THETHEAGE OFAGE OF

RENAISSANCERENAISSANCE AWKUM BS.1st

Revival Of LearningRevival Of Learning This transition period is one of decline from the Age of Chaucer, This transition period is one of decline from the Age of Chaucer,

and then of intellectual preparation for the Age of Elizabeth. For and then of intellectual preparation for the Age of Elizabeth. For a centuary and a half after Chaucer not a single great english a centuary and a half after Chaucer not a single great english work appeared, and the general standard of literature was very work appeared, and the general standard of literature was very low. low.

There are three cheif causes to account for this:There are three cheif causes to account for this:

1. The long war with france and the civil wars of the Roses 1. The long war with france and the civil wars of the Roses distracted attention from books and poetry, and destroyed of distracted attention from books and poetry, and destroyed of ruined many noble English families who had been friends of ruined many noble English families who had been friends of literature.literature.

2. The reformatiom in the latter part of the period filled man’s 2. The reformatiom in the latter part of the period filled man’s minds with religious questions.minds with religious questions.

3. The Revival of Learning set scholars and literary men to an eager 3. The Revival of Learning set scholars and literary men to an eager study of the classics, rather than to the creation of native study of the classics, rather than to the creation of native literature.literature.

........................ Historically the age is noticeable Historically the age is noticeable

for its intellectual progress, for the for its intellectual progress, for the introduction of printing,for the introduction of printing,for the discovery of America,for the discovery of America,for the begining of the reformation, and begining of the reformation, and for the growth of political power for the growth of political power among the common peopleamong the common people. .

POLITICAL POLITICAL CHANGESCHANGES

ReformationReformation>>In In the reign of Henry VIII the the reign of Henry VIII the

changes are less violent, but have changes are less violent, but have more purpose and significance. His more purpose and significance. His age is marked by a steady increase in age is marked by a steady increase in the national power, by the entrance of the national power, by the entrance of the reformation and by the final the reformation and by the final separation of England from all separation of England from all ecclesiastical bondage in parliament’s ecclesiastical bondage in parliament’s famous Act of Supremacy. famous Act of Supremacy.

Marriage to Catherine of AragonMarriage to Catherine of Aragon In 1509, Henry VIII had married In 1509, Henry VIII had married

Catherine. By 1527, the union had Catherine. By 1527, the union had produced no male heir to the produced no male heir to the throne and only one surviving throne and only one surviving child, a daughter, Mary. Henry child, a daughter, Mary. Henry was justifiably concerned about was justifiably concerned about the political consequences of the political consequences of leaving only a female heir. In this leaving only a female heir. In this period, people believed it period, people believed it unnatural for women to rule over unnatural for women to rule over men. At best a woman ruler meant men. At best a woman ruler meant a contested (dispute) reign, at a contested (dispute) reign, at worst turmoil and revolutionworst turmoil and revolution ..

The King’s AffairThe King’s Affair By 1527, Henry was By 1527, Henry was

thoroughly enamored of thoroughly enamored of Anne Bolyn. He Anne Bolyn. He determined to put determined to put Catherine aside and take Catherine aside and take Anne as his wife. This he Anne as his wife. This he could not do in Catholic could not do in Catholic England, however, England, however, without papal annulment without papal annulment of the marriage to of the marriage to CatherineCatherine. .

The Reformation ParliamentThe Reformation Parliament When the king’s When the king’s

advisors could not advisors could not obtain a papal obtain a papal annulment, they annulment, they conceived of a plan to conceived of a plan to declare the king declare the king supreme in English supreme in English spiritual affairs as he spiritual affairs as he was in English was in English temporal affairs. temporal affairs.

Head of the Church of EnglandHead of the Church of England In January 1531, In January 1531,

the Convocation the Convocation publicly publicly recognized recognized Henry as Head Henry as Head of the Church in of the Church in England.England.

Marriage to Anne BoleynMarriage to Anne Boleyn

In January 1533, In January 1533, Henry wed the Henry wed the Anne Boleyn, Anne Boleyn, with Thomas with Thomas Cranmer Cranmer officiating.officiating.

King the Highest Court of AppealKing the Highest Court of Appeal

In February 1533. In February 1533. Parliament made Parliament made the King the the King the Highest Court of Highest Court of Appeal for all Appeal for all English subjects.English subjects.

Invalidation of First MarriageInvalidation of First Marriage

In March 1533. In March 1533. Cranmer became Cranmer became archbishop of archbishop of Canterbury and led Canterbury and led the Convocation in the Convocation in invalidating the invalidating the King’s marriage to King’s marriage to Catherine (First Catherine (First Marriage).Marriage).

