Welcome Students! To the English Renaissance!!!!!!

What was is and when did it take place? The English Renaissance was a rebirth after the period of the dark ages. The English Renaissance was a rebirth after the period of the dark ages. It lasted from 1485 – 1625 It lasted from 1485 – 1625 Everything was coming alive again. New inventions, art, literature and life itself was going through an awakening Everything was coming alive again. New inventions, art, literature and life itself was going through an awakening

Religion There was a growing dissent with the Roman Catholic Church There was a growing dissent with the Roman Catholic Church Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation

Monarchy Who were the Tudors? Who were the Tudors? King Henry the VIII King Henry the VIII He wanted a divorce and the Pope would not let him have one. He wanted a divorce and the Pope would not let him have one. He married again anyway thus making an official break between the monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church. He married again anyway thus making an official break between the monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church. Mary took the throne who was a devout Catholic and had 300 Protestants killed earning her the title “Bloody Mary” Mary took the throne who was a devout Catholic and had 300 Protestants killed earning her the title “Bloody Mary”

Queen Elizabeth I Best monarch ever Best monarch ever Wonderful education and appreciation for the arts Wonderful education and appreciation for the arts Made the monarchy supreme ruler again over the church Made the monarchy supreme ruler again over the church Instituted a religious compromise that enforced rules that appealed to both Protestants and Roman Catholics. Instituted a religious compromise that enforced rules that appealed to both Protestants and Roman Catholics.

Literature of the Period Elizabethan Era- Elizabethan Era- is the reign of Queen Elizabeth I is the reign of Queen Elizabeth I golden age in English history golden age in English history It was the height of the English Renaissance It was the height of the English Renaissance saw the flowering of English literature and poetry saw the flowering of English literature and poetry

Drama Christopher Marlowe Christopher Marlowe First major Elizabethan Dramatist First major Elizabethan Dramatist William Shakespeare William Shakespeare 1 st as an actor and moving to a playwright, his works are filled with eloquent and beautiful language and display a deep understanding of human nature. This has enabled them to retain their popularity throughout the centuries. 1 st as an actor and moving to a playwright, his works are filled with eloquent and beautiful language and display a deep understanding of human nature. This has enabled them to retain their popularity throughout the centuries.

Welcome to the Wonderful World of…. Mr. William Shakespeare!

So… what do we already know about him? Some plays we’ve read in the past… Romeo and Juliet Othello Macbeth Hamlet Did these plays have anything in common?

And now what you’ve all been waiting for… The one The one The only The only King Lear King Lear

Some back ground info on Lear… Shakespeare wrote King Lear around 1605 between Othello and Macbeth Ranked with Hamlet as one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. The setting of King Lear dramatizes events from the eighth century BC The parallel stories of suffering at the hands of one’s children reflect anxieties that are timeless

The INFLUENCES on the play… Shakespeare heard a folk tale of a father who asks his three daughters to tell how much they love him. The first two profess their undying love and his favorite tells him that she loves him like salt. He disowns her, later to learn that she meant that salt was essential to survival like her love for him. Shakespeare heard a folk tale of a father who asks his three daughters to tell how much they love him. The first two profess their undying love and his favorite tells him that she loves him like salt. He disowns her, later to learn that she meant that salt was essential to survival like her love for him.

A real story… Shakespeare also knew that in Britain during that time, the eldest of three sisters tried to have her father, Brian Annesley, declared insane so that she could take his property. His youngest daughter successfully defended her father. Shakespeare also knew that in Britain during that time, the eldest of three sisters tried to have her father, Brian Annesley, declared insane so that she could take his property. His youngest daughter successfully defended her father.

A sad story… While Shakespeare was alive, William Allen, a mayor of London was treated very poorly by his three daughters after dividing his wealth among them. While Shakespeare was alive, William Allen, a mayor of London was treated very poorly by his three daughters after dividing his wealth among them.

Is this a real or fake King? Lear was a British King who reigned before the birth of Christ, allowing Shakespeare to place his play in a Pagan setting. Shakespeare clearly borrowed elements of the plot, names and ideas from many sources, but his most profound change to the old tale was in his ending.

Some overview…. One confusing element in this play is that there are TWO separate plots. One is: The Main Plot (with King Lear and his daughters) Second one: The Sub Plot (with Gloucester and his sons)

So here is the PLOT (Lear Plot) Lear, the aging king of Britain, decides to step down from the throne and divide his kingdom evenly among his three daughters. Lear, the aging king of Britain, decides to step down from the throne and divide his kingdom evenly among his three daughters. He tests his daughters by asking them how much they love him. Goneril and Regan, Lear’s older daughters, give their father flattering answers. He tests his daughters by asking them how much they love him. Goneril and Regan, Lear’s older daughters, give their father flattering answers. Cordelia, the youngest and favorite says she has no words to describe how much she loves her father. Cordelia, the youngest and favorite says she has no words to describe how much she loves her father.

A little more plot… Lear flies into a rage and disowns Cordelia feeling she betrayed him. She goes off to France to marry the King. Lear flies into a rage and disowns Cordelia feeling she betrayed him. She goes off to France to marry the King. Lear learns he made a bad decision. The other daughters begin to undermine Lear. He slowly goes insane. Lear learns he made a bad decision. The other daughters begin to undermine Lear. He slowly goes insane.

