1. LITERATURE AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ENGLISH RENAISSANCE 14th-16th Cetury Medieval Drama 1534 – Henry the VIII Act of Supremacy Anglican Schism END OF MEDIEVAL DRAMA 1558 – Elizabeth I English Drama also called ELIZABETHAN DRAMA, flourished at her court 1642 - Puritans END OF ELIZABETHAN DRAMA Theatres were closed down by the Puritans. 1564 - 1616 William Shakespeare 1564 -1593 Christopher Marlowe

2. Medieval Drama 14th – 16th Century AIM. Il was used to give illiterate peasants a religious education. It follows that Medieval drama dealt with the Christian code of values and the subjects of the performances were the biblical stories.

3. Elizabethan Drama 1558 - 1642 English drama broke away from the religious roots of the Middle Ages to reflect the humanistic spirit of the new age. Themes: human being, man (his destiny, his existence, his rule in the universe), English History. Play’s characters: heroes and heroines taken from the contemporary English society. Language: it is used the language of feelings, strong emotions and disruptive passions. University Wits Playwrights: University Wits (1570s-1590s) Group of students of the most famous universities that wrote plays. The most relevant are Christopher Marlowe and John Lyly.

4. Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) Marlowe was the most talented of the University Wits. Most relevant work: Doctor Faustus The name of the play is also the name of the main character. Doctor Faustus decided to sell his soul the devil because he is unsatisfied. This character was obsessed by ambitions and troubles of the Renaissance’s man. Il is an important work because it emphasize the passage between Middle Ages and Renaissance. How the man changed. Characters: Marlow’s characters are titanic, preparing to Shakesperare’s tragic heroes.

5. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) His production was an homage to the queen Elizabeth I and hers laud, but It also contains a reflections on the human nature. Works: He wrote 34 plays organized into Roman Plays (Tragedy dealing with historical events of ancient Rome), and comedies including some romances. Characters: Shakespeare’s plays are characterized by the presence of the HERO/HEROINE, he/she who meets a challenge but he/she finally solve problems. She/he is a single/isolated individual character who is in opposition with a social group of universe. But he/she isn’t properly alone because the fate guides him/her.

6. 1. Elizabeth court It is the centre of literary and artistic activity. Courtly life was inspirited by the classical and humanistic values beauty, order and natural harmony 2. Playhouse Places Circular or polygonal in shape Stage = rectangular platform called “apron” stage. Galleries: provide places for spectators of high social classes Globe Theater, London

7. Giulia Bianchin Classe IVA