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The English Renaissance: An Introduction. By Dr. William J. Burling (17). The English Renaissance: Overview. Continental origins—Italy, in particular English origins Literary developments in poetry, prose fiction, and drama. Continental Origins.
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The English Renaissance:An Introduction By Dr. William J. Burling (17)
The English Renaissance:Overview • Continental origins—Italy, in particular • English origins • Literary developments in poetry, prose fiction, and drama
Continental Origins • Important Developments in Italy in the 13th and 14th centuries. • Fall of Constantinople in 1453
Key Moments of the Italian Renaissance • Giotto’s paintings (late 13th, early 14th centuries) • Importance of Florence: Ghiberti’s “Doors to the Baptistry” (1401)
Medieval Italian Art Bernardo Daddi, 1335 (late example of older Byzantine style)
Giotto (c. 1226-1337) • Widely considered to be one of the first innovators of the new modes of naturalism and space in painting • Praised by Dante in The Divine Comedy
Highly sophisticated emphasis on correct perspective, realism Church relaxes the position of “contemptu mundi” Church becomes chief patron of “high” renaissance art (Michelangelo, etc.) Significance of Ghiberti’s “Doors”
Michelangelo (1475-1564) Detail, Sistine Chapel 1508-1512
Italian Literary ModelsDante (1265-1321) Vita Nuova (by 1294): MS; lyric love poems to “Beatrice” The Divine Comedy : (c. 1304-1317) MS epic poem
Petrarch (1304-1374) Canzoniere (MS. begun c. 1336; completed c. 1374): contains 366 poems Contains the sonnets to “Laura”
Political Factors • Pressure on Eastern Roman Empire from the Turks; fall of Constantinople in 1453 • Refugees emigrate to West Europe, dissemination of learning, concentration in Italy
Rise of Ottoman Empire • Earlier sieges of Constantinople: 1394-1402; 1422. City was a last Christian “island” in the midst of the Islamic territory. • Final capture of the city in 1453 by Meh.med II; the end of the eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire • Extensive expansion of the Ottoman Empire by “Suleiman the Magnificent” (sultan, 1520-66) and his son (1566-74). • Empire lasted until the end of WW I
The Renaissance Comes to England • Introduction of the Printing Press, 1476 • Political Stability under the Tudors, 1485,ff
Stability and Progress • Henry VIII defeats Richard III in 1485 to end the War of the Roses • Establishes Tudor dynasty and stability • Fosters artistic and economic development
Significant Developments in England, 1509-47 • Sends delegations to Rome • Delegates return to England inspired by Italian art, music, and literature • 1534: Disenfranchises the Catholic Church and establishes the Church of England
Reformation . . . Martin Luther (1483-1546) 1517: “95 Theses” nailed to the door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg; this document played a significant role in the start of the Protestant Reformation.
And Counter-Reformation The Trial of Galileo
Early Renaissance Poetry • John Skelton (Poet Laureate to Henry VIII); example of pre-Italian style • Importance of Italian influence; impact of Petrarch and Dante • Thomas Wyatt: example of Italian influence; protégé: Henry Howard, earl of Surrey • Rapid development of poetic forms and techniques • Importance of Tottel’s “Miscellany” (1557)
Sir Thomas Wyatt; died age 39 Henry Howard, earl of Surrey; executed age 30
Tottel’s Songs and Sonnets written by the Right Honourable Lord Henry Howard Late Earl of Surrey and Other (1557) • First major published collection of English poetry • Contains 271 poems • Established the reputations of Wyatt and Howard
Early Renaissance Prose Fiction • Sir Thomas More (1478; executed 1535) • Utopia (1516)
Early Renaissance Drama • Significant influence of English mystery and morality drama • Emphasis on secular themes after 1540, especially tragic “lives of kings” (e.g., Gorboduc and the Mirror for Magistrates) • Classical influence: Seneca (tragedy); Plautus and Terence (comedy)
Reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) • Significance of emerging English nationalism (defeat of the Armada, 1588) • Powerful advocate and defender of Protestantism
“High” Renaissance Poetry • High degree of sophistication and elegance • Philip Sidney • Edmund Spenser • William Shakespeare • Ben Jonson • John Donne • John Milton (early career)
Elizabethan Era Poetry Sir Philip Sidney Edmund Spenser
Jacobean Poetry John Donne Ben Jonson
Women Authors Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke (1562-1621): Arcadia, Psalms Aemilia Lanyer (1569-1645): Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum (1611)
“High” Renaissance Drama • Establishment of first patent companies and first permanent theatres in London • The Theatre (1576) • The Rose (1592) • The Swan (1596) • The Globe (1599)
Select Important Playwrights • Christopher Marlowe • William Shakespeare • Ben Jonson • John Fletcher • Thomas Middleton
Shakespeare’s Contemporaries Christopher Marlowe John Fletcher
Shakespeare’s Contemporaries • Thomas Middleton (1580-1627) • A Game at Chess (1625): single most popular play of the Renaissance era
War (1642-49) … • Charles I (1623-1649) • Supported colonization • Unpopular monarch • Created religious strife; sends groups into exile • Isolated from the people • Conflicts with Parliament result in Civil War and eventual execution in 1649 • “Cavalier” poetry emerges
Cavalier Poets Sir Richard Lovelace Sir John Suckling