1. The English Renaissance 1485-1625

3. What is the Renaissance? • French word: “rebirth” or “renewal” • Began in Italy • Return to studying ancient texts… • Greece • Rome

4. What made the Renaissance? • Interest in humans • Introduction of universities • Gutenberg and moveable print • Use of vernacular • Age of Exploration • Reformation

5. How do the ideas of the Reformation arrive in England?

6. Arrival of Reformation in England • Henry VIII • Originally, Catholic • Wanted divorce … • Refused! • Remarries • King becomes religious leader of England • Break with Rome

7. The Tudors • Edward VI • Only surviving son of Henry VIII • Becomes king… • Then dies

8. The Tudors • Mary I (“Bloody Mary”) • Roman Catholic • What are the implications for her rule? • Restore authority of Roman church • Return England to Catholic country • Oppression of Protestants

9. The Tudors • Elizabeth I • Educated during Renaissance • Unity under Protestant Religion • Friend of the Arts

10. Let’s Review… • What connections are there between the three rulers: • Henry VIII • Mary I • Elizabeth I • What would be the difficulties each ruler faced when ascending the throne? • What would this mean for the society?

11. What does this have to do with literature?

12. Renaissance in Literature • New developments in three areas: • Poetry • Prose • Drama

13. Renaissance Poetry • Lyric poetry: • Not a full story • Single speaker • Sonnets and sonnet cycles • Sonnets: 14-lined lyric poem • Sonnet cycle: Group of sonnets on single theme

14. Renaissance Poets • Philip Sydney • Sonnet cycles (十四行组诗) • Key to shaping sonnet form • Edmund Spenser • Epic poem （叙事诗）The Faerie Queen （《仙后》） • Spenserian stanzas: nine-line units

15. Renaissance Poets • Christopher Marlowe • Playwright • Lyric poet • Pastoral verse: looking at the country life • William Shakespeare • Playwright • English sonnet/Shakespeare sonnet

16. Elizabethan Drama and Prose • No longer religious • References to ancient texts • Drama written in verse • King James Bible