1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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?

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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?

17. 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