The English The English RenaissanceRenaissance

1485-16251485-1625

Renaissance = Renaissance =

““rebirth”rebirth”

View on life during the View on life during the Renaissance:Renaissance:

““Men can do all things if they will.” Men can do all things if they will.” –Italian Architect, Leon Battista Alberti–Italian Architect, Leon Battista Alberti

Humanity’s belief in its potential is growing Humanity’s belief in its potential is growing and being explored. There is much creative and being explored. There is much creative energy & delight in discoveries.energy & delight in discoveries.

Literary, artistic, and intellectual Literary, artistic, and intellectual development is valueddevelopment is valued

Frame of referenceFrame of reference

A “Renaissance A “Renaissance Man” is a person of Man” is a person of broad education broad education and interest whose and interest whose curiosity knows no curiosity knows no bounds.bounds.

Example- Leonardo Example- Leonardo da Vinci- painter, da Vinci- painter, inventor, architect, inventor, architect, engineer, & engineer, & scientist.scientist.

Frame of reference, Frame of reference, continuedcontinued

Some important dates:Some important dates:– 1492- Columbus sails ocean blue! Discovers 1492- Columbus sails ocean blue! Discovers

“New World”“New World”– 1505- da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa1505- da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa– 1543- Copernicus theorizes that the sun is the 1543- Copernicus theorizes that the sun is the

center of the solar system, not the earth.center of the solar system, not the earth.– 1558- Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England1558- Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England– 1599- The Globe Theatre was built, where 1599- The Globe Theatre was built, where

Shakespeare’s many plays would take place.Shakespeare’s many plays would take place.– 1609- Galileo invents the telescope.1609- Galileo invents the telescope.

Views on…Views on… World ExplorationWorld Exploration

– The development of the compass and astronomy advances The development of the compass and astronomy advances allow explorers to travel the sea and not stick too close to the allow explorers to travel the sea and not stick too close to the coasts. coasts.

– The “age of exploration”… Crusades, etc.The “age of exploration”… Crusades, etc.

ReligionReligion– Because Europeans are growing to understand the world in a Because Europeans are growing to understand the world in a

deeper sense, they also begin to try to figure out “how to deeper sense, they also begin to try to figure out “how to understand God.”understand God.”

– blind-faith in religion has died down; the new focus was on blind-faith in religion has died down; the new focus was on man’s place in man’s place in this this worldworld

EducationEducation– Universities at Oxford and Cambridge are expanded.Universities at Oxford and Cambridge are expanded.– the printing press was invented, making it possible for more the printing press was invented, making it possible for more

people to read.people to read.– almost everyone was writing and working in almost everyone was writing and working in the vernacularthe vernacular: :

MODERN ENGLISH!! (yes, what we speak today)MODERN ENGLISH!! (yes, what we speak today)

England Under the England Under the TudorsTudors

Economic changeEconomic changeFear of civil strifeFear of civil strife

Henry VII & Henry VIIIHenry VII & Henry VIII

Henry VII- Catholic, rebuilt Henry VII- Catholic, rebuilt nation’s treasury, nation’s treasury, established law and orderestablished law and order

Henry VIII- Catholic, wrote book against Henry VIII- Catholic, wrote book against Luther, deemed “defender of the faith” Luther, deemed “defender of the faith” by the Popeby the Pope

-his good relationship with Catholic -his good relationship with Catholic Church dissolved over Anne BoleynChurch dissolved over Anne Boleyn

Next, Edward VI and Next, Edward VI and Mary IMary I

Edward VI (Protestant)- Edward VI (Protestant)- King at 9 years old, died King at 9 years old, died at 15at 15

Mary- turbulent return Mary- turbulent return to Catholic Church, to Catholic Church, “Bloody Mary”- “Bloody Mary”- executed 300 executed 300 Protestants (dies after 5 Protestants (dies after 5 years- thank goodness)years- thank goodness)

Elizabeth IElizabeth I

Had a “Renaissance education”- Had a “Renaissance education”- skillful ruler, poet, linguist, musician skillful ruler, poet, linguist, musician & scholar & scholar

Played Spain and France against one Played Spain and France against one another to buy a time of peace for another to buy a time of peace for England (Spanish Armada- 1588)England (Spanish Armada- 1588)

Dies in 1603; unmarried “Virgin Dies in 1603; unmarried “Virgin Queen”-won’t relinquish power to a Queen”-won’t relinquish power to a husband from another country; she’s husband from another country; she’s “married to England”“married to England”

Elizabeth I (continued)Elizabeth I (continued)

Restores stabilityRestores stability Her one threat: Her one threat: Mary Mary

StuartStuart– Some Catholics recognized Some Catholics recognized

Mary as rightful Queen; Mary as rightful Queen; refuse to recognize Henry refuse to recognize Henry VIII’s remarriageVIII’s remarriage

Is found guilty on plots Is found guilty on plots against Elizabeth; against Elizabeth; Parliament insists on Parliament insists on executionexecution

LiteratureLiterature Two major forms:Two major forms:

– POETRYPOETRY Which is now Which is now lyriclyric; expresses thoughts and ; expresses thoughts and

feelings (as opposed to Anglo-Saxon/Medieval feelings (as opposed to Anglo-Saxon/Medieval narrative; telling a story)narrative; telling a story)

Pastoral poetry: Pastoral poetry: idealizes the rustic idealizes the rustic simplicity of rural lifesimplicity of rural life (ex. Marlowe’s “The (ex. Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd…”)Passionate Shepherd…”)

Sonnet:Sonnet: A 14 line lyric poem written in A 14 line lyric poem written in iambic pentameter that iambic pentameter that has a theme has a theme (more to come later). (more to come later).

– DRAMADRAMA Major time for the playhouses; Globe TheatreMajor time for the playhouses; Globe Theatre (will see in the next unit… Shakespeare’s (will see in the next unit… Shakespeare’s MacbethMacbeth))