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.