Honors English IV

Background Notes

Honors English IV

Spring 2013

The Anglo-Saxons

449-1066 AD

Anglo-Saxon Rule� Feudalism

�Warrior Society

� Culture

� Religion

� Literature� Literature

Feudalism� The Hall

� Fortification

� Religious and cultural uses: � Used for ceremonies, feasting, telling of tales and community

� Wealth Distribution/Societal structure� Wealth Distribution/Societal structure� The king is the leader of society, and there are specific roles for everyone within the society.

� All wealth was controlled and distributed by the king for services rendered.

� Slavery

Warrior Society� Status of Warriors

�Allegiance to the King

�Weaponry�Passed down through generations and came to have its own legacy.legacy.

�Glory through death

Culture� Largely maritime cultures

� Loyalty!

� The role of ceremony�Funeral rights

� The Scops� The Scops�Status

� Importance

Religion� Early Pagan beliefs

� Conversion to Christianity in late 7th Century

� There are possibly numerous Christian revisions to Beowulf

Literature�Oral tradition

� Poetry�Beowulf

� The Church’s role in preservation of literature�Only one copy of Beowulf survived the Middle Ages!�Only one copy of Beowulf survived the Middle Ages!

Epic Digressions� Epic Digressions are the places in the text in which the scopbreaks away from the main story and relates part of society’s history.

� Given the role of the scop in society, what other responsibilities/privileges do you think that they had?responsibilities/privileges do you think that they had?� Editorial: The scops were among the few who could warn the king. Part of a scop’s responsibility to society was to use his knowledge of history to warn about potential repetitions.

Theme: The Heroic Ideal� Find two examples in the text of each facet of the Anglo-Saxon heroic ideal:� Loyalty to one’s king

� Participation in the tradition of wealth distribution

� Brave and courageous behavior in battle� Brave and courageous behavior in battle

� Seeking fame and glory

� What do you think this work shows about the heroic ideal in Anglo-Saxon culture?

The Middle Ages

1066-1534 AD

The Norman Conquest� 1066 AD -The Battle of Hastings

� Anglo-Saxon King Harold II killed in the battle

� Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror becomes king of England� Promise of Edward the ConfessorPromise of Edward the Confessor

Major Dates� 1096 AD - the beginning of the First Crusade.� 1215 AD - the Magna Carta� 1254 AD - the end of the Seventh Crusade� 1517 AD - Martin Luther posts his Ninety-Five Theses� 1534 AD - Henry VIII passes the Act of Supremacy � 1534 AD - Henry VIII passes the Act of Supremacy

French Influence� Feudal System

� Political� Premise that the king owns all land, distributes to loyal lords who distribute to lesser nobles, and the land is worked by the peasants.

� Church� The Pope is the head of the Church on Earth. Power is distributed to Archbishops, Bishops and lesser Church officials, and finally to lay officials Archbishops, Bishops and lesser Church officials, and finally to lay officials and worshipers.

Feudal Pyramid

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Activity� Create a “feudal” pyramid for Ardrey Kell—who’s at the top, who is at the bottom. It should mirror the form of the provided example, but may differ in the number of levels.

French Influence

� Societal� Chivalric Code: Code by which the knights lived, based on faith in the Christian God (specifically Catholicism), loyalty to their liege lord, and responsibility toward the people.

� Rules of Courtly Love: Encouraged loyalty to the liege lord’s lady, often through completion of quests or deeds in her lady, often through completion of quests or deeds in her honor. Eventually came to require loyalty to the Virgin Mary.

The Chivalric Code, from The Song of

Roland� To fear God and maintain His Church� To serve the liege lord in valor and faith� To protect the weak and defenseless� To give succor to widows and orphans� To refrain from the wanton giving of offense� To refrain from the wanton giving of offense� To live by honor and for glory� To despise pecuniary reward� To fight for the welfare of all� To obey those placed in authority

The Chivalric Code, from The Song of

Roland� To guard the honor of fellow knights

� To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit

� To keep faith

� At all times to speak the truth

� To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun

� To respect the honor of women

� Never to refuse a challenge from an equal

� Never to turn the back upon a foe

http://www.midde-ages.org.uk/knights-code-of-chivalry.htm

Activity� Classify and divide the elements of the Chivalric Code:

� Place them in groups and determine what they have in common—why did you group them the way that you did?

� Each group should have a classification or category heading and a brief (1-2 sentence) explanation.and a brief (1-2 sentence) explanation.

