The Renaissance and The Reformation

1. The Renaissance and The Reformation 1485-1625

2. Renaissance • Meaning “rebirth” • Characterized by innovations in • art, • science, • exploration, • Rediscovery of long-neglected classical works. Began in Italy, gradually spread northward

3. Reformation • Renaissance scholars attempted to reform Catholic church • Martin Luther, though, initiated movement of Reformation (which led to Protestantism). Luther stressed Bible over Pope • Led to sharp religious divisions in Europe—Anglicans, Calvinists, Lutherans.

4. Two Major Literary Works • Shakespeare’s plays (product of Renaissance) • King James Bible (product of Reformation)

5. Renaissance and Reformation • Both involved a return to old sources that led to cultural innovations • Key historical theme—Going Back to Create Something New

6. Going Back to Move Forward • The renaissance sought to revive the learning of ancient Greece and Rome. • Encouraged voyages of discovery and emphasized human aspiration. • Dimensions of the world shifted and enlarged • New parts of world discovered • Copernicus said sun, not earth

7. Drama, Drama, Drama • Tumultuous roller-coaster • 1485 Henry VII King (Tudor) • Son, Henry VIII, inherited strong, stable country. • Married older brother’s widow Catherine • Had Mary • Fell in love with Anne Boleyn, wanted male heir. Had Elizabeth instead

8. Drama, cont’d • Asked Pope for divorce from Catherine • Pope says, “fuggettaboutit” • Irony alert! Before this incident, Henry attacked Luther and known as “defender of the faith”. But when denied divorce, severed ties with pope. • Established Protestant Church 1534. made himself boss.

9. Drama, Cont’d • Elizabeth becomes Queen • Ruled from 1558-1603 • Hard to get there, but became one of greatest. • Protestants and Catholics fighting for control • Spain tried to take England down; famous armada lost

10. Elizabeth • The Virgin Queen • Great politician • Played both sides well—a moderate • Victory against armada solidified her place as ruler

11. Drama, As In Plays and Stuff • Theatre open to every level of Elizabethan society • Ultimate source of entertainment and instruction • Puritans hated it. • Actors “disreputable” • The Globe • Outside city limits • Home of Shakespeare’s troupe

12. Globe Theatre Interior View

13. Country and City • More moving to city • Once there, dreamed of country • Popularity of the pastoral • Innocent garden world • Shepherds and shepherdesses • Simple life • All that stuff

14. What to Believe? • Question affected everything • Colonizing New World; earth round not flat • Official religion changed 4 times in 30 years • What was true religion? Which Bible? • Earth not center of universe • Mixture of politics/religion

15. Rise of Humanism • Latin never gone away. • Classics offered something different than Christianity. • Greek, Roman authors offered ethics without doctrine, philosophy without theology • Emphasized what is to be human • Humanism

16. How did rediscovery lead to originality? • Humanists wanted classics to reach wide audience. • Translated classics • Brought back the sonnet to poetry

17. Remaking the Bible, in English • King James wanted standard English version • Used what was available at the time • Created masterpiece of English prose • Writers had gone back to traditional sources and used them to make something new and enduring