The Renaissance Historical Introduction

The Renaissance in Europe Dates- Italy 14 th century to England- mid 17 th century Renaissance means “rebirth” traditionally designates the centuries following the Middle Ages in Europe. Rebirth of classical literature and intellectual fervor like ancient Rome and Greece

Renaissance in Europe Differences from Middle Ages Revitalized interest in Greek and Roman civilization Their own times were a return to glorious achievements of classical times Purer literature Strong religious influence

Origins in Italy 14 th century Italy Authors – Petrach (Petrachian sonnets) – Boccacio Artists – Giotto – Donatello

14 th century Italian Artists GIOTTO DONATELLO

Humanists Who? Scholars and educators What did they believe? – Human beings are very capable beings – emphasized creation of art for all levels of society – People are worthy and dignified beings – Outward beauty can represent inward beauty Contrasted with Medieval emphasis on God and contempt for the things of this world (humanists wanted to appreciate this life)

Italian Artists 15 th and 16 th centuries Leonardo daVinci Michelangelo

Spread of Renaissance From Italy to France, Germany, England During this time there was also territorial expansion and discovery –1–1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue European colonial and commercial domination w/ Asia and Americas Beginning of modern world

The Renaissance in England Slow to participate b/c of internal turmoil – War of the Roses – Yorks and Lancasters battling for throne ( ) – Country was not in a place to respond to or participate in new artistic and intellectual movements – War of Roses brought to an end when Henry Tudor defeated Yorkist King in 1485 – Henry Tudor becomes Henry VII

Tudor Dynasty from tions/Elizabeth/images/family_tree.jpg

Tudor Dynasty Rule for more than a century Bring stability – Henry VII ( ) – Henry VIII son of Henry VII Powerful political leader Also afraid of what renaissance thinking would do to the population

Literary Figures Sir Thomas More ( ) – Humanist – Wrote Utopia Sir Thomas Wyatt ( ) Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517?-1547) Poets who based their writing off of their exploration of Italian models

Religious Tension in 16 th century Catholics vs. Protestants Protests against authority and corruption of the Roman Catholic Church – Protestant Reformation Martin Luther who was famous for stating his grievances against the church - nailed to the door of a church in Germany in 1517

Religious Tension in 16 th century Henry VIII- always loyal to Roman Catholic No religious motivation for England to align itself with Protestant revolt Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, had not produced a male heir so he wanted a divorce – Pope refused – Henry defied the Pope and declared himself the “Supreme Head of the Church in England” (Anglican Church)

Consequences of break with Catholicism England came to have a new, independent, national identity When Sir Thomas More opposed Henry’s divorce and refused to swear allegiance to Henry as the head of the state, More was imprisoned and executed More was the leading figure in the renaissance and was sacrificed for political power of King

Reformation in England Edward VI- 9 year old son of Henry VIII Mary came to throne when Edward died ( ) (Bloody Mary) –D–Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon –H–Half Spanish; devout Catholic –M–Married Phillip II of Spain –R–Reign of terror against English Protestants to return England to Catholic authority

Mary

Elizabeth I ( ) Half-sister of Mary Daughter of Henry VIII and his 2 nd wife Anne Boleyn Took the throne at 25 Intelligent, educated by a Humanist Linguist, poet Encouraged artistic growth

Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I ( ) Religion – Moderate- somewhere between Protestant extremism and capitulation to Catholicism Foreign affairs: WONDER OF HER AGE! – Pushed for expansion – 2 nd half of 16 th century pushed English seamen to raid Spanish ships – Prevented war with Spain by playing France off of Spain – Used her unmarried status as a bargaining chip

Elizabethan Literary Achievement Elizabeth’s Court in London – London was now a center of industry, business, government, finance, and law – Many talented individuals came to her court who were strong political or literary figures – Came to court to contribute what they could

Elizabeth’s Court Pair of authors who were close friends; discussed how to reform English poetry to make it as good as French and Italian Sir Phillip Sydney ( ) Edmund Spenser ( )

Elizabeth’s Court Sidney: aristocrat Ideal Renaissance gentleman Strong political ideas and literary ability wrote for a private circle of friends Work not published until after death

Elizabeth’s Court Spenser: – A “professional man of letters” – Scholar-poet – Wanted to be a great writer – Wrote “The Faerie Queene” a major allegorical epic (never finished) – Which is dedicated to Elizabeth

Elizabethan Drama Greatest achievement of Elizabethan literature Characteristics: – More nonreligious plays (as compared with medieval period) – Characters developed (more characters) – Many private performances – By end of 16 th century writers were educated at Oxford and Cambridge

Elizabethan Drama Origins in: – native folk culture and popular entertainment – Sophisticated, aristocratic world of literary circles and the court Influences during 16 th century – Dramatically spoken English; the dramatic nature and flair distinguished them from Italian and French Renaissance writing

Characteristics of Elizabethan Plays – Basic sets, costumes, atmospheric effects – Audience had to use imagination – Effects given through emphasis on spoken word

Elizabethan Theatres Theatres: – Shoreditch: first public theatre just outside city limits of London in 1576 – Globe: home theater of Shakespeare’s company just across the river Thames Audiences: – Crowding into theatre (London had a population of 50,000) – ALL classes were in the audience

GLOBE THEATRE

Elizabethan Tastes and Attitudes Peculiar combination of old and new Love of the “artificial” – definition to Elizabethans Everything that is made by human skill and ingenuity – artificial in Elizabeth’s court – fantastically decorated gowns; ornamental gardens and buildings – artificial in literature Complicated rhyming forms like the sonnet Abstract verbal patterns but used repetition

Elizabethan World Picture “Great chain of being” World is a a vast, unified hierarchical order Created by God Everything is ranked within a category in the chain Human beings’ role in the chain – At the midpoint (souls and free will made them above animals) – Could choose to move higher (toward angels) or lower (toward animals)

KEY TERMS & PEOPLE Renaissance Humanists War of the Roses Globe Artifice “Great Chain of being” Petrarch Petrarch Michelangelo Michelangelo Henry VII Henry VII Henry VIII Henry VIII Mary Mary Elizabeth I Elizabeth I

KEY AUTHORS Sir Thomas More Sir Thomas Wyatt Sir Philip Sydney Edmund Spenser Christopher Marlowe William Shakespeare