English Renaissance Overview

  • Time Period: 1485-1603

  • Definition: A cultural and artistic movement in England during the early 16th century to mid-17th century.

Alternative Names

  • "The Age of Shakespeare"

  • "The Elizabethan Age"

  • Limitations: Names are historically misleading; Shakespeare and Elizabeth were not the sole representatives of the era.

Key Contributions

Poetry

  • Edmund Spenser and John Milton explored English Christian beliefs in works like The Faerie Queene and Paradise Lost.

Theatre

  • Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare presented themes of life, death, and history in their plays.

Philosophy

  • Philosophers like Sir Thomas More and Sir Francis Bacon contributed to ideas about humanity and society, advancing towards modern science with the Baconian Method.

Critique of the Term "English Renaissance"

  • Differences from Italian Renaissance:

    • Italy focused on painting, sculpture, and architecture from classical antiquity.

    • English Renaissance emphasized literature, beginning around the 1520s.

  • Cultural Connections: Less about classical antiquity, more about Italian influence.

Historical Context

  • Modern Invention: Coined by Jacob Burckhardt in the 19th century; limited connection to Northern Italian artistic achievements.

  • Historical Precedence: English literature flourished 200 years prior, notable with Geoffrey Chaucer.

  • Literary Development: Influenced by historical events like the Hundred Years War and Wars of the Roses; counterarguments exist concerning continuous development.

The Tudor Monarchs (1485-1603)

  1. Henry VII (1485-1509)

  2. Henry VIII (1509-1547)

  3. Edward VI (1547-1553)

  4. Mary I (1553-1558)

  5. Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

The Tudor Period vs. Elizabethan Era

  • Tudor Period: 1485-1558 (includes Elizabeth’s reign).

  • Elizabethan Era: 1558-1603; marked by flourishing literature and Protestant Reformation.

Evolution of Theatres During Elizabethan Age

  • The Globe Theatre: Built in 1589, primary playhouse for Shakespeare’s works; experienced fire and reconstruction.

  • Other Theatres: The Theatre, The Swan, The Curtain, The Fortune, The Rose; notable for architecture and audience arrangement.

Structure of The Globe Theatre

  • Design: 3 stories, open-air amphitheater, rectangular stage, circular/octagonal shape, housed approx. 3000 people.

  • Audience Engagement: Admission fee structure, standing area for groundlings, tiered seating.

  • Stage Features: Trapdoors, support columns, painted "heavens," back wall with doors and balcony for musicians.