The English Renaissance

● The English Renaissance took place in England during the late 15th to the early 17th century.

● A revival of interest in classical learning, literature, and the arts, inspired by the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman texts

● Often considered a transitional period between the medieval and Early Modern period.

Key Features of the English Renaissance

● Humanism

○ emphasized the study of classical texts and a focus on human achievements ○ scholars and writers sought to apply classical principles to their own works ●

Literary Revival

○ a flourishing of literature, poetry, and drama

● Art and Architecture

○ artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo influenced English painters and sculptors ○ architectural style also shifted towards classical principles

Key Features of the English Renaissance

● Observation & Scientific Inquiry

○ scientists began to challenge traditional views of the natural world and cosmos ○ emphasis on individual inquiry laid the groundwork for the later scientific revolution ● Political and Social Changes

○ the reigns of Tudor monarchs, such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, played a crucial role in shaping the cultural landscape

○ rise of a merchant class and increased trade also contributed to a changing social structure

Literature of the English Renaissance

● Poetry: Sonnets, pastoral poetry, metaphysical poetry

● Drama: Renaissance drama (tragedy, comedy, historical), the popularity of the theater

● Prose: Essays, philosophical writings, prose fiction

William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

● Born April 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England

● Some of his most famous plays include

Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, A

Midsummer Night's Dream, and Othello.

● Wrote 154 sonnets exploring themes of

love, time, beauty, and mortality

● Wrote “Venus and Adonis” and "The Rape of Lucrece"

William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

● Coined and popularized numerous words and phrases

● Added richness and depth to the English language

● Explored timeless themes such as love,

jealousy, power, and betrayal

● Elevated the status of theater in Elizabethan England

● Died April 23, 1616, in

Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593)

● Born February 26, 1564, in Canterbury,

England

● Educated at Corpus Christi College,

Cambridge

● Known for his intelligence and linguistic

skills

● Notable plays include Doctor Faustus,

Tamburlaine (Parts 1 and 2), and The Jew

of Malta

Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593)

● His works explored complex themes such as ambition, power, and the consequences of

human actions

● Both Shakespeare and Marlowe were

contemporaries

● Marlowe led a colorful and intriguing life

due to spy allegations and religious

controversy

● Died on May 30, 1593, at the age of 29, in a tavern brawl in Deptford, London

Ben Jonson (1572–1637)

● Born June 11, 1572, in London, England

● Often considered the second most important playwright of the Elizabethan era

● Notable plays include Every Man in His Humour, Volpone, and The Alchemist

● Notable poem is “On my First Son”

● Collaborated with architect Inigo Jones on elaborate court masques for King James I

Ben Jonson (1572–1637)

● Jonson used his plays as a platform for satirical commentary on contemporary society

● Jonson and Shakespeare worked for the same company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, which later became the King's Men

● Jonson praised Shakespeare's genius and referred to him as the "Sweet Swan of Avon” in a tribute poem

● Died on August 6, 1637, in London, England

Edmund Spenser (1552–1599)

● Born 1552 or 1553, in London, England

● Spencer's contributions to poetic form and allegorical storytelling continue to be

studied and admired

● Influenced poets like John Milton, John Keats, and Percy Bysshe Shelley

● The Faerie Queene is one of his notable works of literature

● Died January 13, 1599, in London, England

Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)

● Born on November 30, 1554, in Penshurst, Kent, England

● Regarded as a key figure in the Elizabethan literary Renaissance

● Remembered for his contributions to the defense and appreciation of literature

● Served in various diplomatic capacities

● Close and favorable relationship with Queen Elizabeth I

Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)

● One of Sidney's most notable literary works is the sonnet sequence Astrophel and Stella

● Sidney's influential prose work, also known as "An Apology for Poetry" or "The

Defence of Poesy," defended the value and importance of poetry

● Died on October 17, 1586, from wounds suffered in battle

John Donne (1572–1631)

● Born in 1572 in London, England ● Educated at Oxford and Cambridge ● Initially associated with a libertine lifestyle

● Underwent a profound religious conversion

● Some of his notable works include "The Flea," "A Valediction: Forbidding

Mourning," "Death Be Not Proud," and "The Sun Rising”

John Donne (1572–1631)

● Donne is often associated with the metaphysical poets, a group characterized by their use of complex metaphors and intellectual exploration of emotions

● His religious fervor influenced his later poetry, which often grapples with themes of faith and salvation

● Died on March 31, 1631, in London, England

Thomas Wyatt (1503–1542)

● Born 1503, in Allington, Kent, England

● Well-educated, fluent in several languages, and served as a diplomat for King Henry VIII

● Played a crucial role in introducing and adapting the Italian sonnet form into English

● One of his notable works is the sonnet “Whoso List to Hunt”

Thomas Wyatt (1503–1542)

● Wyatt’s use of the sonnet form influenced later poets, including Sir Philip Sidney and William Shakespeare

● His works bridge the gap between medieval and Renaissance literature

● Died on October 11, 1542, at the age of 39, during a diplomatic mission to Spain

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517–1547)

● Born 1517, in Hunsdon, Hertfordshire,

England

● Along with Thomas Wyatt, is often

associated with the development of the

English sonnet and the use of blank verse in

English poetry

● His poem "Description of Spring" is one of

his notable works

● Surrey translated works of classical poets

and a book of the Psalms

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517–1547)

● Served in various military campaigns, and

fought alongside Henry VIII in France.

● Arrested for treason and executed in 1547

at the age of 30.

Sir Francis Bacon (1561–1626)

● Born on January 22, 1561, in London, England

● Notable essays include "Of Studies," "Of Truth," and "Of Revenge”

● Often credited with laying the groundwork for the scientific method

● Lord Chancellor of England, the highest legal office, under King James I

● Died on April 9, 1626, in Highgate, London