And now for the sub plot (Gloucester Plot)… An Elderly nobleman named Gloucester also experiences family problems. An Elderly nobleman named Gloucester also experiences family problems. His illegitimate son, Edmund, tricks him that his legitimate son, Edgar, is trying to kill him. His illegitimate son, Edmund, tricks him that his legitimate son, Edgar, is trying to kill him. Fleeing the manhunt that his father has set for him, Edgar disguises himself as a crazy beggar and calls himself “Poor Tom.” Fleeing the manhunt that his father has set for him, Edgar disguises himself as a crazy beggar and calls himself “Poor Tom.”

May I introduce… Character List King Lear - Aging king of Britain and the protagonist. Lear is used to enjoying absolute power and being flattered. He does not like being contradicted. He wishes to maintain the power of a king with no responsibility. He inspires loyalty in his subjects. King Lear - Aging king of Britain and the protagonist. Lear is used to enjoying absolute power and being flattered. He does not like being contradicted. He wishes to maintain the power of a king with no responsibility. He inspires loyalty in his subjects.

His favorite daughter… Cordelia - Lear’s youngest daughter, disowned by her father. Marries king of France. She remains loyal to Lear despite his cruelty toward her and forgives him. Cordelia - Lear’s youngest daughter, disowned by her father. Marries king of France. She remains loyal to Lear despite his cruelty toward her and forgives him.

Not so favorite daughter… Goneril - Lear’s ruthless oldest daughter married to duke of Albany. Goneril’s aggressiveness is a quality that was not common in a female character. She challenges Lear’s authority, boldly initiates an affair with Edmund, and wrests military power away from her husband. Goneril - Lear’s ruthless oldest daughter married to duke of Albany. Goneril’s aggressiveness is a quality that was not common in a female character. She challenges Lear’s authority, boldly initiates an affair with Edmund, and wrests military power away from her husband.

Really not favorite… Regan - Lear’s middle daughter married to duke of Cornwall. Regan is like Goneril and as aggressive in all the same ways. They egg each other on to acts of cruelty, and compete for the same man, Edmund. Regan - Lear’s middle daughter married to duke of Cornwall. Regan is like Goneril and as aggressive in all the same ways. They egg each other on to acts of cruelty, and compete for the same man, Edmund.

Now for the other messed up dad…beginning of subplot Gloucester - loyal to King Lear. He is an adulterer with a bastard son, Edmund. His fate is parallel to Lear: he misjudges which of his children to trust. He appears weak but later demonstrates that he is capable of great bravery. Gloucester - loyal to King Lear. He is an adulterer with a bastard son, Edmund. His fate is parallel to Lear: he misjudges which of his children to trust. He appears weak but later demonstrates that he is capable of great bravery.

The Oldest Son… Edgar - Gloucester’s legitimate son. Starts out as a gullible fool, then assumes a disguise to evade his father’s men Edgar - Gloucester’s legitimate son. Starts out as a gullible fool, then assumes a disguise to evade his father’s men

The “Other” Son… Edmund - Gloucester’s illegitimate son. Resents status as a bastard and schemes to usurp Gloucester’s title from Edgar. He succeeds in almost all of his schemes of wreaking destruction on all Edmund - Gloucester’s illegitimate son. Resents status as a bastard and schemes to usurp Gloucester’s title from Edgar. He succeeds in almost all of his schemes of wreaking destruction on all

The Sons-in- law…for Lear… Albany - The husband of Goneril, is good at heart and eventually denounces the cruelty of Goneril. He is indecisive and lacks foresight. Albany - The husband of Goneril, is good at heart and eventually denounces the cruelty of Goneril. He is indecisive and lacks foresight. Cornwall - The husband of Regan. Domineering, violent, and works to persecute Lear and Gloucester. Cornwall - The husband of Regan. Domineering, violent, and works to persecute Lear and Gloucester.

The Noble servants… Kent - loyal to King Lear. Kent spends most of the play disguised to continue to serve Lear. Gets himself into trouble by being extremely blunt and outspoken. Fool - Lear’s jester, who uses double-talk and seemingly frivolous songs to give Lear important advice. Oswald - The chief servant in Goneril’s house. Obeys mistress’s commands to aid in conspiracies

So how are we going to read this? In class- Out loud- Up front In class- Out loud- Up front Major characters will be played by same student for each act. Major characters will be played by same student for each act. Will have study guide for each Act / Scene that may be worked on while the play is read in class. Must be written on separate piece of paper and handed in the day after we conclude the Act. Will have study guide for each Act / Scene that may be worked on while the play is read in class. Must be written on separate piece of paper and handed in the day after we conclude the Act.

Some more stuff to do… If you are absent, you must make sure to read sections you missed. If you are absent, you must make sure to read sections you missed. After each Act we will have notes and a quiz. After each Act we will have notes and a quiz. If there is something that confuses you, we have no problem with you using help from online. If there is something that confuses you, we have no problem with you using help from online.