ENGLISH RENAISSANCE-1.pdf for FYUGP 1st semester

FYUGP 1st semester

2. Renaissance literally means “rebirth” ( revival of learning)
•A flowering of literary, artistic and intellectual development which started
in Italy in the 14
th
century . The Renaissance embraced a series of religious,
economic and political changes.
It refers particularly to a renewed interest in classical writings; the writings
of ancient Greece and Rome.

3. Monarchy of Church and religion. Church was the only
authority.
Laws were very strict
Hungers and plagues were there in the society
People were educated with Christian doctrines
Questions could not be raised
Dark Age

4. Occurred from 1300-1550 A.D.
Marked as high time in art
Artists like Donatello, Raphael,
Leonardo daVinci were well
known.
Authors: Petrarch (sonnets) and
Castiglione (courtier book)
Italy was the centreof Greco-
Roman culture
Influenced the English
Renaissance Period

5. Occurred between 1500-1660
Highest point occurred
during Queen Elizabeth I’s
reign
High time in literature:
Sidney, Spencer, Marlow,
Shakespeare
Social classes were strictly
enforced
Theaters thrived but were
considered low-class

6. Protestant Reformation
occurred in England during
this period
It was also the beginning point
of Capitalism
The period was marked by
advancements in technology
Introduction of the printing
press in England in 1475-76 by
William Caxton
Commencement of
Imperialism

7. Curiosity about the unknown
Desire for unlimited wealth and power
Love for adventures
Columbus discovered America in 1492 and Vasco ds
Gama reached India in 1498
Copernicus proved that sun is the centre of all planets

8. Elizabethan Age ( 1558-
1603)
Jacobean Age (1603-
1625)
Caroline Age (1625-1649)
Commonwealth Period
(1649-1660)

9. The age is named after queen
Elizabeth I who reign over England
from 1558 to 1603.
This is called the Golden Age of
English
The religious Reformation resulted
in secularism
The social life of England was
marked with strong nationalistic
spirit, Humanism, secularism,
scientific curiosity etc.

10. The age is named after James
I who reigned over England
from 1603-1625
The word Jacobean is derived
from ‘Jacobus’, the Latin
version of James
Colonial territories were
expanded during this period
Religious conflict revived
during this age: Protestants
were divided into three sects-
Anglicans, Presbyterians and
Puritans
Scotland was brought under
the rule of the King of
England

11. This age is named after Charles I
who reigned over England from
1625-1649
‘ Caroline’ is derived from ‘Carolus’,
the Latin version of Charles
There was a civil war between
“Cavaliers” (supporters of the King)
and “Roundheads” (supporters of
the Parliament)
A group of lyric poets associated
with the “Cavaliers’’ are called
“CavelierPoets”
In 1642 English theatre was officially
closed. On 14
th
June 1643 Licensing
Order for printing was passed.

12. There was no monarch in
England during this period:
After the death of Charles I
Oliver Cromwell, the Puritan
leader came into power until
his death in 1658
After the death of Oliver
Cromwell his son Richard
Cromwell became the ruler of
England and ruled till 1660
The influence of Renaissance
and Puritanism died out by
the end of this period

13. The first theatres in England were private –staged mostly at the court, in the
universities, in the Inns of Court and in the mansion of the noblemen.
Interlude: A short entertaining play of the Middle Ages. It was staged between the acts of a
longer play or between the courses of a feast. TheFour P&s, The Play of the Weather are
some well known interludes
Morality play : A medieval dramatic form which allegorically presents an ideal Christian life.
Intheseplays,-life,death, Repentance, love, justice, mercy, gluttony and vice were the
maincharacters.MagnificenceandThe Necromancer by John Skelton, Everyman,
PrideofLife,Castle ofPerseverance are some well known Morality plays
Miracle Plays deal mainly with the miraculous events of the life of saints. miracle plays of
England were divided into two classes. The first presented at Christmas were connected with
the birth of Christ, and the second class presented at Easter included plays related to his
death and triumph.Mary Magdalene and The Conversion of Saint Paulare examples of
miracle play
Mystery plays : A form of medieval play which is based on the Biblical stories. For example
The Fall of Adam and Eve, The Last Judgement etc.

14. Norton(1532-84) and
Sackville( 1536-1608)
Gorboduc(1562) also
titled Ferrexand Porrexis
the first English tragedy.
Nicholas Udall
Ralph Roister Doister
(1553) is the first English
comedy

15. John Lyly(1554-1606)
oCampaspe(1584)
oSaphoand Phao(1584)
oMidas(1589)
Robert Greene( 1558-92)
oFriar Bacon and Friar
Bungay(1589)
oJames IV (1591)
Thomas Kyd (1557-1595)
oThe Spanish Tragedy
(1585)
George Saintsbury coined the term
University wits
Features
•There was a fondness for
heroic themes
•Heroic treatment
•The themes were usually tragic
in nature
•Use of soliloquy

16. George Peele ( 1558-98)
David and Bethsebe(1599)
Arraignment of Paris (1584)
Christopher Marlowe(1564-93)
Tamburlaine the Great
(1587)
The Jew of Malta (1589)
Edward II (1591)
Doctor Faustus (1592)

17. Born in Stratford-upon
Avon, England
Called the ‘Bard of
Avon’
Famous for the objective
presentation of human
psychology
Wrote 37 plays and 154
sonnets

18. His major plays are:
Henry VI(in three parts 1591-92)
Richard III( 1593)
The Comedy of Errors(1593)
TitasAndronicus(1594)
The Taming of the Shrew(1594)
Loves Labour’sLost(1594)
Romeo and Juliet(1594)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream(1595)
The two Gentlemen of Verona (1595)
The Merchant of Venice (1596)
Much Ado about Nothing (1598)
Julius Caesar(1599)
The Merry Wives of Windsor(1600)
As You Like It (1600)
Hamlet (1601)
Twelfth Night( 1601)
Troilus and Cressida(1602)
All’s Well That Ends Well(1602)
Measure for Measure(1604)
Othello(1604)
Macbeth (1605)
King Lear (1605)
Antony and Cleopatra (1606)
Cymbeline (1609)
The Winter’s Tale (1610)
The Tempest (1611)

19. The Tragic Hero -A tragic hero is one of the most significant elements of a
Shakespearean tragedy. It is a story about one, or sometimes two, characters.
The hero may be either male or female and he or she must suffer because of
some flaw of character, because of inevitable fate, or both. (royal character)
Shakespearean tragedies play out the struggle between goodand evil.
Hamartia-Hamartia is the Greek word for “sin” or “error’’. In other words,
hamartia refers to the hero's tragic flaw.
Conflictis another element of a Shakespearean tragedy. There are two
types of conflicts: External Conflict and Internal Conflict
Catharsisis a remarkable feature of a Shakespearean tragedy.
Shakespearean tragedies help the audience to feel and release emotions
through the aid of tragedy.
Use of Supernatural elements is another key aspect of a Shakespearean
tragedy.
Comic Relief: Inclusion of humorous characters, scenes etc. is
another feature of Shakespearean tragedy
Use ofSoliloquy isanother feature of Shakespearean tragedy

20. A neo-classicist in style
Every Man Out of His
Humour(1600)
Every Man in His
Humour(1601)
Volpone(1605)
The Silent Woman
(1609)
The Alchemist (1610)

21. Beaumont (1584-1616) and
Fletcher (1579-1625)
Philaster(1609)
A King and No King (1611)
The Maid’s Tragedy(1609)
The Captain(1609)

22. John Webster (1578-1632)
The White Devil (1612)
The Duchess of
Malfi(1614)
The Devil’s Law
Case(1623)