ENGLISH RENAISSANCE 1500 - 1650
ENGLISH RENAISSANCE England becomes a northern hub of influence during this period. Known as the Elizabethan Age, the Shakespearean Age, and he Age of Exploration, this was an exciting time of growth for the British Isle in practically all respects: politics, trade, literature, exploration, colonization, and culture.
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1ENGLISH RENAISSANCE INTRODUCTION:
ENGLISH RENAISSANCE 1500-1650
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (Illustration:Biography.com)
A bit late to the party--The Italian Renaissance began in 1100--England finally gets the news and responds by becoming life of the party. Shakespeare is the Steven Speilberg of the late 1500s and everything's popping by 1603 when a Scot named James (of Authorized Version of the Bible and Jamestown Colony fame) takes the throne and the Bard of Avon writes Macbeth to impress the new royal boss.
So much has been written about this time--sometimes referred to as the Age of Shakespeare or the Age of Elizabeth, the queen--it is difficult to narrow this jog. These two people, along with other notables, greatly influenced their times and ours. As you take notes, focus on the five mindset "views" and the question "What made this time and place perfect for a poet and playwright like Shakespeare to succeed?"
Jog Items #2-4 should be the most helpful for information on the mindset. Item #5 is an omnibus to all information Shakespeare. Item #6 shows you how much Shakespeare is in our speech today. Items #7-10 present background information on the play MACBETH.Grab your note-book, set up each page in Cornell note-taking style, and discover some of the significant points in English Renaissance history and literature. In addition to taking notes on items that catch your interests, conclude by noting the following:
1. Discover their mindset.
--- Views on Deity
--- Views on People
--- Views on Society
--- Views on Environment
--- Views on their Place in the World
2. Discover their literature
--- Representative texts and authors
--- Literary developments
--- Literary terms
3. Threads of meaning, connections to today
--- Where do you find similiarities with this time and literature to today's?
--- What new literary or cultural connections are inspired by this period?
--- What do you find most interesting, meaningful, or unique about this period?
4. How is this the "right time, right place" for the "right guy" Shakespeare?
--- Who and what events of the Renaissance contribute to his success as a literary genius?
-- Consider the influences of Elizabeth I and James I
-- Elizabeth's navy defeated the Spanish Armada establishing England's power
-- Elizabeth kept unmarried, and thus, England independent and at peace
-- Elizabeth patronized the arts; Shakespeare was part of the royal Lord Chamberlain's Men
-- Elizabeth patronized exploration and colonization
-- Elizabeth named James VI of Scotland her successor, ensuring the Anglican Church
-- James I patronized the arts; Shakespeare was part of the royal company King's Men
-- James believed in metaphysics, theology, the Bible, and witches
BY THE END OF THE TWO-WEEK UNIT YOU SHOULD KNOW
- Influential factors to Shakespeare's success (e.g. how he was affected by Renaissance, Elizabeth I, James I)
- Qualities of Shakespeare's work (tragedy, soliloquy, aside, iambic pentameter)
- Background influences on Shakespeare's MACBETH, including Renaissance Mindset
- The plot analysis of MACBETH
- How to analyze a Shakespearean soliloquy and determine its meaning, mood, and tone, as well as its importance to the play overall.
- How to consider MACBETH's imagery and themes, and the play's universal relevance
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2Life in Renaissance England
These remarks by a Dr. David Judkins, a professor of English Studies provide a clear backgrounder for your study of the English Renaissance. Notice how the historical elements contribute to the idea the Shakespeare was the right guy in the right place at the right time. Had he been born 100 years earlier or 100 years later, his genius for letters might never been realized. Renaissance England was fertile ground for his talent. About the Author: David Judkins has been at the University of Houston for more than years. He received his Ph.D. in English Literature from Michigan State University where he specialized in Early Seventeenth-Century English Literature. Dr. Judkins teaches classes in Shakespeare, Renaissance Literature, Postcolonial Literature, and Travel Literature. He has on three occasions taught with the University of Pittsburgh's study abroad program
http://www.uh.edu/~djudkins/life_in_renaissance_england.htm
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3Life in Elizabethan England
This web site has many links to various aspects of life during the reign of Elizabeth I. See the menu of links at the bottom of the page.
http://elizabethan.org/compendium/index.html
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4Queen Elizabeth I: Biography | Tudorhistory.org
A brief but detailed biography of the Queen of England during much of Shakespeare's life.
http://tudorhistory.org/elizabeth/
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5Mr. William Shakespeare & the Internet
This website links to many of the best sources of information on William Shakespeare.
http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/
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6MAN OF FIRE-WORDS | Richard Lederer
Author Richard Lederer notes that reading Shakespeare's work is like "witnessing the birth of language itself."
Indeed, the way Shakespeare says things has influenced our thinking ever since. In fact, recently researchers have seen with MRI technology that our brains react visually to the Bard's words. Find some of your favorite words or phrases that were coined by Shakespeare.
Click here to open a PDF document on this topic: Man of Fire-Words
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7Shakespeare's Sources for Macbeth | Shakespeare Online
This article provides insight into sources of inspiration fro Shakespeare's only Scottish play.
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sources/macbethsources.html
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8Macbeth for King James | Lytton Players
Key ideas in the play "Macbeth" and where Shakespeare got them.
http://www.lyttonplayers.co.uk/Previous%20Productions/Macbeth/macbethforkingjames.htm
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9Audio Introduction to Macbeth
Listen to this eight-minute audio podcast from the Folger Shakespeare Library in which the directors and actors of a recent production of the Scottish play introduce you to the main characters and plot points. Here are some ideas to listen for: What key ideas do you hear mentioned? What are the key personal relationships in the play? What do the characters want? What motivates the characters? What does the "Tomorrow" soliloquy focus on? What do they say about evil and choices related to the characters?
http://www.folger.edu/documents/Macbeth_An_Insiders_Guide.mp3
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10Macbeth | Biography of the Real Person
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/macbeth.shtml
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11TEXT: Macbeth | MIT
MACBETH: eText of the play presented by MIT
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/
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12Holinshed's Chronicles on Macbeth
Holinshed's Chronicles on Macbeth: This is an excerpt from Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of Scotland the mentions Macbeth and Banquo's encounter with three women of prophecy (the Weird Sisters).
http://www.cems.ox.ac.uk/holinshed/extracts2.shtml