Renaissance and Shakespeare: Key Concepts and Literary Terms

What does Renaissance stand for

Rebirth

start of the Renaissance

1450

end of the Renaissance

1650

How did the invention of the printing press accelerate the beginning of the Renaissance

This helped information get spread faster

when was hamlet written

1599

when was macbeth written

1611

what two plays are we reading in class

macbeth and hamlet

how many plays did Shakespeare write

39

how many sonnets did Shakespeare write

154

What was the name of the first freestanding playhouse in London, where Shakespeare started performing first

The theatre

What is the name of the theatre most associated with Shakespeare, which he helped build in 1599

The Globe Theater

what was the name of the acting troupe shapespeare as part of

The lord chambelain's men

What is the name of the painted area above the stage at the Globe Theatre

the heavens

what is a soliloguy

a speech delivered by a character onstage, revealing their innermost thought and feelings

What is a monologue

long speech by a single character to other characters onstage

What is an aside

a remark by a character that is intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters onstage

dramatic plot structure

1. Exposition

2. Rising Action

3. Climax

4. falling action

5. Resolution

How many lines are in a sonnet

14

What are four of the themes in Renaissance poetry

morality, human condition, love and beauty

What is morality

reminders of death and

impermanence of human existence

What is the human condition

One's place in the

universe, and the pursuit of knowledge

what is love

From courtly romance to platonic

relationships

what is beauty

Inner virtue, finding moments of

awe in day to day

romanticizes the relationship between humans and nature

Pastoral

Very sad and melancholic, dealing with death

elegiac

usually meant to be sung over a lyric, dealing with personal emotion

lyric

deals with simpler phrases but is full of metaphors and energetic language

metaphyscial

deals with high-born protagonist

tragic poetry