French Influence

� Artistic� Troubadour tradition: began with ballads, evolved into Alliterative Romance, and the prevalence in rhyme in British Literature.

� Spread to England through Eleanor of Aquitaine: � Married first to Louis VII of France, marriage was annulled in 1152. Then married to Henry II of England. married to Henry II of England.

� Patroness of the arts. � Granddaughter of William IX, the Troubadour.

Medieval Romance� Name comes from Romanz, an early form of French in which Troubadour tales were told

� Legend of King Arthur� Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur

� Sir Gawain and the Green Knight� Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

British Response� Pushback against the French

� Geoffrey of Monmouth� “History” of Britain

� Translatio studii et imperii

� Legend of British Kings� Legend of British Kings

Activity� Look up the Latin phrase found in the notes and translate it into English.

� How might this have manifested into Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “History” of Britain?

� Why might the British have felt the need to do this given the � Why might the British have felt the need to do this given the history of the transition into the Middle Ages?

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight� Written by an anonymous poet

� Circa 1375 A.D. - dated by language and topic

� Written in Middle English - some words and language are recognizable

� Tale of a knight of King Arthur’s Round Table� Tale of a knight of King Arthur’s Round Table

Old EnglishHWÆT, WE GAR-DEna in geardagum, þeodcyninga þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon! oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum meodosetla ofteah, monegum mægþum meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas, syððanærest wearðfeasceaft funden; he þæs frofre gebad,weox under wolcnum weorðmyndum þah,oð þæt him æghwylc ymbsittendraofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan; þæt wæs god cyning!

Middle EnglishForþi an aunter in erde I attle to schawe,

Þat a selly in siȝt summe men hit holden,

And an outtrage awenture of Arthurez wonderez.

If ȝe wyl lysten þis laye bot on littel quile,

I schal telle hit as-tit, as I in toun herde,I schal telle hit as-tit, as I in toun herde,

with tonge,

As hit is stad and stoken

In stori stif and stronge,

With lel letteres loken,

In londe so hatz ben longe.

Middle EnglishÞis kyng lay at Camylot vpon KrystmasseWith mony luflych lorde, ledez of þe best,Rekenly of þe RoundeTable alle þo rich breþer,With rych reuel oryȝt and rechles merþes.Þer tournayed tulkes by tymez ful mony,Justed ful jolilé þise gentyle kniȝtes,Justed ful jolilé þise gentyle kniȝtes,Syþen kayred to þe court caroles to make.For þer þe fest watz ilyche ful fiften dayes,With alle þe mete and þe mirþe þat men couþe avyse;Such glaum ande gle glorious to here,Dere dyn vpon day, daunsyng on nyȝtes,Al watz hap vpon heȝe in hallez and chambrezWith lordez and ladies, as leuest him þoȝt.

Alliterative Romance� Written on subjects representative of the time: kings and knights, Courtly Love, the Chivalric Code

� Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an excellent example of an Alliterative Romance.

Alliterative Romance� Written combination of two oral traditions

� Anglo-Saxon Scops� Long poems with heavy usage of Alliteration

� French Troubadours� Long poems with heavy usage of Rhyming

Alliterative Romance� Made up of extended stanzas, with alliteration predominant in the first part.

� Stanzas end in a Bob-and-Wheel� Made up of 5 lines:

� 1st line is the “Bob” at the end of the open stanza� 1st line is the “Bob” at the end of the open stanza

� Last 4 lines, the “Wheel”, have an ABAB rhyme scheme

Raffel: Lines 755-762

[. . .] and sighing, he said: “Oh Lord,Oh Mary, gentlest Mother and dear,I beg you to send me some lodging, to let me Hear mass before morning; I ask meekly,And in proof pray swiftly my pater, my ave,And in proof pray swiftly my pater, my ave,

My creed.”He prayed as he rode,And wept for misdeeds,And shaped the sign of the crossAnd called Christ in his need.

Tolkein: Lines 753-762

And therefore sighing he said: “I beseech thee, oh Lord,

And Mary, who is the mildest mother most dear,

For some harbour where with honour I might hear the Mass

And thy Matins tomorrow. This meekly I ask,

And thereto promptly I pray with Pater and AveAnd thereto promptly I pray with Pater and Ave

and Creed.”

In prayer he now did ride,

lamenting his misdeed;

he blessed him oft and cried,

“The Cross of Christ me speed!”

