Bellwork Monday, 8/31/15 Barzun’s chapter, “Epic & Comic, Lyric & Music, Critic & Public,” discusses how Renaissance literature had two purposes: to entertain and to edify (to instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually). Answer the question below in at least a paragraph: Describe any elements of Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur that entertain, and any elements of the book that edify.

Notes Monday, 8/31/15 Epic & Comic, Lyric & Music, Critic & Public How Renaissance literature and music differed from that before the Renaissance Genres of literature Music and the lyrics that go along Experts on literature and music and normal consumers of literature and music

Literature in the Early Modern era (1400-1800) had two purposes Entertain friends and courts or build up the reader morally But only today is there a distinction between the two Middle Ages through Renaissance, literature was their only entertainment, so even edifying literature entertained The Renaissance return to the classics made amateurs want to become professional Instead of just writing for friends Hired by royal courts, and wrote for all time Imitating Homer, etc. who start with “Let my poem be famous throughout the ages,” etc. But no agents, publishers, etc. yet, so some people aren’t credited

The literary genre of the epic, version 2.0 The humanist version of an ancient Greek genre Thought by the humanists to be the best genre Because its length makes it hard to write well Include wizards, goblins, enchantresses Not to be believed Not medieval superstition, but a replacement for Greek and Roman polytheism Women of great moral strength appear often Play romantic role as well War between Muslims and Christians continued

An example of Renaissance epic Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered Combines holy war and romance Combines lifelike adventure and magic spells Disobeys Aristotle’s command that epic be heroic, focusing on a person of character, firm in danger, undeviating from duty Renaissance epic allows love to distract the hero from their duty Renaissance epics show women being better people of character than men The Renaissance epics that are not still famous Probably because they were good writing, but not good at telling about the human condition Dante is still famous because the moral lessons he teaches are so timeless

Another example of Renaissance epic Camoens’ Lusiads Mixes pagan myths and Christian stories Not sacrilege, but standard humanism, showing spiritual synonymy Skipped for 6th and 7th hour for time’s sake

Give an example of a Renaissance epic Take a moment to look over your notes about the Renaissance genre of the epic Write at least five sentences in your notes about a story you know that fulfills some, if not all, of the aspects of Renaissance epic Be ready to share

Bellwork Tuesday, 9/1/15 Scan the section in Barzun that stretches from page 155 to page 157. Scan by paying attention to the topic (first) sentence and second sentence of each paragraph. Answer the question below in at least 4 sentences: How did Renaissance music differ from the music that came before the Renaissance?

How Renaissance music began to differ from Medieval music The purpose of music became increasingly secular Which makes sense, since the Renaissance attached much importance to human action and feeling Activities of courts City festivals Household entertainment Putting ancient poetry to music Musical productions expanded Church choirs became bigger Bigger and better organs More instruments invented or improved Bigger town bands More patrons of the arts Became a required part of acting high-class to be a musician Even church services were reformed to adjust to musical developments, rather than to cater to spiritual devotion 3rd hour: Musical Productions expanded, 5th, 6th: beginning, 7th: Go over student examples of stories fulfilling aspects of Renaissance epics

Some definitions to help you understand Medieval and Renaissance music Most medieval music was Gregorian chant One melody sung by many voices Later medieval composers came up with polyphony Several voices singing mostly-independent melodies at the same time Caused clash sometimes to the ear So some composers proposed harmony Several voices singing together, but each note has been checked so that it works with the others Not several independent melodies, but one melody with several supporting sub-melodies Renaissance composers came up with the idea of combining polyphony and harmony Produced arguments between those who wanted the lyrics to be more understandable, and the musician who wanted to make the music as complicated as possible

Describe polyphony and harmony Take a moment to review your notes on the definitions of polyphony and harmony Write at least one sentence on each musical style, making sure that your sentence (or more if you choose) would be able to describe that style to someone who has not taken this class

Separation of the poet and the musician Music freed from lyrics Poetry freed from music Proliferation of musical terms (mostly Italian), showing that music was becoming more expressive Musicians who composed for church would sometimes use tunes from vulgar popular songs, making church people mad

The new, freed poetry flourished especially in France and England Wyatt Surrey Jonson Donne Shakespeare Sidney Sonnets from and to lovers Ingenuity in rhyme schemes and meters

Renaissance drama attempted to follow the ancients’ advice, but also increase lifelikeness The content of the play must be at most only a day No song-and-dance, like in Greek drama Human-like characters, rather than biblical characters or medieval abstractions like Truth, Goodness, Sin, etc. Renaissance playwrights had to work hard to convince their audiences to believe what was going on so that they could properly entertain and morally build up Since then, we trust art so much that our artists do not have to convince us of the reality of what is going on, we like breaking rules

Change in criticism/analysis of literature From comparison to the Greeks Compare a piece of drama, art, music, or literature as a whole to the model given by the ancients To more artistic criticism Break it up into parts ANALYSIS becomes a Western theme

Bellwork Thursday, 9/3/15 Today you will be listening to selections of Medieval and Renaissance music. Take notes on the questions below. (Use a new page and divide your paper in two) Medieval Renaissance What languages are used? What styles are used? What is the purpose of Medieval music? What is the purpose of Renaissance music? Who performs Medieval music? Who performs Renaissance music? What is the result in the listener of Medieval music? What is the result in the listener of Renaissance music? What else did you notice in either era of music?

Quarter 1 Essay Friday, 9/4/15 “Why does Barzun classify both the Protestant Reformation and the Renaissance as one revolution in Western religion?” On a new piece of paper, consider these questions for Humanists/Protestants (use your notes and Barzun’s first 3 chapters) What were their views towards authority? Where did they see authority coming from? What was their view of the individual (human nature)? How/Why did they want to free themselves from past customs, traditions, and schools of thought? How are their views different from the Middle Ages? (critical for your argument!!) How are their concerns related? Use this to form your main arguments