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The English Renaissance. 1485-1625. The Renaissance. Carefully read the timeline on pp.222-23 What two important religious works were published during this period? What connections might there be between those publications and the creation of the Church of England in 1534?
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The English Renaissance 1485-1625
The Renaissance • Carefully read the timeline on pp.222-23 • What two important religious works were published during this period? • What connections might there be between those publications and the creation of the Church of England in 1534? • Name two events that indicate British presence in the New World. • What do these events suggest about the importance of overseas trade to Britain?
The Renaissance • A “rebirth” of civilization – reviving the learning of ancient Greece and Rome • Humanism • Individual vs. Communal • A response to the “dark ages” of medieval Europe • Began in Italy in the 1300s as the wealthy began to support learning and the arts • Petrarch, Pico della Mirandola, Leonardo da Vinci, di Medici • Italian Renaissance slowly spread north to England • By 1530, 60% of English people could read (vs. 30% in 15th c.)
Exploration • Thirst for knowledge leads to sea exploration • Advances in navigation and astronomy • compass • Columbus – 1492 voyage • Trade route to East • Discovery of Americas • English companies and explorers became colonizers and merchant adventurers
Religion • Growing sense of nationalism and humanism • People begin to question the authority of the Roman Catholic Church • Europeans tired of corruption in the Church • Connection to Canterbury Tales? • Martin Luther protested against Catholic Church and began the Protestant Reformation • 95 Theses • Humanist values and beliefs led to a favoring of personal, not institutional, interpretations of scripture – sought an “enlightened private conscience” • Reformation in England: Henry VIII’s motives were dynastic, not religious
English Monarchy • Tudor dynasty founded in 1485 by Henry VII • Monarchs had absolute power • Transformed England into a major world power • London becomes metropolitan market • Henry VIII breaks with Roman Catholic Church so that he can divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn • Mary I (Bloody Mary) – a Catholic • executed many Protestants
Elizabeth I • Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn • Received a Renaissance education and was a great patron of the arts • Gathered around her the greatest writers of the day • Il Cortegiano – Castiglione • sprezzatura(“easy grace”) • Reestablished Church of England • Considered the greatest English monarch since William the Conquerer
Elizabethan Literature • Explosion of cultural energy • Art, music, theater • Literature expresses the spirit of the Renaissance • Considered one of the high points in the history of English literature
Poetry • Development of lyric poetry over the narrative poetry of the medieval age • How might this reflect the larger attention to humanism that began during the Renaissance? • Perfection of the sonnet (adapted from the Italian model) • Sonnet: a 14-line poem usually written in iambic pentameter, rhyme scheme varies • Petrarchan: abbaabba cdecde (or cdcdcd) • Octave and sestet: Octave poses question, sestet answers • Major sonnet writers: • Sidney • Spenser • Shakespeare • Changed the pattern and rhyme scheme of Pertrarchan sonnet • English (or Shakespearean) sonnet: abab cdcd efef gg
Pastoral Poetry • Idealizes the simple, rustic life of the countryside • Glorifies nature • Christopher Marlowe: “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” • Sir Walter Raleigh writes “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” in response
