1. 1485-1660

2.  Renaissance = rebirth  Began in Italy in the 14 th Century (1300s)  Complete role reversal: Medieval World View:  Religion and the Afterlife  Feudalism (Serfs, barons, kings)  Chivalry (Code of Honor for knights)  Universities begin to gain hold  Men protect women by going on Crusades Renaissance World View:  Human Life on Earth  Arts and literature  Beauty of nature  Celebrate human impulses  New interest in master/exploration of the world.  Focus on Greek and Roman Philosophers  Focus on individual; questioning of medieval truths  “Renaissance Man”

3.  Henry VII (Henry Tudor), 1485-1509: good with commercial treaties, new world exploration, relationship with Spain  Henry VIII, 1509-1547: true renaissance man; obsessed with having a son. Kept killing his wives. Broke with church; he became head of Anglican Church.  Edward VI, 1547-1553: Sickly, focus on Protestantism

4.  Mary (Bloody Mary), 1553-1558: Unpopular return to Catholicism, persecuted Protestants  Elizabeth I, 1558-1603: Prosperity and international prestige. Excellent politician – both in respect to public opinion and political alliances. Calmed fight between Protestants and Catholics. Never married, encouraged overseas exploration. Well-loved and respected.

5.  1400s – Great Vowel Shift  Final “e” on words no longer pronounced  Use of thou, thine, thee, thy (familiar) and you, your, yours (formal)  Second person singular verb ending “est”  “Thou leadest”  Third person singular verb ending “eth”  “She looketh”  Fewer helping verbs than today  “Saw you the stars?”  Printing press helped somewhat stabilize pronunciation  Use of Greek and Latin roots emerged  Borrowing and creating new words (from other languages; Shakespeare coined over 2000)

6.  Height of British Renaissance  Sonnet gained popularity as love poem  Renaissance Drama: Concerned with the human condition (movement away from religious tones of medieval drama)  Plays accessible to all (think The Globe)  Plays written in verse  Most plays either tragedies (end with hero’s downfall) or comedies (happy ending; usually in regards to love/marriage)