Began in Italy (Quattrocento) and went to France, Germany, Began in Italy (Quattrocento) and went to France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, EnglandSpain, Netherlands, England

Italian Renaissance Italian Renaissance HumanismHumanism

Petrarch and LauraPetrarch and Laura Also see Dante’s Also see Dante’s

Divine ComedyDivine Comedy

Renaissance HumanismRenaissance Humanism

MichaelangeloMichaelangelo

Giovanni Pico della MirandolaGiovanni Pico della MirandolaOration on the Dignity of ManOration on the Dignity of Man

The Whole Oration After thinking a long time, I have After thinking a long time, I have

figured out why man is the most figured out why man is the most fortunate of all creatures and as a fortunate of all creatures and as a result worthy of the highest result worthy of the highest admiration and earning his rank admiration and earning his rank on the chain of being, a rank to be on the chain of being, a rank to be envied not merely by the beasts envied not merely by the beasts but by the stars themselvesbut by the stars themselves and and by the spiritual natures beyond by the spiritual natures beyond and above this world. This miracle and above this world. This miracle goes past faith and wonder. And goes past faith and wonder. And why not? It is for this reason that why not? It is for this reason that man is rightfully named a man is rightfully named a magnificent miracle and a magnificent miracle and a wondrous creation. wondrous creation.

If you see a If you see a philosopher philosopher judging things through his judging things through his reasonreason, admire and follow , admire and follow him: he is from heaven, not him: he is from heaven, not the earth. If you see a person the earth. If you see a person living in deep contemplation, living in deep contemplation, unaware of his body and unaware of his body and dwelling in the inmost dwelling in the inmost reaches of his mind, he is reaches of his mind, he is neither from heaven nor neither from heaven nor earth, he is divinity clothed in earth, he is divinity clothed in flesh. flesh.

The Early Modern PeriodThe Early Modern Period

Another name for the RenaissanceAnother name for the RenaissanceEmphasis is on looking forward from Emphasis is on looking forward from

the 15the 15thth and 16 and 16thth centuries to NOW – centuries to NOW – we see the concerns and psychology we see the concerns and psychology of the people of the Early Modern of the people of the Early Modern Period as essentially akin to Period as essentially akin to ourselvesourselves

Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets are Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets are the defining literary texts which most the defining literary texts which most emphatically “prove” this pointemphatically “prove” this point

What is a sonnet?What is a sonnet?

Lyric (short) poemLyric (short) poemRhymes Rhymes MeteredMetered14 lines14 linesUsually there is a turn, either between Usually there is a turn, either between

the 8the 8thth and 9 and 9thth lines (Petrarchan/ lines (Petrarchan/ Italian) or between the 12Italian) or between the 12thth and 13 and 13thth lines (Elizabethan/ Shakespearean)lines (Elizabethan/ Shakespearean)

Shakespeare’s Sonnet CycleShakespeare’s Sonnet Cycle Sonnets written 1593-1600, 2 Sonnets written 1593-1600, 2

published in 1599, rest published in 1599, rest published as we read them in published as we read them in 1609, dedicated to “the only 1609, dedicated to “the only begetter of these ensuing begetter of these ensuing sonnets, Mr. W. H.”sonnets, Mr. W. H.”

Usually read as the most Usually read as the most biographical of WS’s writingsbiographical of WS’s writings

Sonnets 1-126 to fair young Sonnets 1-126 to fair young man (poet’s dear friend and man (poet’s dear friend and patron)patron)

Sonnets 127-152 to dark lady, Sonnets 127-152 to dark lady, mistress for a timemistress for a time

153-54 were translations153-54 were translations BUT mistress steals affection BUT mistress steals affection

of the friendof the friend Rival poet does , tooRival poet does , too