Pairs Activity: New Assigned Partners!� Read the ballad “Robin Hood and the Three Squires” on pg. 220 of your textbook and identify the six traits of a medieval ballad:� Alternating rhymes� Tragic or sensational subject material� Strong narrative quality (tells a story)� Strong narrative quality (tells a story)� Often includes a dialogue between characters� Repetition of certain lines/events or a refrain� A twist (shift in tone or a surprise ending)

� Provide line numbers of an example of each. For the third trait, summarize the story.

The Age of Geoffrey Chaucer

1340(ca)-1400 AD

Religious Influences

� Church Power in the Middle Ages� Primary landowners in Britain

� Had the ability to levy taxes and influence the creation of secular laws and impose Church laws.

� Saint Thomas à Becket Controversy� Saint Thomas à Becket Controversy� Henry II (1154-1189) and relationship with the Catholic Church

� Named his friend Becket the Archbishop of Canterbury, despite qualifications and concerns of his advisors

� After instatement, Becket changed his allegiance and lifestyle, which led to conflict with Henry II and Becket’s martyrdom.

The Crusades (1095-1291)

� Begun by Pope Urban II to re-take Jerusalem (“The Holy Land”) from Muslims and Jews, who also have religious claims to the city.� Pope Gregory VII’s Just War Doctrine: justified war, based on persecution of Christians in Jerusalem.

� This justification was expanded on by Pope Urban II, who urged rich � This justification was expanded on by Pope Urban II, who urged rich and poor to take up the holy cause. He expressed that this was God’s work, and as a result all who fought would be granted full forgiveness of sins and those who died in battle would be granted immediate entry to Heaven. (Speech at the Council of Clermont).

The Crusades (1095-1291)

The Crusades (1095-1291)

� Role as pilgrimage: the crusaders not only fought for God, but used this as a pilgrimage to advance their faith.� During this time, pilgrimages were an important showing of faith, one that increased through the association with the Crusades.

� Rich and poor were expected to complete pilgrimages in accordance � Rich and poor were expected to complete pilgrimages in accordance with their abilities. There were smaller pilgrimages within countries and regions, i.e. the shrine of Saint Thomas à Becket at Canterbury.

Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)

�War with France� Based on possible ascension to French throne. �With death of Charles IV of France, no direct male heirs existed.

�Dispute over the throne between: �Dispute over the throne between: � Philip VI of Valois (cousin of Charles IV)� the daughters of Charles IV� Edward III of England (grandson of Philip of IV of France)

Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)

� Tension augmented by complicated landholdings and fealty of British monarchs.

�Beginning with William I of England (the Conqueror), British monarchs held land in France and were required to swear fealty to the Kings of France.swear fealty to the Kings of France.

�Because they had holdings in France, they also controlled a significant portion of France over time. �Henry II (1154-1189) held Normandy, Anjou, Maine, Nantes, Aquitaine and parts of Brittany.

Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)

� Edward III of England (1327-1377)� Ruled at the beginning of the Hundred Years’ War

� His mother and grandmother � His mother and grandmother were both daughters of kings of France.

� Claimed a right to the French throne as a direct male descendent after the death of Charles IV of France.

Later Kings of Hundred Years’ War

� Continued into rule of Richard II (1377-1399)�Last ruler of Chaucer’s lifetime and of the House of Plantagenet

� Henry IV (1399-1413)� First of the House of Lancaster (branch of the House of Plantagenet through John of Gaunt)through John of Gaunt)

� Henry V (1413-1422)

� Henry VI (1422-1461)�Briefly ruled France

� Suffered from insanity, which led to the War of the Roses and eventual rise of the House of York

Cultural Influences

� The “Black Death”� Outbreak of the Bubonic Plague in Europe in 1347, which resulted in a great loss of life across the continent.

� It hit Britain in 1349 and resulted in the death of about one third of the population.population.

� Everyone was susceptible, but the lower classes suffered the greatest losses in terms of numbers. This is probably due to the poorer living conditions and greater exposure to rats and fleas.

Effects of the Black Death

� The Decline of the Feudal System� Growth of the Middle Class and increased social mobility due to large loss of life.

� Serfs move to estates and towns.

� Increase of violence and interest in violence� Increase of violence and interest in violence� Because of the large numbers of lives lost, people became desensitized.

� Art and literature frequently mirror society, so it reflects this coarse outlook, both in humor and content.

