Early Modern English

Question 1

What were 3 external native factors shaping Early Modern English?

Answer 1

• Introduction of printing in 1476
• William Shakespeare
• King James Bible

Question 2

What were 3 external foreign factors shaping Early Modern English?

Answer 2

• Renaissance
• Reformation
• Maritime Power with Walter Ralegh

Question 3

What did William Caxton provide the language with the printing press?

Answer 3

He provided a uniform model of spoken English while no uniform model of spoken English existed.

Question 4

What type of English did Caxton reproduce?

Answer 4

English of London and the South East.

Question 5

How many books were there before Caxton and how were they written?

Answer 5

There were 5000 books before Caxton and they were written by hand.

Question 6

How many printed books were there after Caxton?

Answer 6

20 000 books printed (including pamphlets and specialized novels).

Question 7

Who was William Shakespeare? What was his particularity?

Answer 7

He was the greatest English writer whose Elizabethan spirit of daring and innovation greatly influenced the English language.

Question 8

How did Shakespeare craft English?

Answer 8

He uses wordplays and puns to expand the lexicon.

Question 9

How much of the population was literate before and after Shakespeare starts and ends his writing?

Answer 9

Before, 1/3 of the population was literate, and fater 1/2 of the population was literate.

Question 10

What are 3 words Shakespeare invented and what do they mean?

Answer 10

• Madcap (insane)
• Bedroom (place in bed)
• Courtship (court + suffix “ship”)

Question 11

When was the Authorized Version (The King James Bible) published?

Answer 11

In 1611.

Question 12

What was the most widely read English text with powerful effect on English stylistics in Early Modern English?

Answer 12

The King James Bible.

Question 13

During the Renaissance, which modern vernacular languages emerge?

Answer 13

French, Italian, Spanish, German, English.

Question 14

During the Renaissance, what language becomes the language of popular literature?

Answer 14

English.

Question 15

The Renaissance is characterised to be what kind of period?

Answer 15

A period of increased activity in every field.

Question 16

What did newly patriotism and national consciousness lead to?

Answer 16

It led to opposing excessive borrowing from Latin and Greek.

Question 17

What is the major event that started the Reformation?

Answer 17

Henry VIII breaks with the Roman Catholic Church in 1534 creating the Church of England.

Question 18

What did the protestants do in order to make the Bible accessible to the people?

Answer 18

They translated it in 5 vernacular languages.

Question 19

What happens in 1588?

Answer 19

England defeats the Spanish Armada and becomes a major sea power.

Question 20

Where did the British acquire colonies by the end of the 17th century?

Answer 20

In the Americas (Canada, American colonies, Barbados), Africa (Gambia, Gold Coast) and India.

Question 21

What did the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century bring?

Answer 21

Intensive urbanization let to the creation of technical vocabulary based on Latin and Greek roots.