The Renaissance Introduction to a Literary Period

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance

Introduction to a Literary Introduction to a Literary PeriodPeriod

The Beginnings of the The Beginnings of the Tudor RuleTudor Rule

History of the Times

• Henry Tudor defeats the Yorkist king Richard III and establishes the Tudor dynasty, which rules for 118 years.

• Henry marries Elizabeth of York to secure his position, and acts to ensure peace with foreign powers.

The Beginnings of the The Beginnings of the Tudor RuleTudor Rule

History of the TimesBy the time of Henry VII’s death in 1509, England is prosperous and fairly united, the throne protected. Henry accomplished this by

• expanding commerce

• supporting the English merchant class

• reducing the power of the nobles

• awarding offices to loyal men from the middle class

• The printing press is introduced in England.

Literature of the Times• The fifteenth century was a key

period for literacy in England.

• Humanism becomes a major influence on English literature.

The Beginnings of Tudor The Beginnings of Tudor RuleRule

around 1455 • The printing press is

invented by Johannes Gutenberg.

• William Caxton sets up a press in England.

in 1476

• Books become widely available throughout western Europe.

by 1500

The Printing Press


Humanism—an intellectual movement that greatly influenced Renaissance thinkers, writers, and artists.

• studied the Bible and the classics to explore questions such as “What is a good life?”

• revived old Greek and Latin classics

The humanists

• made history, literature, and philosophy popular again


Secular – Non-Religious

• English lawyer

Two Friends—Two Humanists

• traveled throughout Europe

• Dutch monk

Desiderius ErasmusSir Thomas More

• taught Greek

• wrote Utopia• held important offices

• beheaded by order of Henry VIII in 1535

Both men wrote in Latin; loved life, laughter, and classical learning; were dedicated to the church.


• With no son after 24 years of marriage, Henry appeals to pope to annul the marriage.


• Like his father, Henry VIII knows a male heir is essential to securing the throne.

• Henry VIII, most famous for his six wives, reigns from 1509 to 1547.

The Protestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation

• Pope Clement’s denial prompts Henry to reform the Catholic Church in England.

• Henry VIII creates Church of England and Royal Navy, increasing England’s power.

Henry VIII (reigned 1509—1547)

• “Renaissance man”—poet, musician, athlete, hunter

• married six wives

• created Royal Navy, ending foreign invasion and spreading England’s power, language, and literature around globe

• supported humanism

• coarse, arrogant in old age


• desperate for male heir

1533• Pope refuses Henry VIII’s

request for annulment

• Henry breaks from Rome and appoints new archbishop of Canterbury, who grants annulment

1534• Henry declares himself

head of the Church of England


Divorce was not allowed, so Henry was looking for a loophole.

He asked Pope Clement VII to annul his marriage, that is, declare that he was not properly married to Catherine of Aragon.

Annulment

An annulment cancels or puts an end to a marriage. The children of an annulled couple become illegitimate.


The Reformation in Europe

• reformers reject authority of pope and Italian churchmen

In various countries

• Martin Luther founds new kind of Christianity, based on personal understanding of Bible

In Germany

• strong national identity makes English people resent financial burdens imposed by Vatican

In England


• He seizes the Catholic Church’s assets and sells Church land.

Protestant Reformation after 1534• Henry closes monasteries.

• Protestantism begins in England.

Some people want to• get rid of “popish” things

(bishops, prayer book, priests’ vestments)

• make religion solely a matter between the individual and God


• Henry VIII supports development of English literature, authorizes translation of Bible into English.

Literature of the Times

• English writers set about translating Greek and Roman classics into English.

• The Renaissance that started in Italy in the 14th century begins to flourish in England.


Renaissance Renaissance LearningLearningThe Renaissance encouraged individual curiosity and creativity. Bold thoughts, beautiful poetry, and powerful dramatic works emerged.

The instruments shown in this painting suggest the ambassadors have mastered astronomy, mathematics, and music.

The Ambassadors (1533) by Hans Holbein the Younger. Oil on canvas.


• The “Virgin Queen” foiled several murder plots by her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots.

• Elizabeth’s first task was to restore law and order and reestablish Church of England.


• England under “Bloody” Mary was torn by religious feuds after she restored power to Catholics and executed Protestants.

• Elizabeth I inherits kingdom after deaths of her brother Edward and sister Mary.

• Queen Elizabeth’s defeat of the Spanish Armada was one of her finest hours.

England’s Greatest MonarchEngland’s Greatest Monarch

• sickly “boy king” • rules in name only• dies at age 15

• “Bloody Mary” • restores pope’s power• hunts down and

executes Protestants

Heirs of Henry VIII

Edward VI (r. 1547–1553)

Mary Tudor (r. 1553–1558)

Elizabeth I (r. 1558–1603)

• “The Virgin Queen” • brilliant, successful monarch

Key Concept: Key Concept: England’s Greatest MonarchEngland’s Greatest Monarch

Elizabeth I—literary connoisseur; beloved symbol of peace, security, prosperity

• likely most brilliant, successful British monarch

• excommunicated after rejecting pope’s authority

• Parliament begs her to marry; she refuses

• Rebuffs proposal from Philip of Spain; unleashes navy on his Spanish Armada


Mary, Queen of Scots• heir to English throne, daughter of James V

• engineers several plots to kill Elizabeth

• a devout Catholic, she’s ousted from throne in Protestant Scotland

After enduring Mary’s plots for twenty years, Elizabeth sends her to the chopping block for treason.

In 1587


• Philip of Spain sends the Spanish Armada, a vast fleet of warships, to invade England.

1588

• England’s smaller ships defeat Armada with help from storms in Irish Sea

• Spain might have conquered Britain

• Victory assures England’s independence from Catholic countries of the Mediterranean


• England set eight small frigates, or warships, ablaze and sailed them into the Armada.

The Spanish Armada was the largest fleet of ships ever assembled.

• Heavy winds wrecked the Spanish ships off the stormy coast of Ireland.

Key Concept: Key Concept: England’s Greatest MonarchEngland’s Greatest MonarchSpanish Armada

• Poetry, drama, religious allegory, and philosophical works flourish in this golden age.

• Armada’s defeat is a catalyst for Renaissance writers, who celebrate Elizabeth I as a symbol of peace, prosperity, and security.

Literature of the Times

• Elizabeth’s court becomes a center of literary culture for gifted writers.

• The plays of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries are created for the general public, rather than aristocratic theater patrons.


Documents

The Renaissance Introduction to a Literary Period