S4: Was There Ever Really an Elizabethan Golden Age? Flashcards
Before: What would constitute a Golden Age?
-Achievements in the arts.
-Increase in literature (& literacy rates).
-Creation of wealth.
-National/International Status.
-A period of prosperity, that is greater than before.
Before: Give some initial evidence (from earlier chapters) that there was a Golden Age.
Yes
-Globe Theatre constructed in 1599. This enabled 1 in 3 adults in London to attend the theatre every month.
-Exploration was flourshing, with individuals like Frobisher & Davis, and the East India Company was established.
-Trade expanded -> Jenkinson, £25,000 through Persia.
No
-Oxfordshire Rebellion, 1596.
-Plague outbreaks in 1563, and bad harvests on 1594-7.
-Trade was still 74% through Europe.
-20% of those in towns were in poverty.
Before: How had culture changed before Liz?
-Music was becoming increasingly influenced by Renaissance & becoming increasingly political/secular. Polyphonic style emerges under Henry.
-Literature changes from chivalric tales (like Chaucer) to politically/religiously driven narrative.
-Sonnets had been introduced in the 1530s by Thomas Wyatt.
-Humanist literature had been growing in popularity, with Erasmus works in every parish under Edward.
-Humanism increasingly influences education, with individuals like Martin Bucer given professorships.
Golden: What evidence is there of development in artistic achievement?
-Nicholas Hilliard introduced miniature portraits, that became popular.
-Music became more secular, with many in the madrigal form, with a pastoral/romantic theme.
-Orlando Gibbons composed for new CofE services. William Byrd was the leading composer.
-William Shakespeare was the most prominent playwright, with works like Hamlet performed at the Globe Theatre/
-Christopher Marlowe’s “Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.”
-Permanent theatres like The Swan, The Rose, and The Globe, were built (moving away from previous style of theatre).
Golden: What evidence is there of greater education?
-More people living in London were literate than those in provinces, largely due to their proximity to the printing press.
-By 1593, 1/2 of univeristy graduates were members of the House of Commons.
-In the 1560s, 42 schools were established, and in the 1570s, 30 established.
-People attending university doubled from 300 under Henry VIII to 700 under Liz.
-While there were still only 2 universities, there were new colleges, like Gresham in London in 1597.
Golden: What evidence is there of developments in literature?
-Foxe’s Book of Martyrs remained the most widely read prose.
-Translations of classics, like Sir Thomas North’s of Plutarch, were popular.
-Philip Sidney’s Arcadia conveyed the message that a state is best served by a monarch whose powers are limited by the nobility.
-Richard Hooker’s “Laws of Ecclesiastical Policy” (1593) reflected the growth in the standard of literature over the period.
-Edmund Spenser’s “The Faerie Queene” was a leading work of poetry, and was very complimentary towards Elizabeth.
-Other poets like Sir Walter Raleigh & Robert Southwell were prominent.
Golden: What evidence is there of growth in architecture?
-Elizabeth did not build any new palaces, but her progresses encouraged courtiers & nobles to construct bigger & better houses.
-Kenilworth Castle was renovated by Dudley & Longleath House was built by Sir John Thynne & Holdenby House by Sir Christopher Hatton.
-Buildings now had brick chimneys, with grand spacious state rooms & long galleries, in a typical Tudor style.
Golden: Detail Thomas Dekker. What does this demonstrate?
-Elizabethan playwright, known for his comedies, “The Shoemakers’ Holiday,” and “Old Fortunas.”
-He had been a poverty-stricken Londoner, and had even been arrested several times for debt.
-However, by 1595, he was employed by Philip Henslowe to write for the Lord Admiral’s Company at the Rose Theatre.
-Demonstrates the social mobility afforded by the new culture, and how the Golden Age could be experienced by all.
Golden: How did literacy change?
-Literacy was still largely reserved for upper classes. In Durham, 1561-1631, Only 2% of the clergy were illiterate, but 98% of Labourers were.
-Overall, only 5% of women were literate and 30% of men were.
Changes: Outline how architecture changes over the period.
-Under VII, Gothic perpendicular style was prominent, and in 1502 it was used in the Lady Chapel in Westminster.
-Under VIII, Gothic perpendicular continued to be used, but a new Tudor style had emerged through palaces like Hampton Court (1514).
