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The English Renaissance: Celebrating Humanity 1485-1625 Life in Elizabethan and Jacobean England London 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” and disease and criminals ran rampant Grew into substantial port and admired European city Southwark: suburb known for its “vice” – theaters, gaming, prostitution, etc. 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 Religious rifts: New sense of nationalism prompted many to question ethics in and teachings of Church Questioning of Papal authority and Scripture Erasmus (Dutch) – version of New Testament Thomas More – Utopia Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther’s 95 theses Erasmus, More (and many more) were also known for--Humanism • The term generally applied to the social philosophy and intellectual and literary push of the period from 1400 to 1650. • It is a return to favor of the Greek & Roman [pagan] classics stimulated the philosophy of secularism, the appreciation of what the world had to offer, and an assertion of personal independence and individual expression. Humanism continued • Humans were praised for their achievements — achievements attributed to human ingenuity and human effort rather than divine grace. Humans were regarded optimistically in terms of what they could do, not just in the arts and sciences but even morally. Human concerns were given greater attention, leading people to spend more time on work that would benefit people in their daily lives rather than the otherworldly interests of the Church. • Cline, Austin. “Renaissance Humanism: History of Humanism With Ancient Renaissance Philosophers.” Web. 10 Oct 2011. about.com. The Monarchy: strengthening themselves and the nation • Catholic • Restorer of the national economy and prestige of the monarchy – Ended the War of the Roses [House of Lancaster vs. House of York] • House of Lancaster = Red Rose • House of York = White Rose • 1455-1485 Series of Civil Wars between the two families for the throne • Henry Tudor ( a Lancaster) married Elizabeth of York • The Tudor line would rule England until 1603 • Born: 28 January 1457 Pembroke Castle, Wales • Accession: 22 August 1485 Battle of Bosworth Field • Coronation: 30 October 1485 Westminster Abbey • Died: 21 April 1509 Richmond Palace • Buried: 11 May 1509 Westminster Abbey Henry VIII: •Catholic, at first… •Supports Pope against religious dissenters (“Defender of the Faith”) But… •Church’s refusal to annul his marriage leads him to break from Catholic faith •Dissolves Church ownership of property, monasteries •Has Thomas More (a friend and counselor to Henry) executed for refusing to renounce Catholic faith and refusing to acknowledge Henry as the Supreme Head of the Church of England •Marries 6 times •Fathers Elizabeth and Mary; has a son, Edward, with his 3rd wife, Jane Seymour Six Wives Catharine of Aragon 1509-1533 [divorced] (Mary) Anne Boleyn 1533-1536 [beheaded] (Elizabeth) Jane Seymour 15361537 [died] (Edward) Anne of Cleves 1540 Jan-July [divorced] Kathryn Howard 15401542 [beheaded] Katherine Parr 15431547 [widowed] Tudors continued… Edward VI, Henry VIII’s son, rules from the ages of 9-15 [1547-1553] (whatever; that’s like a 7 grader th 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… Mary I [1553-1558] takes the 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 Protestants Mary rules for 5 years, and then… Elizabeth I [1558-1603] takes the throne! •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 Hey, I wonder if that’s where they got the name for the Elizabethan period… Elizabeth… arrgh… The Mary Stuart problem: I rule! (literally and figuratively) •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 Life after Elizabeth… James I the Stuarts (well, James VI of Scotland, but James I of England) •Son of Mary Stuart •Named by Elizabeth as her successor •Protestant Hey, I wonder if that’s where they got the name for •“Jacobean” era (from Latin for James) Jamestown… •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) Finally, the good stuff… Renaissance Poetry Lyric over narrative poetry Sonnets! Yeah! – Sonnet cycle: A series of sonnets, usually fit loosely together to form a story – Heavy hitters: Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, Shakespeare – Two major rhyme schemes: Petrarchan/Italian and Shakespearean – Shakespearean rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, efef, gg Psst! Sonnet: 14 lines, iambic pentameter, various rhyme schemes. Word! Psst! Lyric poem: a short poem with one speaker (not necessarily the poet) who expresses thought and feeling. Two standard forms consis of 8 lines setting up one idea, 4 lines responding to that idea, and a concluding couplet at the end, Or 3 quatrains & a couplet Pastoral poetry •Idealized rustic simplicity of rural life •Heavy hitters: Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh I’m a poet, soldier, explorer, historian and member of the Royal Court. Phew! It’s tiring being a true Renaissance man! Hey, I wonder if that’s where they got the name for Raleigh, NC… Renaissance Drama Turned away from religious focus and toward classical Greek and Roman tragedies and dramas Christopher Marlowe: First major dramatist (1580s) Shakespeare (1564-1616) •Started as actor •Famous playwright by 1592 •37 Plays: most can be categorized as tragedy, comedy, or history •Deep understanding of what it means to be human helps maintain popularity Renaissance Prose Not as popular as poetry Which is the more satisfying bacon: pioneering English author or tasty breakfast meat? Heavy hitters: Sidney, Raleigh and Thomas Nashe Sir Francis Bacon: essays, science, philosophy 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 Important Dates • 1485: Thomas More publishes Utopia • 1534: Church of England established • 1535: Thomas More executed • 1549: The Book of Common Prayer issued • 1558: Elizabeth I becomes Queen • 1563: 20,000 Londoners die in Plague • 1564: Shakespeare is born! Important Dates (Cont.) • 1594: Shakespeare writes Romeo and Juliet • 1599: The Globe Theater opens • 1603: Queen Elizabeth I dies; James I becomes King of England. • 1606: Guy Fawkes executed for Gunpowder Plot • 1607: Royal Colony of Jamestown established • 1611: King James Bible published • 1620: Pilgrims land on Plymouth Rock • 1625: King James I dies.