The Renaissance

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The Renaissance

• 1485-1660

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The Renaissance

• Meaning renewal
• Refers to the renewed interest in classical
  learning and literaturethe writings of ancient
  Greece and Rome.
• Because of the emphasis on human ability and new
  discoveries, the Renaissance is often considered
  the beginning of the modern world.

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Beginnings of the Renaissance

• Began in Italy spread to other European
  countries- France, Germany, Spain, and lastly
  England. Many writers and artists visited and
  looked to Italy for inspiration.
• Invention of the printing press (around 1455)
  made books a reality and working tools for
  scholars. By 1500, printersparticularly Italian
  printershad published in book form the works of
  most of the important Latin authors.

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• Renewal of reading and learning led to a renewal
  of the human spirit, of curiosity and creativity.
• Visual Arts flourished (Michelangelo, Leonardo da
  Vinci)
• Exploration and trade became widespread
• Christopher Columbus (1442)- One of MANY
  enterprisers
• European exploration at this time marked the
  first stages of European colonial and
  commercial domination.

• Science began to flourish new inventions created
  (Galileo, Gutenberg)

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Rise of HUMANISM

• Emphasized the abilities of the human mind and
  achievement versus medieval emphasis on God and
  denial of worldly things.
• Sought to answer questions What does it mean to
  be human? What is a good life? How do I lead a
  good life?
• Desired to harmonize two great sources of wisdom
  the Bible and the classics.

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Renaissance in England

• Renaissance in England was gradual, due to
  political instability
• Henry VIII (8th) (1509-1547)

• Powerful political leader
• Created Royal Navy
• Declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of
  England (Anglican Church) when pope refuse to
  grant a divorce.

• Demanded supreme authority and allegiance at high
  cost (Sir Thomas More locked in tower and
  beheaded for treason)

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Henry VIII

• Was considered a renaissance man person of
  
• many interests, skills, talents
• Poet, musician, hunter

• Well-educated- studied French, Italian, Latin
• Opened the door to writers and artists in royal
  
• court (Sir Thomas Wyatt)

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Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

• One of the most powerful and successful monarchs
  in history.
• Reestablished the Church of England and again
  rejected popes authority (like her father).
• Leader in economics and foreign affairs, which
  led to prosperity in England and defeat of
  Spanish Armada.

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Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

• Renaissance and literary influence
• Well-educated, accomplished linguist and poet
• Encouraged and inspired many writers. Elizabeth
  became a beloved symbol of peace, security, and
  prosperity. She provided inspiration for poetry,
  drama, and fiction.
• Elizabethan drama led to the triumph of
  dramatically spoken English.

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James I (1603-1625)

• Elizabeth's cousin , James VI (6th) of Scotland
• Gunpowder Plot (1605) Conspiracy by Catholic
  church to blow up parliament because of
  discontent with James support of Church of
  England said to be partial inspiration to
  Shakespeares Macbeth.

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• General Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)- led
  Parliamentary forces (Puritans) against Englands
  royalist (Roman Catholics) forces in civil war.
  Eventually, new government failed and the king
  was restored to the throne, beginning the
  Restoration Period.

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Other Important Renaissance Figures Influences

• Writers Poets
• Petrarch (1304-1374) Italian poet one of the
  first influences upon the Renaissance.
• Boccaccio (1313-1375)- Federigos Falcon
• Sir Thomas More- Utopia (1516) is considered the
  first literary masterpiece of the English
  Renaissance.
• Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)- poet,
  playwright, contemporary of Shakespeares.
• William Shakespeare (1564-1616)- most well-known
  poet playwright of the Renaissance.

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• Artists
• Michelangelo (1475-1564)- Italian painter,
  sculptor, architect (Sistine Chapel ceiling
  David sculptor)
• da Vinci (1452-1519)- Mona Lisa- one of the most
  recognized paintings in the world.
• Rulers
• Lorenzo de Medici (1449-1492)- Lorenzo the
  Magnificent Ruler of Italy and patron of several
  great artists (Botticelli, Michelangelo, da Vinci)

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Terms to Know

• Soliloquy A speech that a character makes while
  alone on stage to reveal thoughts, motives, or
  feelings to the audience.
• Aside When a character makes a statement meant
  to be heard by the audience or by another
  character, but not by ALL of the characters on
  stage.
• Dramatic Irony When the audience knows more than
  the characters the characters expect one thing
  to happen, but something else happens instead.
• Iambic Pentameter A line of poetry made up of
  five stressed syllables and five stressed
  syllables, creating a ten-beat per line rhythm.
• Blank Verse Unrhymed iambic pentameter the
  verse of most of Shakespeares plays.

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Terms to Know (contd)

• Renaissance - The revival of art and literature
  (especially classical forms) in the 14th16th
  centuries renewal
• Restoration Refers to the return of the
  monarchy in England, beginning in 1660 under
  Charles II
• Elizabethan The time period in England
  surrounding the reign of Queen Elizabeth I
  (1558-1603)
• Metaphysical An philosophical movement that
  began in the 17th century and sought to connect
  the study of human nature with the structure of
  the universe
• Neoclassicism Refers to the revival of the
  classical forms of literature that began in the
  Renaissance and continued into the 17th and 18th
  centuries

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The Shakespearean Tragedy
What do you know?
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Characteristics of a Shakespearean Tragedy

• The main character, called the tragic hero comes
  to an unhappy ending.
• The tragic hero is generally a person of
  importance in society, such as a king or queen.
• The tragic hero exhibits extraordinary qualities,
  but also a tragic flaw, which is a fatal error in
  judgment or weakness that leads directly to his
  or her downfall.

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• The hero faces an antagonist, his enemy, who may
  contribute to his downfall.
• A series of related events leads to a
  catastrophe, which involves the death of the
  hero.
• The tragic hero usually recognizes his or her
  tragic flaw by the end and gains the audiences
  sympathy.
• The tragic hero meets his or her doom with
  courage and dignity, reaffirming the greatness of
  the human spirit.