The Six Wives of Henry VIIIThe Six Wives of Henry VIII To satisfy his desires and to secure To satisfy his desires and to secure

a male heir, Henry married six a male heir, Henry married six times:times: First he married First he married CATHERINE CATHERINE

OF ARAGONOF ARAGON . She was mother . She was mother of king’s first daughter mary.of king’s first daughter mary.

In 1536, he married In 1536, he married ANNE ANNE BOLEYNBOLEYN who give birth to who give birth to Elizabeth I.Elizabeth I.

JANE SEYMOURJANE SEYMOUR died in 1537 died in 1537 shortly after giving birth to the shortly after giving birth to the future Edward VI.future Edward VI.

Henry wed Henry wed ANNE OF CLEVESANNE OF CLEVES on the advice of Cromwell.on the advice of Cromwell.

CATHERINE HOWARDCATHERINE HOWARD was was his fifth wife.his fifth wife.

Henry’s last wife was Henry’s last wife was CATHERINE PARRCATHERINE PARR..

Elizabeth I (1558-1603)Elizabeth I (1558-1603) It was not until the reign of It was not until the reign of

Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Elizabeth I, that a lasting Elizabeth I, that a lasting religious settlement was religious settlement was worked out in England. worked out in England. Elizabeth face many Elizabeth face many problems as at that time problems as at that time when she came to crown she when she came to crown she found the whole kingdom found the whole kingdom divided against itself; the divided against itself; the North was largely Catholic, North was largely Catholic, while the southern countries while the southern countries were as strongly Protestant.were as strongly Protestant.

Characteritics Of the Elizabethan AgeCharacteritics Of the Elizabethan Age Religious TolerationReligious Toleration>The most characteritic feature of the age was the >The most characteritic feature of the age was the

comparative religious tolerance, which was due comparative religious tolerance, which was due largely to the queen’s influence.Upon her largely to the queen’s influence.Upon her accession Elizabeth found the whole kingdom accession Elizabeth found the whole kingdom divided against itself, the north was largely divided against itself, the north was largely Catholic , while the southern countries were as Catholic , while the southern countries were as strongly Protestant Scotland had followed the strongly Protestant Scotland had followed the Reformation in its own intense way, while Reformation in its own intense way, while Ireland remained true to its old religious Ireland remained true to its old religious tradition , and both countries were openly tradition , and both countries were openly rebellious. rebellious.

Social ContentmentSocial Contentment>> Increasing trade brought enormous wealth to Increasing trade brought enormous wealth to

England, and this wealth was shared to this extent, England, and this wealth was shared to this extent, at least, that for the first time some systematic care at least, that for the first time some systematic care for the needy was attempted. Parishes were made for the needy was attempted. Parishes were made responsible for their own poor, and the wealthy responsible for their own poor, and the wealthy were taxed to support them or give them were taxed to support them or give them employment. The increase of wealth, the employment. The increase of wealth, the improvement in living, the opportunities for labor, improvement in living, the opportunities for labor, the new social content—these also are factors the new social content—these also are factors which help to account for the new literary activity. which help to account for the new literary activity.

EnthusiasmEnthusiasm>>It is an age of dreams, of adventure, of It is an age of dreams, of adventure, of

unbounded enthusiasm.unbounded enthusiasm.

>A score of explorers reveal a new earth to >A score of explorers reveal a new earth to men’s eyes, and instantly literature creates men’s eyes, and instantly literature creates a new heaven to match it. So the dream a new heaven to match it. So the dream and deed increase side by side, and the and deed increase side by side, and the dream is ever greater than the deed. That dream is ever greater than the deed. That is the meaning of literature.is the meaning of literature.

The DramaThe Drama>>The Age of Elizabeth was a time of intellectual liberty, The Age of Elizabeth was a time of intellectual liberty,

of growing intelligence and comfort among all classes, of growing intelligence and comfort among all classes, of unbounded patriotism. When Corneille, Racine, of unbounded patriotism. When Corneille, Racine, and Moliere brought the drama in France to the point and Moliere brought the drama in France to the point where Marlowe, Shakespeare, and Jonson had left it in where Marlowe, Shakespeare, and Jonson had left it in England half a century earlier. Such an age of great England half a century earlier. Such an age of great thought and great action, appealing to the eyes as well thought and great action, appealing to the eyes as well as to the imagination and intellect, neither poetry nor as to the imagination and intellect, neither poetry nor the story can express the whole man, his thought, the story can express the whole man, his thought, feeling, action, and the resulting character; hence in feeling, action, and the resulting character; hence in the Age of Elizabeth literature turned intinctively to the Age of Elizabeth literature turned intinctively to the drama and brought it rapidly to the highest stage the drama and brought it rapidly to the highest stage

of its developmentof its development. .

THE ENDTHE END