Sixteenth Century English Poetry: The Renaissance

• Sixteenth Century English Poetry is often referred to as an Introduction for second year students.

The Renaissance

• The Renaissance was the most significant movement of the sixteenth century.
• Renaissance means rebirth.
• It was a cultural and artistic movement in England during the 16th century, that was focused on the arts and literature.
• Poetry flourished, new forms were developed, and poets began to write in their native language instead of formal Latin.

Major Influences of The Renaissance

• The fall of Constantinople.
• Geographical discoveries.
• The invention of printing.
• The Copernican system.
• The Reformation.

Renaissance Art

• Medieval art and literature focused on the Church and salvation.
• Renaissance art and literature focused on individuals and worldly matters, along with Christianity.

Characteristics of the English Renaissance

• Occurred between 1400-1600 A.D.
• Began with Henry VIII and ended with King James I.
• The highest point occurred during Queen Elizabeth I's reign.
• Significant literary figures of the time include Sidney, Spencer, Marlow, and Shakespeare.
• Courtiers, particularly "professional kiss-ups," were very important.
• Social classes were strictly enforced.
• Theaters thrived but were considered low-class.

The Reformation

• The Reformation was a religious movement that began as a protest against the conduct of the Roman Catholic Church in the sixteenth century.
• It became the basis for the founding of Protestantism.

Causes of the Reformation:

• Humanism and the Renaissance.
• The invention of printing helped in spreading ideas.
• The reaction of princes and jurists against the authority of the Pope.
• The growing wealth of the clergy.
• The religious and moral shortcomings of certain of the clergy.

Humanism

• Celebrated the individual.
• Stimulated the study of Greek and Roman literature and culture.
• It was supported by wealthy patrons.

The Wars of the Roses

• The Wars of the Roses was a series of wars fought for control of the throne of England.
• The wars were fought between the Lancaster and York branches, and lasted from 1455 to 1487.
• The conflict resulted from social and financial troubles after the Hundred Years Wars and the weak rule of Henry VI.

The Tudors, English Reformation and Renaissance

• Henry VI was weak, from which came two houses: Lancaster (Red Rose), with Henry Tudor (Henry VII), and the House of York (White House), with Edward IV and Richard III.
• The subsequent rulers of England were as follows: Henry VIII, Edward VI, Queen Mary, and Elizabeth I.

Henry VIII

• Henry VIII was from the Tudor line.
• He had six wives: Catherine of Aragon (divorced), Anne Boleyn (beheaded), Jane Seymore (died), Ann of Cleves (divorced), Kathryn Howard (beheaded), and Katherine Parr (survived).
• He divorced the Catholic Church in order to marry his mistress.
• He wanted a male heir.
• He fathered two daughters (Mary and Elizabeth) and one son (Edward).
• He was Catholic, Protestant, Catholic, and Protestant.

Prince Edward

• Edward was the sole male heir to Henry's throne.
• He was Protestant and upheld this faith.
• He was ill and died shortly after gaining the throne.
• He left behind no heir, as he was too young to do so.

Bloody Mary

• After Edward's short reign and early death, Mary took the English throne.
• Devoutly Catholic, she wanted to vindicate her mother, Henry's first wife, and vowed to wipe out Protestantism.
• Ordered the mass execution of Protestants to restore the Catholic faith.
• She died of cancer.

Queen Elizabeth I

• Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
• Was both acknowledged and disowned by her father when he was alive.
• Devoutly Protestant
• The "Virgin Queen never married, used her feminine wiles to gain and maintain power.
• The art of flirtation became important in her time.
• Encouraged poetry and theater
• Powerful, wise, and important monarch
• Sustained many plots against her life

King James I

• Godson of Queen Elizabeth and inherited her throne.
• Patron of the theater, and Shakespeare's King's Men were his favorite acting troupe.
• Solidified the Protestant faith with the creation of the King James Bible.