Ms. EckmanEnglish 12

“The Renaissance 1485 -1660”. Elements of Literature, Sixth Course. Literature of Britain. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 2000. 190- 212.

Word endings changed b/c scribes became lazy

This caused the change in pronunciations

Language was no longer masculine or feminine but NEUTRAL

The Norman Conquest introduced French into England

French was used for law, gov’t, education & by the upper class

England was now BILINGUAL (used both French & English

1362 English became the official language of England

Some borrowed French words are:*Baron * Duke*Castle *Noble*County *Government

Definitions:Definitions:1.1. RenaissanceRenaissance-- rebirth2.2. Renaissance Man-Renaissance Man- someone who is interested in

science, art, literature, history and other subjects. Example: Henry VIII or Thomas Jefferson

3.3. Utopian-Utopian- a perfect society4.4. HumanismHumanism- Renaissance writer’s who were part of

an intellectual mov’t which combined traditional Christian thought with Latin & Greek classics to teach people how to live; to study themselves

5.5. Reformation- Reformation- The rejection of the Pope & church; to change the church & it’s politics

.....with the changes in people’s values, beliefs and behaviors.

…..in Italy in the 14th Century.

People moved away from “church” literature to Humanist literature to study themselves.

Humanists studied human nature; one’s self. Erasmus was the most famous Renaissance

humanist. Sir Thomas More was another famous

humanist who wrote “Utopia”. Both Erasmus and More helped shape

European thought and history.

The Gutenberg Press helped spread Humanist writing.

Before the press, all books were hand written and hand copied.

The press (with movable type) was invented by a German named Johannes Gutenberg around 1455.

The first book he printed was the bible (in Latin).

….was a movement to REFORM the corrupt church & Pope.

….forced people to question the Catholic Church’s authority.

....made people object to the financial burdens placed upon them by the church.

…started the Reformation mov’t b/c he wanted a divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

…was a true Renaissance Man.

…created the Royal Navy which led to the spread of England’s rule.

Henry had 6 wives:1. Catherine of Aragon –

divorced; mother of Mary2. Anne Boleyn -beheaded; mother of

Elizabeth3. Jane Seymour

-died naturally; mother to Edward VI

4. Anne of Cleves-divorced

5. Catherine Howard-beheaded

6. Catherine Parr-only survivor

1st Edward VI or the “Boy King”:-only male son of Henry (& Jane Seymour-she died 12 days after his birth).-became king at the age of 9 but his relatives ruled for him.-died at age 15 from TB.-He was followed by……

“Bloody Mary”!-1/2 sister to Edward, daughter of Catherine of Aragon-devout Catholic, returned power back to Pope & Catholic church.-earned her “name” b/c she hunted down and killed Protestants (Henry’s followers) including burning over 300 people at the stake.-Married the King of Spain (England’s biggest enemy at the time).- ruled England for 5 years.-died of a fever.

The “Virgin Queen”….-Elizabeth I followed Mary.- was the last living heir of Henry VIII.-1/2 sister to Mary and Edward VI, daughter of Anne Boleyn. - ruled from 1558 – 1603.-never married, no children or heirs.-returned to her father’s policies, restored the Church of England.-was intelligent & independent.-executed Mary, Queen of Scots, for attempting to have her killed. She was a cousin to Elizabeth.-Under Elizabeth, the Royal Navy defeated the Spanish Armada which secured England’s independence from ALL Catholic nations in the Mediterranean (The Spanish Armada was sent by King Phillip in response to Elizabeth executing Mary, Queen of Scots).

Colors and Clothing designs mean different things…

1. GreenGreen: love2. White & TawnyWhite & Tawny: patience in

adversity3. White or BlackWhite or Black: chastity4. PansiesPansies: sadness5. SnakesSnakes: flattery

1. People expanded their worlds by reading classical Greek & Roman writers rather than Christian doctrine.

2. Spread of Humanism- focus on the here & now rather than the “eternal life”.

3. The Gutenberg Press.4. A growing Merchant class (Middle Class).5. The spread of scholarly Latin made the

sharing of ideas possible.

Elizabeth I died. She was followed by ineffective rulers:

-James I-Charles I (son of James); beheaded for treason-1649 – 1660 Parliament ruled w/o a monarch; Charles II was exiled to France-Charles II returned

Political and Secular (church) values challenged.

John Milton was the LAST great writer of the period. He wrote “Paradise Lost”.