1. The English Renaissance: An IntroductionBy
Dr. William J. Burling
(17)

2. The English Renaissance: Overview
Continental origins—Italy, in particular
English origins
Literary developments in poetry, prose fiction, and drama

3. Continental Origins
Important Developments in Italy in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Fall of Constantinople in 1453

4. Key Moments of the Italian Renaissance
Giotto’s paintings (late 13th, early 14th centuries)
Importance of Florence: Ghiberti’s “Doors to the Baptistry” (1401)

5. Medieval Italian Art
Bernardo Daddi, 1335 (late example of older Byzantine style)

6. Giotto (c )
Widely considered to be one of the first innovators of the new modes of naturalism and space in painting
Praised by Dante in The Divine Comedy

7. The Mourning of Christ (Giotto, c. 1305)

8. Ghiberti’s “Doors” (1401)

9. Ghiberti, detail from “Doors”
“Isaac send Isaiah to Hunt”, Ghiberti

10. Significance of Ghiberti’s “Doors”
Highly sophisticated emphasis on correct perspective, realism
Church relaxes the position of “contemptu mundi”
Church becomes chief patron of “high” renaissance art (Michelangelo, etc.)

11. Michelangelo ( )
Detail, Sistine Chapel

12. Italian Literary Models Dante (1265-1321)
Vita Nuova (by 1294): MS; lyric love poems to “Beatrice”
The Divine Comedy : (c ) MS epic poem

13. Petrarch ( )
Canzoniere (MS. begun c. 1336; completed c. 1374): contains 366 poems
Contains the sonnets to “Laura”

14. Political Factors
Pressure on Eastern Roman Empire from the Turks; fall of Constantinople in 1453
Refugees emigrate to West Europe, dissemination of learning, concentration in Italy

15. Rise of Ottoman Empire
Earlier sieges of Constantinople: ; City was a last Christian “island” in the midst of the Islamic territory.
Final capture of the city in 1453 by Meh.med II; the end of the eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
Extensive expansion of the Ottoman Empire by “Suleiman the Magnificent” (sultan, ) and his son ( ).
Empire lasted until the end of WW I

16. The Ottoman Empire (c. 1683)

17. The Renaissance Comes to England
Introduction of the Printing Press, 1476
Political Stability under the Tudors, 1485,ff

18. New Technology: The Printing Press comes to England, 1476

19. Stability and Progress
Henry VIII defeats Richard III in 1485 to end the War of the Roses
Establishes Tudor dynasty and stability
Fosters artistic and economic development

20. Significant Developments in England, 1509-47
Sends delegations to Rome
Delegates return to England inspired by Italian art, music, and literature
1534: Disenfranchises the Catholic Church and establishes the Church of England

21. Reformation . . . Martin Luther (1483-1546)
1517: “95 Theses” nailed to the door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg

22. And Counter-Reformation
The Trial of Galileo

23. Early Renaissance Poetry
John Skelton (Poet Laureate to Henry VIII); example of pre-Italian style
Importance of Italian influence; impact of Petrarch and Dante
Thomas Wyatt: example of Italian influence; protégé: Henry Howard, earl of Surrey
Rapid development of poetic forms and techniques
Importance of Tottel’s “Miscellany” (1557)

24. Sir Thomas Wyatt; died age 39
Henry Howard, earl of Surrey; executed age 30

25. Tottel’s Songs and Sonnets written by the Right Honourable Lord Henry Howard Late Earl of Surrey and Other (1557)
First major published collection of English poetry
Contains 271 poems
Established the reputations of Wyatt and Howard

26. Early Renaissance Prose Fiction
Sir Thomas More (1478; executed 1535)
Utopia (1516)

27. Early Renaissance Drama
Significant influence of English mystery and morality drama
Emphasis on secular themes after 1540, especially tragic “lives of kings” (e.g., Gorboduc and the Mirror for Magistrates)
Classical influence: Seneca (tragedy); Plautus and Terence (comedy)

28. Reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
Significance of emerging English nationalism (defeat of the Armada, 1588)
Powerful advocate and defender of Protestantism

29. Defeat of the Armada, 1588

30. “High” Renaissance Poetry
High degree of sophistication and elegance
Philip Sidney
Edmund Spenser
William Shakespeare
Ben Jonson
John Donne
John Milton (early career)

31. Elizabethan Era Poetry
Sir Philip Sidney
Edmund Spenser

32. The Faerie Queene (1596)

33. Jacobean Poetry
John Donne
Ben Jonson

34. John Milton (1608-1674) As a young man.

35. Milton (post-1660)

36. Women Authors
Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke ( ): Arcadia, Psalms
Aemilia Lanyer ( ): Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum (1611)

37. “High” Renaissance Drama
Establishment of first patent companies and first permanent theatres in London
The Theatre (1576)
The Rose (1592)
The Swan (1596)
The Globe (1599)

38. The Globe, 1599

39. The New Globe (interior)

40. Select Important Playwrights
Christopher Marlowe
William Shakespeare
Ben Jonson
John Fletcher
Thomas Middleton

41. Shakespeare’s Contemporaries
Christopher Marlowe
John Fletcher

42. Shakespeare’s Contemporaries
Thomas Middleton ( )
A Game at Chess (1625): single most popular play of the Renaissance era

44. War (1642-49) … Charles I (1623-1649) Supported colonization
Unpopular monarch
Created religious strife; sends groups into exile
Isolated from the people
Conflicts with Parliament result in Civil War and eventual execution in 1649
“Cavalier” poetry emerges

45. Cavalier Poets
Sir Richard Lovelace
Sir John Suckling

46. … and Commonwealth ( )