The English Renaissance: An Introduction

The English Renaissance:The English Renaissance:An IntroductionAn Introduction

ByByDr. William J. BurlingDr. William J. Burling

The English Renaissance:The English Renaissance:OverviewOverview

Continental origins—Continental origins—Italy, in particular Italy, in particular

English originsEnglish origins Literary developments Literary developments

in poetry, prose in poetry, prose fiction, and dramafiction, and drama

Continental OriginsContinental Origins

Important Developments in Italy in the 13Important Developments in Italy in the 13thth and 14and 14thth centuries. centuries.

Fall of Constantinople in 1453Fall of Constantinople in 1453

Key Moments of the Italian Key Moments of the Italian RenaissanceRenaissance

Giotto’s paintings (late 13Giotto’s paintings (late 13thth, early 14, early 14thth centuries)centuries)

Importance of Florence: Ghiberti’s “Doors Importance of Florence: Ghiberti’s “Doors to the Baptistery” (1401)to the Baptistery” (1401)

Medieval Italian ArtMedieval Italian Art

Bernardo Daddi, 1335 (late example of older Byzantine style)

Giotto (c. 1226-1337)Giotto (c. 1226-1337)

Widely considered to be one of the first Widely considered to be one of the first innovators of the new modes of naturalism innovators of the new modes of naturalism and space in paintingand space in painting

Praised by Dante in Praised by Dante in The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy

The Mourning of Christ (Giotto, c. 1305)

Ghiberti’s “Doors” (1401)Ghiberti’s “Doors” (1401)

Ghiberti, detail from “Doors”Ghiberti, detail from “Doors”

Significance of Ghiberti’s “Doors”Significance of Ghiberti’s “Doors”

Highly sophisticated emphasis on correct Highly sophisticated emphasis on correct perspective, realismperspective, realism

Church relaxes the position of “Church relaxes the position of “contemptu contemptu mundimundi””

The Church becomes chief patron of The Church becomes chief patron of “high” Renaissance art (Michelangelo, “high” Renaissance art (Michelangelo, etc.)etc.)

Michelangelo (1475-1564)Michelangelo (1475-1564)

1508-1512Detail, Sistine Chapel

Italian Literary ModelsItalian Literary ModelsDante (1265-1321)Dante (1265-1321)

Vita Nuova (by 1294): MS; lyric love poems to “Beatrice”

The Divine Comedy : (c. 1304-1317) MS epic poem

Petrarch (1304-1374)Petrarch (1304-1374)

Canzoniere (MS. begun c. 1336; completed c. 1374): contains 366 poems

Contains the sonnets to “Laura”

Political FactorsPolitical Factors

Pressure on Eastern Roman Empire from Pressure on Eastern Roman Empire from the Turks; the Turks;

Fall of Constantinople in 1453Fall of Constantinople in 1453 Refugees emigrate to West EuropeRefugees emigrate to West Europe dissemination of learningdissemination of learning concentration in Italyconcentration in Italy

Rise of Ottoman EmpireRise of Ottoman Empire Earlier sieges of Constantinople: 1394-Earlier sieges of Constantinople: 1394-

1402; 1422. City was the last Christian 1402; 1422. City was the last Christian “island” in the midst of the Islamic territory.“island” in the midst of the Islamic territory.

Final defeat of the city in 1453 by Final defeat of the city in 1453 by Meh.med II; the end of the eastern Roman Meh.med II; the end of the eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire(Byzantine) Empire

Extensive expansion of the Ottoman Extensive expansion of the Ottoman Empire by “Suleiman the Magnificent” Empire by “Suleiman the Magnificent” (sultan, 1520-66) and his son (1566-74).(sultan, 1520-66) and his son (1566-74).

Empire lasted until the end of WW IEmpire lasted until the end of WW I

The Ottoman Empire (c. 1683)The Ottoman Empire (c. 1683)

The Renaissance Comes to The Renaissance Comes to EnglandEngland

Introduction of the Printing Press, 1476Introduction of the Printing Press, 1476 Political Stability under the Tudors, 1485,ffPolitical Stability under the Tudors, 1485,ff

New Technology: The Printing New Technology: The Printing Press enters England, 1476Press enters England, 1476

Stability and ProgressStability and Progress Henry VII defeats Henry VII defeats

Richard III in 1485 Richard III in 1485 end the War of the end the War of the RosesRoses

Tudor dynasty Tudor dynasty established and established and consequent stabilityconsequent stability

Fosters artistic and Fosters artistic and economic developmenteconomic development

Significant Developments in Significant Developments in England, 1509-47England, 1509-47

Sends delegations to Sends delegations to RomeRome

Delegates return to Delegates return to England inspired by England inspired by Italian art, music, and Italian art, music, and literatureliterature

1534: 1534: Disenfranchises the Disenfranchises the Catholic Church and Catholic Church and establishes the establishes the Church of EnglandChurch of England

Reformation . . . Reformation . . .