Chaucer’s Career� Poet patronized by royalty

� Prince John of Gaunt� Son of Edward III� Uncle of Richard II� Father of Henry IV

� His wife’s sister became John of Gaunt’s third wife.His wife’s sister became John of Gaunt’s third wife.� Family was intertwined with the royal family.

� Primary careers� Lawyer� Comptroller for the port of London� Diplomat, traveled extensively in France and Italy.� Member of the Parliament of Kent� Wrote in addition to other work.

Literary Significance

� “The Father of English Literature”� The Canterbury Tales feature almost every type of Medieval narrative

� Development of Language� Development of Language�Wrote in Middle English

� Extensive writing led to standard language, which developed into Modern English

The Canterbury Tales

� Cross-section of Medieval British society.

� Tales told by members of clergy, nobility, working class, knights, men and class, knights, men and women.

The Frame Story

� Influenced by Boccacio and the Italian Renaissance� Traveled to Italy in career as diplomat

� Italian Renaissance begins ca. 1300, and its influence spreads north into the rest of Europe.

� The Decameron – written by Boccaccio (1351), collection of stories told � The Decameron – written by Boccaccio (1351), collection of stories told by young nobles who flee an outburst of the plague in Florence and are encamped at a country villa.

� Story that allows for telling of other stories or tales within the plot.� Chaucer originally planned to write 120 tales for his Canterbury Tales, but died after writing only 24.

The Canterbury Tales: The General

PrologueWhan that Aprill with his shoures sooteThe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour,Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(so priketh hem Nature in hir corages),Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.General Prologue in Middle English

The English Renaissance

1534-1660

Important Movements

� Humanism

� Religious Reform

� Political Shift

Humanism

� Responded to the medieval scholastic system.

� Aimed to create a citizenry who could speak and

write eloquently and clearly.

� Did so through studies in logic, philosophy, � Did so through studies in logic, philosophy,

medicine, law, and theology.

� Petrarch, Machiavelli, Erasmus, Bacon, More

Religious Reform

� 1455 Gutenberg Bible� Printed in Latin, still not widely available to people

� King James Bible� Printed in English, accessible � Printed in English, accessible to more people

Religious Reform� Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five

Theses opened the door for religious dissent across Europe� Spoke out specifically against the selling of indulgencesselling of indulgences

� 1517 Wittenburg, Germany

� Excommunication

� Development of Protestant denominations

Religious Reform

� Henry VIII� Quest for an heir: “The King’s Great Matter”

� The Wives of Henry VIII:� Catherine of Aragon (annulled), Anne Boleyn (executed), Jane Seymour (died of birth complications), Anne of Cleves (annulled), Catherine Howard of birth complications), Anne of Cleves (annulled), Catherine Howard (executed), Catherine Parr (widowed).

� The annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon was not sanctioned by the Church and required a split from the Catholic Church

Religious Reform� 1534: Acts of Supremacy

� Power struggle: � Church officials and Henry’s advisors struggled over “The King’s Great Matter,” and in the end, many Catholic advisors resigned or were forced to.

� Church of England:� Church of England:� As the Protestant Movement had begun to gain ground, Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell used their power of influence over the king to make him the head of the Church of England.

Religious Reform� Henry VIII’s succession:

� Upon his death in 1547 his only son did succeed him at the age of 9, but died at the age of 15 in 1553.

� He was succeeded by his half-sister Mary I, who forced a return to Catholicism.to Catholicism.

� Upon her death in 1558, Elizabeth I became queen. She ruled until her death in 1603.

Political Shift� Elizabeth I (1533-1603): The Golden Age

� Her reign was a stable time of peace, power and stability for Britain.

� Return to the Church of England

� 1588 - Defeat of the Spanish Armada� 1588 - Defeat of the Spanish Armada� Increased British influence and importance

� Increased economic stability

Politics� Less successful monarchs

� James I (VI)� King James Bible

� Charles I

� Reigns marked by financial problems and power struggles with � Reigns marked by financial problems and power struggles with parliament

Literary Atmosphere� Flourished under Elizabeth I who was a great patron of the arts

� Artistic freedom continued under James I (VI) who patronized Shakespeare

Francesco Petrarch

� 1304-1374� B. Arezzo, Italy� Poet, Scholar and Humanist during the Humanist during the Italian Renaissance

� His sonnets became a model of poetic form for all of Europe

Petrarchan Sonnet Form

� Consists of two parts: � Octave (8 lines)

� Introduces a problem or situation which leads to conflict or doubt in the reader

� Introduced in the 1st quatrain and developed in the 2nd quatrain� Introduced in the 1st quatrain and developed in the 2nd quatrain

� Volta� The turn, or transition, between the two main parts. Found at the beginning of the Sestet.

