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The English Renaissance: An Introduction

The English Renaissance: An Introduction. By Dr. William J. Burling. 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

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  1. The English Renaissance:An Introduction By Dr. William J. Burling

  2. The English Renaissance:Overview • Continental origins—Italy, in particular • English origins • Literary developments in poetry, prose fiction, and drama

  3. Continental Origins • Important Developments in Italy in the 13th and 14th centuries. • Fall of Constantinople in 1453

  4. Key Moments of the Italian Renaissance • Giotto’s paintings (late 13th, early 14th centuries) • Importance of Florence: Ghiberti’s “Doors to the Baptistery” (1401)

  5. Medieval Italian Art Bernardo Daddi, 1335 (late example of older Byzantine style)

  6. 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

  7. The Mourning of Christ (Giotto, c. 1305)

  8. Ghiberti’s “Doors” (1401)

  9. Ghiberti, detail from “Doors”

  10. Highly sophisticated emphasis on correct perspective, realism Church relaxes the position of “contemptu mundi” The Church becomes chief patron of “high” Renaissance art (Michelangelo, etc.) Significance of Ghiberti’s “Doors”

  11. Michelangelo (1475-1564) Detail, Sistine Chapel 1508-1512

  12. Italian Literary ModelsDante (1265-1321) Vita Nuova (by 1294): MS; lyric love poems to “Beatrice” The Divine Comedy : (c. 1304-1317) MS epic poem

  13. Petrarch (1304-1374) Canzoniere (MS. begun c. 1336; completed c. 1374): contains 366 poems Contains the sonnets to “Laura”

  14. 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

  15. Rise of Ottoman Empire • Earlier sieges of Constantinople: 1394-1402; 1422. City was the last Christian “island” in the midst of the Islamic territory. • Final defeat 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

  16. The Ottoman Empire (c. 1683)

  17. The Renaissance Comes to England • Introduction of the Printing Press, 1476 • Political Stability under the Tudors, 1485,ff

  18. New Technology: The Printing Press enters England, 1476

  19. Stability and Progress • Henry VII defeats Richard III in 1485  end the War of the Roses • Tudor dynasty established and consequent stability • Fosters artistic and economic development

  20. 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

  21. Reformation . . . Martin Luther (1483-1546) 1517: “95 Theses” nailed to the door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg

  22. And Counter-Reformation The Trial of Galileo

  23. Early Renaissance Poetry • John Skelton (Poet Laureate to Henry VIII); example of pre-Italian style • Importance of Italian influence; influence of Petrarch’s and Dante’s works • 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)

  24. Henry Howard, earl of Surrey; executed age 30 Sir Thomas Wyatt; died age 39

  25. 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

  26. Early Renaissance Prose Fiction • Sir Thomas More (1478; executed 1535) • Utopia (1516)

  27. 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)

  28. Reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) • English nationalism growths (defeat of the Invincibile Armada, 1588) • Powerful advocate and defender of Protestantism

  29. Defeat of the Armada, 1588

  30. “High” Renaissance Poetry • High degree of sophistication and elegance • Philip Sidney • Edmund Spenser • William Shakespeare • Ben Jonson • John Donne • John Milton (early career)

  31. Elizabethan Era Poetry Edmund Spenser Sir Philip Sidney

  32. The Faerie Queene (1596)

  33. Jacobean Poetry Ben Jonson John Donne

  34. John Milton (1608-1674)As a young man.

  35. Milton (post-1660)

  36. Women Authors Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke (1562-1621): Arcadia, Psalms Aemilia Lanyer (1569-1645): Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum (1611)

  37. “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)

  38. The Globe, 1599

  39. The New Globe (interior)

  40. Famous Playwrights • Christopher Marlowe • William Shakespeare • Ben Jonson • John Fletcher • Thomas Middleton

  41. Shakespeare’s Contemporaries Christopher Marlowe John Fletcher

  42. Shakespeare’s Contemporaries • Thomas Middleton (1580-1627) • A Game at Chess (1625): single most popular play of the Renaissance era

  43. 1564-1616

  44. 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

  45. Cavalier Poets Sir Richard Lovelace Sir John Suckling

  46. … and The Commonwealth (1649-1660)

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