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

1517: “95 Theses” nailed to the door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg

And Counter-ReformationAnd Counter-Reformation

The Trial of Galileo

Early Renaissance PoetryEarly Renaissance Poetry John Skelton (Poet Laureate to Henry VIII); John Skelton (Poet Laureate to Henry VIII);

example of pre-Italian styleexample of pre-Italian style Importance of Italian influence; influence of Importance of Italian influence; influence of

Petrarch’s and Dante’s worksPetrarch’s and Dante’s works Thomas Wyatt: example of Italian influence; Thomas Wyatt: example of Italian influence;

protégé: Henry Howard, earl of Surreyprotégé: Henry Howard, earl of Surrey Rapid development of poetic forms and Rapid development of poetic forms and

techniquestechniques Importance of Tottel’s “Miscellany” (1557)Importance of Tottel’s “Miscellany” (1557)

Henry Howard, earl of Surrey; executed age 30

Sir Thomas Wyatt; died age 39

Tottel’s Tottel’s Songs and Sonnets written by the Songs and Sonnets written by the Right Honourable Lord Henry Howard Late Right Honourable Lord Henry Howard Late

Earl of Surrey and OtherEarl of Surrey and Other (1557) (1557)

First major published collection of English First major published collection of English poetrypoetry

Contains 271 poemsContains 271 poems Established the reputations of Wyatt and Established the reputations of Wyatt and

HowardHoward

Early Renaissance Prose FictionEarly Renaissance Prose Fiction

Sir Thomas More Sir Thomas More (1478; executed (1478; executed 1535)1535)

UtopiaUtopia (1516) (1516)

Early Renaissance DramaEarly Renaissance Drama

Significant influence of English mystery Significant influence of English mystery and morality dramaand morality drama

Emphasis on secular themes after 1540, Emphasis on secular themes after 1540, especially tragic “lives of kings” (e.g., especially tragic “lives of kings” (e.g., GorboducGorboduc and the and the Mirror for MagistratesMirror for Magistrates))

Classical influence: Seneca (tragedy); Classical influence: Seneca (tragedy); Plautus and Terence (comedy)Plautus and Terence (comedy)

Reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603)Reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

English nationalism English nationalism growths (defeat of the growths (defeat of the Invincibile ArmadaInvincibile Armada, , 1588)1588)

Powerful advocate Powerful advocate and defender of and defender of ProtestantismProtestantism

Defeat of the Armada, 1588Defeat of the Armada, 1588

““High” Renaissance PoetryHigh” Renaissance Poetry High degree of sophistication and High degree of sophistication and

eleganceelegance Philip SidneyPhilip Sidney Edmund SpenserEdmund Spenser William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare Ben JonsonBen Jonson John DonneJohn Donne John Milton (early career)John Milton (early career)

Sir Philip SidneyEdmund Spenser

Elizabethan Era Poetry

The Faerie QueeneThe Faerie Queene (1596) (1596)

John Donne Ben Jonson

Jacobean Poetry

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

Milton (post-1660)Milton (post-1660)

Women AuthorsWomen Authors

Aemilia Lanyer (1569-1645): Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum (1611)

Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke (1562-1621): Arcadia, Psalms

““High” Renaissance DramaHigh” Renaissance Drama

Establishment of first patent companies Establishment of first patent companies and first permanent theatres in Londonand first permanent theatres in London

The Theatre (1576)The Theatre (1576) The Rose (1592)The Rose (1592) The Swan (1596)The Swan (1596) The Globe (1599)The Globe (1599)

The Globe, 1599The Globe, 1599

The New Globe (interior)The New Globe (interior)

Famous PlaywrightsFamous Playwrights

Christopher MarloweChristopher Marlowe William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare Ben JonsonBen Jonson John FletcherJohn Fletcher Thomas MiddletonThomas Middleton

Christopher Marlowe John Fletcher

Shakespeare’s Contemporaries

Shakespeare’s ContemporariesShakespeare’s Contemporaries

Thomas Middleton (1580-Thomas Middleton (1580-1627)1627)

A Game at ChessA Game at Chess (1625): (1625): single most popular play of the single most popular play of the Renaissance eraRenaissance era

1564-1616

War (1642-49) …War (1642-49) … Charles I (1623-1649)Charles I (1623-1649) Supported colonizationSupported colonization Unpopular monarchUnpopular monarch Created religious strife; Created religious strife;

sends groups into exilesends groups into exile Isolated from the peopleIsolated from the people Conflicts with Parliament Conflicts with Parliament

result in Civil War and result in Civil War and eventual execution in eventual execution in 16491649

““Cavalier” poetry emergesCavalier” poetry emerges

Sir Richard Lovelace Sir John Suckling

Cavalier Poets

… … and The Commonwealth and The Commonwealth (1649-1660)(1649-1660)