� Sestet (6 lines)� Comments on or proposes a solution to the problem put forth in the Octave

Petrarchan Sonnet Form� Written in Iambic Pentameter

� A 10 syllable line in which stresses alternate and there were 5 stressed and 5 unstressed syllables in each line

� Stresses and caesuras are marked on the Keats’ line below:

˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ /

To swell the gourd, and plump the ha- zel shells

Petrarchan Sonnet Form� Sonnets have a strict rhyme scheme� Octave: Only one option

� a b b a a b b a

� Sestet: Many options in Petrarchan Sonnets� c d c d c d� c d c d c d� c d d c d c� c d e c d e� c d e c e d� c d c e d c� c d e d c e

Edmund Spenser� 1552ca-1599

� B. London, England

� Attended Cambridge and earned a master’s degree.

� Spent most of his life in � Spent most of his life in Ireland and his poetry was greatly influenced by his time there.

� Apparently died in poverty.

Spenser - Major Works� The Faerie Queen, an epic poem that tells the stories of six knights, each of whom represent a moral virtue.

� Amoretti, the only Renaissance sonnet sequence that celebrates a happy relationship that ends in marriage.

Spenserian Sonnets� Still 14 lines

� Broken into 4 parts� 3 quatrains

� 1 rhyming couplet

� Also written in iambic pentameter� Also written in iambic pentameter

˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ /

My love is like to ice and I to fire

Interlocking Rhyme Scheme� Spenserian sonnets are unique in the rhyme scheme.

� Quatrain 1: a b a b

� Quatrain 2: b c b c

� Quatrain 3: c d c d

Rhyming Couplet: e e� Rhyming Couplet: e e

Content

� Each quatrain addresses the poem’s central idea, thought, or question.

� The couplet provides an answer or a summation.

� The volta occurs in either line 9 or line 13 at the beginning of the rhyming couplet.the rhyming couplet.

Sonnet VIIFayre eyes! The myrrour of my mazed hart,What wondrous vertue is contaynd in you,The which both lyfe and death forth from you dart,Into the object of your might view?For, when ye mildly looke with lovely hew,Then is my soule with life and love inspired:But when ye lowre, or looke on me askew,

A

B

A

B

B

C

B But when ye lowre, or looke on me askew,Then doe I die, as one with lightning fyred.But, since that lyfe is more then death desyred,Looke ever lovely, as becomes you best;That your bright beams, of my weak eies admyred,May kindle living fire within my brest.Such life should be the honor of your lightSuch death the sad ensample of your might.

B

C

C

D

C

D

E

E

William Shakespeare� c. 1564-1616

� b. Stratford-upon-Avon, England

� Playwright, Poet, Actor

� Most famous for his plays

� All but 2 of his 154 sonnets were published in 1609

Shakespeare’s England� Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, a town on the Thames in central England. Most of his plays, however, were his plays, however, were written in London and performed in the Globe theater.

Shakespearean Sonnets� 1609 Quarto only source of most 152 Shakespearean Sonnets.

� There are 3 categories of poems in this Quarto:� 1-126 are addressed to The Fair � 1-126 are addressed to The Fair Youth

� 127-152 are addressed to The Dark Mistress

� A Lover’s Complaint a 329 line poem written in Rhyme Royal

Shakespeare’s Addressees� The Fair Youth (sonnets 1-126)

� An unnamed young man

� Written to in loving and romantic language

� Some suggest this may be a homosexual love, others find support that it is platonic, or father-son lovesupport that it is platonic, or father-son love

� The Dark Lady (sonnets 127-152)� Given this name because of she is described as being dark haired

� The sonnets written about her express infatuation and are more sexual in nature

Shakespearean Sonnet Form

� Still 14 lines

� Broken into 4 parts

� 3 quatrains

� 1 rhyming couplet

� Written in iambic pentameter:� Written in iambic pentameter:

˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ /

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Shakespearean Sonnet Form

� Rhyme Scheme:

� Quatrain 1: a b a b [introduces question]

� Quatrain 2: c d c d [tentative

� Quatrain 3: e f e f answers]

� Rhyming Couplet: g g [final answer]� Rhyming Couplet: g g [final answer]

� Volta:

� The turn or transition in line 9 or line 13 which

marks a shift in focus or thought

Sonnet 18Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate.Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer’s lease hath too short a date.

