1. The English Renaissance: Celebrating Humanity

2. Life in Elizabethan and Jacobean England
London expanded greatly as a city
People moved in from rural areas and from other European countries
Busy and crowded; lots of commerce, craftsmen
Strict class system
Not a clean or safe city—“The Thames was a beautiful sewer” (224) and disease and criminals ran rampant
Grew into substantial port and admired European city
Southwark: suburb known for its “vice” – theaters, gaming, prostitution, etc.

4. Renaissance = rebirth Rebirth of:
interest in learning, especially that of ancient Greece and Rome
civilization in general
arts and sciences
Reaction to “Dark Ages” of medieval Europe

5. Historically speaking…
UK represent!
Exploration by sea: John Cabot, 1497
Religious rifts:
New sense of nationalism prompted many to question ethics in and teachings of Church
Questioning of Papal authority and Scripture
Erasmus (Dutch) – version of New Testament
Thomas More – Utopia
Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther’s 95 theses

6. The Monarchy: strengthening themselves and the nation Henry VII:
Catholic
Restorer of national economy and prestige of
monarchy
Henry VIII:
Catholic, at first…
Supports Pope against religious dissenters (“Defender of
the Faith”)
But…
Church’s refusal to annul his marriage leads him to break from Catholic faith
Dissolves Church ownership of property, monasteries
Has Thomas More executed for refusing to renounce Catholic faith
Marries 6 times
Fathers Elizabeth and Mary; has a son, Edward, with his 3rd wife, Jane Seymour

7. More Tudor action…
Edward, Henry VIII’s son, rules from the ages of 9-15 (whatever; that’s like a 7th grader ruling your country)
Parliament drastically changes religious practices
English replaces Latin
Book of Common Prayer required in public worship
England is on its way to becoming a Protestant nation until…
We’re back, baby!
Mary I takes throne
Restores Roman practices to Church of England
Restores authority of Pope over English Church
Known as “Bloody Mary” for ordering execution of about 300 Protestants
Mary rules for 5 years, and then…

8. (literally and figuratively)
Cate Blanchett Elizabeth I takes the throne!
Classically educated; patron of the arts
Reinstated monarch’s rule over Church of England, ending religious turmoil
Established climate of religious compromise
Known as one of the best rulers in English history
Spoiler alert! Dies in 1603
Hey, I wonder if that’s where they got the name for the Elizabethan period…
Elizabeth… arrgh…
The Mary Stuart problem:
Catholics considered Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, rightful heir to throne of England (marriage annulment issues)
Imprisoned by cousin, Elizabeth, for 18 years
Hatched numerous Catholic plots against her
Elizabeth let her live, punished Catholics
Parliament insisted on beheading Mary in 1587
I rule!
(literally and figuratively)

9. Life after Elizabeth…the Stuarts
James I (well, James VI of Scotland, but James I of England)
Son of Mary Stuart
Named by Elizabeth as her successor
Protestant
“Jacobean” era (from Latin for James)
Expanded England’s position as world power (colony in VA)
Believed in “divine right” of monarchs
Power struggles with Parliament
Persecuted Puritans (who migrated to Plymouth Colony)
Hey, I wonder if that’s where they got the name for Jamestown…
Smell you later, Jimmy!
I may have divine right, but this outfit is just wrong…

10. Renaissance Poetry Lyric over narrative poetry Sonnets! Yeah!
Finally, the good stuff…
Renaissance Poetry
Lyric over narrative poetry
Psst! Lyric poem: a short poem with one speaker (not necessarily the poet) who expresses thought and feeling.
Sonnets! Yeah!
Sonnet cycle: A series of sonnets, usually fit loosely together to form a story
Heavy hitters: Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, Shakespeare
Two major rhyme schemes: Petrarchan/Italian and Shakespearean
Shakespearean rhyme scheme: abab, cdcd, efef, gg
Psst! Sonnet: 14 lines, iambic pentameter, various rhyme schemes. Word!
Many sonnets consist of 8 lines setting up one idea, 4 lines responding to that idea, and a concluding couplet at the end. Rock and roll!

11. Hey, I wonder if that’s where they got the name for Raleigh, NC…
Pastoral poetry
Idealized rustic simplicity of rural life
Heavy hitters: Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh
I’m a poet, soldier, explorer, historian and member of the Royal Court. Phew! It’s tiring being a true Renaissance man!
Hey, I wonder if that’s where they got the name for Raleigh, NC…

12. And I might have gotten credit for stuff you wrote! Too bad!
Renaissance Drama
Turned away from religious focus and toward classical Greek and Roman tragedies and dramas
Christopher Marlowe: First major dramatist
(1580s)
Shakespeare ( )
Started as actor
Famous playwright by 1592
37 Plays: most can be categorized as tragedy, comedy, or history
Deep understanding of what it means to be human helps maintain popularity
People say that if I’d lived past 30 I might have eclipsed Shakespeare as England’s greatest playwright! Dang!
And I might have gotten credit for stuff you wrote! Too bad!

13. Renaissance Prose Not as popular as poetry Heavy hitters:
Which is the more satisfying bacon: pioneering English author or tasty breakfast meat?
Not as popular as poetry
Heavy hitters:
Sidney, Raleigh and Thomas Nashe
Sir Francis Bacon: essays, science, philosophy
King James Bible
Translated Latin Bible into English
Huge achievement—probably most important in English Renaissance
54 scholars worked 7 years!
Influential, used to this day

14. Important Dates 1485: Thomas More publishes Utopia
1534: Church of England established
1535: Thomas More executed
1549: The Book of Common Prayer issued
1558: Elizabeth I becomes Queen
1563: 20,000 Londoners die in Plague
1564: Shakespeare is born!

15. Important Dates (Cont.)
1594: Shakespeare writes Romeo and Juliet
1599: The Globe Theater opens
1603: Queen Elizabeth I dies; James I becomes King of England.
1606: Guy Fawkes executed for Gunpowder Plot
1607: Royal Colony of Jamestown established
1611: King James Bible published
1620: Pilgrims land on Plymouth Rock
1625: King James I dies.