Introduction to the English Renaissance & Shakespeare

1. Introduction to the English Renaissance & Shakespeare

2. Time of the Renaissance is 1485-1660Focus will be 1485-1625Notice changes all over the world • Focus of the World: • Exploration • Art • Literature • WORLD EVENTS: • 1492: Columbus lands in Western Hemisphere • 1503: Leonardo de Vinci paint Mona Lisa • 1514: Ponce de Leon explores Florida • 1604: Part I of Don Quixote published • 1620: Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock

3. British Events • 1534: Church of England established • 1558: Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England • 1590: Edmund Spenser publishes The Faerie Queen Part I • 1594: Shakespeare writes Romeo and Juliet • 1599: The Globe Theater opens • 1605: Shakespeare’s Macbeth first performed • 1603: James I crowned King of England • 1611: King James Bible is published • Main focus---Literature • Poetry and Drama

4. Historical Background • Tudor Dynasty established in 1485=new era • Monarchs assured stability by increasing their own power and undercutting strength of nobles • They changed religious practices and helped to transform England from small nation to one of world’s great powers • First Tudor Monarch---Henry VII • Rebuilt nation’s treasure and established law and order • Succeeded by son Henry VIII---a practicing Catholic • Good relationship w/church until he asked a question… • Wife Catherine had not given him a son…so, he wanted an annulment to marry Anne Boleyn---request denied, but remarried anyway • Broke away from church and dissolved monasteries • Had former friend, Thomas More, killed b/c he would not denounce his religion • Had a son with 3rd wife, Jane Seymour….son’s name was Edward • Married 6 times • Edward took throne at age of 9 years….died at the age of 15 • Replaced Latin in church ritual with prayer book, the Book of Common Prayer

5. Mary I (Edward’s half-sister) took throne • Restored Roman practices to the Church of England • Ordered the execution of nearly 300 Protestants and strengthened Catholic sentiment • Became known as “Bloody Mary” after this occurrence • Elizabeth I (Mary’s half-sister) took throne • Was strong, clever and probably England’s ablest monarch since William the Conqueror • Instituted a policy of religious moderation • Restored the Book of Common Prayer in the Church of England • Main adversary—Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland. (many Catholics did not recognize Henry VIII’s marriage to Elizabeth’s mother, so they considered Mary Stuart the Queen of England) • Mary Stuart instigated plots against Elizabeth I • Parliament insisted on Mary’s execution…she was beheaded in 1587 • James I took throne in 1603 • Claim to the throne rested on his descent from King Henry VII through his mother, Mary Stuart • He was a Protestant and successful leader • Sponsored establishment of England’s first settlement---Jamestown, VA • Eventually persecuted the Puritans and struggled with Parliment

6. William Shakespeare Review of Background Information

7. William Shakespeare • Born (baptized) April 23, 1564 in Stratford on Avon • Father –John Mother---Mary Arden • Married Anne Hathaway in 1582 (@18 & she was 26) • Had 3 children together • Susanna (1583) • Twins: Hamnet and Judith (1585) • Settled in London where he began acting & writing • Queen Elizabeth I loved arts, plays, and pageants • Supported writers and theaters • Her support helped prompt the popularity and growth of the arts in England • Other beloved writers: Edward Spenser, Christopher Marlowe and Sir Philip Sidney

8. William Shakespeare joined an acting group called: The Lord Chamberlain’s Men in 1594 • Joined with leading tragic actor, Richard Burbage • James I became a patron of the theater and of the acting company • He changed the name to The King’s Men • Financial success allowed Shakespeare to • Become a partner in The Globe Theater • Buy home---called New Place • Bought a coat of arms for his father (usually only given to royalty and knights by the king) • Earliest Masterpieces Included: • Richard III • The Comedy of Errors • The Taming of the Shrew • Romeo and Juliet

9. Wrote comedies, tragedies and histories • Most famous tragedies (play in which the hero/heroine MUST die): Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Antony & Cleopatra • He retired to Stratford Upon Avon in 1611 and died April 23, 1616 • In his lifetime he wrote 37 plays, 154 sonnets and 2 narrative poems • Included genres of histories, comedies, tragedies and tragic comedies • Many plotlines based on or borrowed from ancient Greece where the tragedies would bring about pity and fear • pity for the hero • Fear of humans w/their character flaws

10. Theaters of the Renaissance • “The Theater”---the 1st theater (1576) • Built by James Burbage • “The Rose”, “The Swan”, “The Curtain”, “The Blackfriars” followed • “The Globe” was built in 1598 and used for many of Shakespeare’s plays • Held up to 3,000 people (2 areas…the pit and the galleries) • Burned down in 1613 when a cannon was fired during a play and caught the roof on fire • Very little scenery was used, therefore the writer had to rely heavily on dialogue to set the scene • Flags were used to signify the genre of a play—Black = tragedy, white = comedy • Eventually rebuilt and torn down again before 1644 • Rebuilt in June 1997 (yes, 1997)

11. Characteristics of a Tragedy • Tragic hero comes to an unhappy end • Tragic hero is usually a person of importance • Tragic hero exhibits tragic flaw (an error in judgment or weakness) • Antagonist contributes to the hero’s downfall • A series of events lead inevitably to the catastrophe (tragic resolution)

12. Plot Diagram Climax Falling Action Rising Action Resolution Exposition Follow outline with Acts in Shakespeare’s plays