ABAB

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,And often is his gold complexion dimmed;And every fair from fair sometimes declines,By chance, or nature’s changing course untrimmed.

CDCD

Sonnet 18But thy eternal summer shall not fade,Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest,Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shadeWhen in eternal lines to time thou grow’st.

EFEF

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Sonnet 18

GG

Pre-Elizabethan Drama� Two acceptable forms:

� Mystery Plays� Religious plays performed at celebrations and festivals

� Classical and Neoclassical Drama� Performed at schools and universities

� Latin and English

Pre-Elizabethan Drama� Professional Theater

� Not socially acceptable� Performed in any available space, frequently outside� Actors could be arrested or expelled as homeless or master-less men.

� Gained respectability in the 1560s and 1570s.� Protection of wealthy aristocrats� Protection of wealthy aristocrats� Permanent theaters begin to be built

Elizabethan Drama� During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, drama become increasingly socially acceptable.

� Playhouses� The Hope, The Swan, The Rose � The Globe - South of the Thames, in a rowdy neighborhood� Theatrical Restrictions

� Daylight - no artificial lighting� Weather - open � Stage Direction� Effects

Plot Development

Climax

Exposition

Inciting Incident Resolution

Denouement

Important Terms� Dramatic Irony:

� One or more characters is left in the dark about something that at least one other character and the audience know about.

� Monologue:� A speech given to other characters by one character.� A speech given to other characters by one character.

� Soliloquy:� A speech given by one character to the audience only. This device allows the audience to hear this character’s inner thoughts and feelings.

The English Civil War

� Fighting began in 1603, 50 years after Elizabeth I’s death, though the majority of the war took place much later.

� Major forces:� King Charles I, who restricted the role of parliament, and his “Cavaliers”—so called for their fancy dress, frivolous lifestyle, and “Cavaliers”—so called for their fancy dress, frivolous lifestyle, and search for enjoyment.

� Oliver Cromwell, “Old Ironsides,” and his “Roundheads”—so called for the short haircuts they wore, which were indicative of their more puritanical and religious lifestyle.

The English Civil War

� Politically waged to determine the role of Parliament in government. � Prior to this war, Parliament had no officially mandated role.

� During his reign, Charles I refused to call a Parliament for 10 years, called the “Eleven Years’ Tyranny.”

� The First English Civil War began in 1642 and ended in 1646 when � The First English Civil War began in 1642 and ended in 1646 when Charles I was handed over to the Parliamentarians by the Scots and imprisoned.

The English Civil War

� The Second English Civil War began in 1648 after Charles I made a secret treaty with the Scots in December 1647, promising church reform.

� The war is lost when a number of armies (including many Scottish) surrender to the Parliamentarians. surrender to the Parliamentarians.

� Charles I is executed following the Second English Civil War, and Cromwell goes on to rule the short-lived English Commonwealth.

The Sons of Ben

� Followers of Jonson’s (in the literary sense)� Include Robert Herrick and Richard Lovelace

� Also called the Cavaliers because they sided with Charles I in the English Civil War.

� Their writing:� Their writing:� Was lighthearted, witty, charming, & sometimes cynical.

� Focused on the themes of love, war, chivalry, loyalty to the throne, and the philosophy of carpe diem.

Ben Jonson

� Was a Renaissance playwright and accomplished poet—a friend and rival of Shakespeare.

� Was dissatisfied with the extravagant romance of Elizabethan lyrics, and instead imitated the graceful craftsmanship of classical forms.

� Big, bellowing man with a forceful personality who certainly didn’t � Big, bellowing man with a forceful personality who certainly didn’t avoid an argument, even if it turned into a brawl.

“Song: To Celia”� On page 528 of your textbook, read Jonson’s poem with a partner.� What indication do you have that this is a return to Classical thought?

� Identify the extended metaphor. What is the effect of this � Identify the extended metaphor. What is the effect of this metaphor?

Metaphysical Poetry� The scholarly atmosphere of the humanist movement of the Elizabethan and Renaissance period also fostered great reflection or religion and the meaning of life.

