Religious context Hamlet unit

Question 1

What was the reformation?

Answer 1

• A religious movement
• That challenged the practices of the Catholic Church
• Led to the creation of Protestant denominations (Lutheranism and Calvinism)
• Emphasized salvation through faith alone

Question 2

What did the reformation lead to?

Answer 2

• Series of religious conflicts across Europe (Thirty Years’ War)

Question 3

How did Elizabeth I reign affect the religious conflicts?

Answer 3

-The Elizabethan Settlement
- Aimed to reduce religious conflicts by blending elements of both Catholicism and Protestantism.

Question 4

What are ghosts according to protestant theology?

Answer 4

• Evil spirits from the devil

Question 5

What are ghosts according to catholic theolgy?

Answer 5

• Souls of deceased people who have not yet found peace.

Question 6

What differentiates Catholicism and Protestanism?

Answer 6

Protestanism=
SOLA FIDE (salvation through faith) SOLA SCRIPTURES (bible as authority)

Question 7

What is the Great Chain of Being?

Answer 7

• A hierarchical structure of all matter and life (decreed by God)

Question 8

What is the Divine Rights of Kings?

Answer 8

• Relgious/ political doctrine
• Asserts that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving authority directly from God’s will

Question 9

What was the problem of sucession?

Answer 9

• Elizabeth I left no legitimate heir.

Question 10

Why did the problem of sucession threaten political stability?

Answer 10

• People feared a weak/ illegitimate monarch would be a violation
• (Political insability/ divine punishmen

Question 11

What possible historical source could have inspired Hamlet?

Answer 11

• Story of Amleth (From medieval Danish Folklore)
  Amleth= Prince who sought revenge aginst uncle for murdering hiis father and seizing the throne.

Question 12

What type of country was Denmark?

Answer 12

• Denmark was a powerful/ influential country in europe
• Fuedal and herirachal society