� Metaphysical Poetry is primarily devotional and often mystical in content, even though it frequently deals with mystical in content, even though it frequently deals with ideas of physical love and relationships.� Is a style of lyric poetry.

� Characterized by abstract thinking.

� Experiments with language – which sometimes makes it difficult to understand.

Metaphysical Poetry� Traits of Metaphysical Poetry

� Simple, conversational vocabulary, but complex sentence structure.

� Metaphysical conceits: a type of extended metaphor comparing very dissimilar things.very dissimilar things.

� Paradoxes: statements that seem to contradict themselves.

� Disruptions of poetic meter, or intentionally created “roughness” or unevenness.

� Witty and imaginative plays on words.

John Donne� Popular Anglican priest – we’ll look at one of his religious writings and some of his poetry.

� Studied at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, but never received a degree because he was born Roman Catholic.

� Secretly married for love, and because his wife was the young daughter of his boss, he lost his job and became poor.

� Like many metaphysical poets, focuses on ideas of love, death, religion

The Restoration (1660-1798)� After Cromwell’s death in 1658, his son Richard was unable to maintain control of Parliament and keep peace among the factions.

� In the face of anarchy, Parliament recognized Charles II as lawful monarch, restoring the English Monarchy.lawful monarch, restoring the English Monarchy.

� However, the system of Parliamentary Monarchy was established, as Parliament was thereafter required to issue consent to the rule of a monarch.

The Restoration (1660-1798)

� The Reign of Charles II (1660-1685)� Followed the grim rule of Puritan society

� Sophisticated and lavish society – based on that of King Louis XIV of France. King Louis XIV of France.

� Charles II: patron of the arts and sciences.

Restoration Politics� British monarchs must share authority with Parliament

� Two major political parties:�Whigs: wanted to limit royal authority

Tories: supported royal authority� Tories: supported royal authority

� French power and influence were significant concerns: �Whigs wanted to curb French expansion

� Tories had no desire for war with France

William and Mary

� 1685 – Charles II succeeded by his Catholic son, James II� Focused largely on restoring Catholicism

� Forced by Parliament to abdicate the throne

� 1688 – Succeeded by Mary, James’s Protestant daughter, and her husband, William of Orange.� Link to the Netherlands

� English Bill of Rights and Act of Settlement

House of Hanover

� 1702 – Crown passes to Mary’s sister following William’s death. Last of the House of Stuart

� 1714 – George I of Hanover�Relied heavily on Whig ministers, not favored by �Relied heavily on Whig ministers, not favored by Tories.

�Robert Walpole becomes first Prime Minister

Age of Reason

� Enlightenment – Late 1600s and 1700s� Scientific Method: Newton

� Astronomy

� Natural World

� Philosophy� Philosophy� Logic, human nature, political trends

� Improvements in living conditions

Literature of the Times

� Social Observation�Rise of the Middle Class

� Journalism

�Rise of Prose and the Novel

� Satire

� The Rise of Women Writers� Salons

�Mary Wollstonecraft

Romanticism (1798-1832)� A Time of Revolution

� The French Revolution:� “Liberty, equality, brotherhood”� The Reign of Terror

�George III � Ruled during Revolutions, unsympathetic to revolutionaries� “An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king.” – Percy ByssheShelley

�Resistance to Reform� Fear that it would lead to anarchy� No parliamentary adjustment for industrial centers� Archaic laws and harsh punishments

War with France

� 1793: France invades the Netherlands – Start of 25 year war.� Irish Rebellion (aided by the French)

� Napoleonic Wars� Napoleonic Wars�Battle of Trafalgar: naval defeat by Britain in 1805

�Battle of Waterloo: final defeat of Napoleon in 1815.

Cultural Influences

� Industrial Revolution� Increased wealth for the upper and middle classes

�Poor living and working conditions for those working in factories and mills.working in factories and mills.

� Down Side of Industry� Laissez Fair Doctrine

�The Luddite Riots

Romantic Literature

� Revolt against Neoclassicism�Revolutionary Style

�Emotion more important than reason

�Wanted social, political, and economic change�Wanted social, political, and economic change

� Searched for freer artistic forms

Development of Romanticism� Early Romanticism

�William Blake – began writing in early 1780s, supporter of French Revolution

� Scottish Poets: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott

� Romanticism Evolves� Lake Poets: “the charm of novelty to things of every day” –� Lake Poets: “the charm of novelty to things of every day” –Wordsworth. With Coleridge, also focused on supernatural events. Both focused on personal experience, emotion, and a love for nature.

�Romantic Essayists: Emphasis on personal experiences and feelings.

Development of Romanticism, cont.

� The Late Romantics� Second Generation: Turn toward radical

�George Gordon, Lord Byron and the Byronic Hero

�Percy Bysshe and Mary Shelley�Percy Bysshe and Mary Shelley

� John Keats

� The Exception: Jane Austen�Observed world around her. Some sense of Romanticism, but largely still Neoclassical

The Victorian Age (1832-1901)

�Monarchy in Modern Style: Queen Victoria�Crowned in 1837 at the age of 18, ruled for 63 years, 7 months and 2 days (longest in history)

�Accepted the idea of a Constitutional Monarchy and yielded day-to-day control to the Prime and yielded day-to-day control to the Prime Minister

� Some of her prime ministers were among the most famous and talented in British History:� Lord Melbourne, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Palmerston, Benjamin Disraeli and William E. Gladstone

Progress, Problems, and Reform

�Middle Class Prosperity�The middle class were the people who ran the factories of the Industrial Revolution

�New, ornate goods on which to spend money.New, ornate goods on which to spend money.

�Writers of the time had varying views on this new excess: some enthusiastic about it and some appalled by it.

Progress, Problems, and Reform

� Downside�Conditions for the poor continue to worsen

�Child workers faced danger and poverty in their daily livesdaily lives

�Unemployment soared

� In Ireland: a potato blight led to starvation and mass emigration.

Progress, Problems, and Reform

� Reform and Uncertainty�Reforms were slow-coming, but made their way through Parliament� 1833: slavery was abolished in the British Empire & the first child labor laws were passedfirst child labor laws were passed

� 1867: working-class men were first given the vote

British Imperialism� The British Empire steadily expanded throughout Victoria’s rule� “Little Englanders,” led by William E. Gladstone opposed further expansion, wanting to focus on domestic concerns.

� Benjamin Disraeli led those who supported imperialism, � Benjamin Disraeli led those who supported imperialism, believing that it was the key to British prosperity and as a patriotic destiny.

� Many citizens supported imperialism, fascinated by the exploits of explorers, missionaries and empire builders in Africa and Asia.

Changing Language� Education reform during this time led to increased literacy, which in turn stabilized English.

� Early efforts began to compile a record of the histories, usage, and meanings of words: the Oxford English Dictionary was first published in 1884.was first published in 1884.

� Technological advances led to jargon and social vies spurred the use of euphemisms.

� Slang became very common in the lower classes as a means to communicate without attracting the attention of outsiders.

Victorian Literature� Poetry shows a lingering impact of Romanticism.

� Many poets focused on the beauty, ignoring the grim reality around them.

� Realism tried to capture everyday life as it was really lived. � Focused on the effects of the Industrial Revolution� Focused on the effects of the Industrial Revolution

� Some campaigned openly for reform

� Some novels combined the two, featuring elements of the gothic and romantic with realistic portrayals of social, moral, and economic pressures.

Edwardian England� Following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, her son Edward VII succeeded her to the throne.

� The time period was characterized by a continuation of social reform, opulence and prosperity.� Contrast from the conservative Victorian Age.� Contrast from the conservative Victorian Age.

� Embraced the technologies of the early 20th Century.

George V� Succeeded his father in 1910 and ruled until 1936.

� George V was very popular: scandal-free and hardworking. He and his wife, Queen Mary, set the model for the behavior of modern English monarchs.

� During his reign, England was faced with political crises:� During his reign, England was faced with political crises:� Labor unrest

� Women’s suffrage

� Social and political instability in Ireland

World War I� Throughout the 19th Century, European countries created a complex system of alliances in order to maintain a balance of power in Europe.

� By 1907 these alliances created two major groups of countries:countries:� The Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

� The Triple Entente: France, Russia, Britain

� The Balkans became known as the “powder keg of Europe” because of the fracturing peace accords there as the Ottoman Empire began to lose power.

World War I� The crisis that is seen as the immediate cause of war is the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in July 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia.� Austria-Hungary attacks Serbia, and Russia enters the fray.

� When Germany invades Belgium, France and Britain become � When Germany invades Belgium, France and Britain become involved.

� In Britain, this leads to rationing and conscription. � Conscription in Ireland leads to the Easter Rising (1916) and a long struggle for Irish Independence.