-Also, after the dissolution of the monasteries, places like Titbury Abbey were converted into country houses.
-Edward -> Brick building boomed, and Somerset House was built, but gothic perpendicular continued to dominate (also under Mary).
Changes: Did architecture CHANGE under Liz?
-Largely, no.
-Liz didn’t construct any new palaces, but her progresses encouraged the nobility to renovate homes, like Kenilworth Castle, which Dudley spent £60,000 on.
-Places like Longleath House were built by Sir John Thyme and Holden House by Sir Christopher Hatton.
-Buildings now had brick chimneys, with grand spacious state rooms.
-However, on the whole, there was little change, and traditional styles were maintained.
Changes: How did literature change over the Tudor period?
-Printing press first emerged in 1478, and Chivalric Tales, like Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, were produced.
-Humanist literature first emerged under Henry VII, and it remained prominent across the entire period. Works like Thomas More’s ‘Utopia’ were published in 1516 (under VIII), and Edward ensured that every parish had Erasmus’ works.
-The Sonnet was introduced in the 1530s, by the Earl of Surrey.
-Under Mary, there was censorship of printing press, and there were half as many printers as there had been before (as Protestants fled the country).
Changes: Did literature CHANGE under Liz?
-Largely returned to what it had been under previous Tudors, with humanism resurging.
-Sonnets, though popularised by Shakespeare, had been introduced in the 1530s, so were not a new concept.
-Translations of classical literature remained popular.
-However, it was somewhat new in terms of the purpose of literature. Works took on a new political purpose, like Sir Phillip Sidney’s ‘Arcadia’, or Edmund Spenser’s ‘The Faerie Queene’.
Changes: How did the arts change over the Tudor period?
-Art continued to be inspired by Northern Europe & Netherlandish painters, like William Scrots, across the entire period, as Renaissance art largely failed to take hold (though Henry VII’s tomb was produced by Pietro Torrigiano).
-Music became more secular, before Mary, going from work like the Eton Choirbook, 1505, to being almost entirely removed, due to Puritan influence.
-Theatre mainly stayed the same. Plays would take place in taverns, and at church-ale festivals (like Bishop Stortford’s in Hertfordshire in 1490. However, under Mary, plays had been in alehouses.
Changes: Did the arts CHANGE under Liz?
-Nicholas Hilliard introduced miniatures as a form of art, but the Northern European influence continued, and the Renaissance still failed to take hold.
-Music continued its trend of becoming more secular, with composers like William Byrd rising in popularity.
-Theatre is where there was the MOST change. Permanent theatres, like the Globe, are established, and the quantity of popular playwrights skyrocketed (Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dekker etc.
Changes: How did Education change over the Tudor period?
-Humanistic influence emerged, particularly at univeristy-level. John Colet founds St Paul’s School, London, under H8, with humanist teachings, and reformers like Martin Bucer became Cambridge Professors under Edward.
-Under Mary, this changed. Humanism was removed from curriculum, and the works of Erasmus were placed on the list of books that the papacy forbade Catholics from reading.
-Also, expansion in the number of schools. Under Edward, there are foundations (or re-foundations) in 23 counties.
-There are also many new Oxbridge colleges set up, like Christ’s Camb under H7, and St Johns Camb under H8.
-However, Oxbridge remained the only universities.
Changes: Did education CHANGE under Liz?
-1560s, 42 schools are established. 1570s, 30 more are.
-People attending university rose from 300 to 700 (from H8 to Liz). The expansion of univeristy meant that government was made up of an educated ruling class. By 1593, 1/2 of university graduates were members of the HoC.
-The proprtion of university students from nobility/gentry went from 1/3 -> 2/5
-Colleges, like Gresham in London, 1597, are established.
-However, literacy fails to expand. Across the country, only 30% of men, and 5% of women, are literate.
-Also, education continued to be reserved for the higher classes. In terms of literacy, in Durham from 1561-1631, only 2% of clergy were illiterate, while 98% of labourers were.
Who?: What was elite culture like?
-Gentlemen would attend grammar schools, and would often go on to attend university. They were expected to know, and be able to reference, classical literature, through the new translations of works like Plutarch.
-Elyot’s the “Book Named the Governor” outlined how to be a gentleman, discouraging publicly doing art etc.
-Gents studied music, as they felt that this would develop character, and teach them how to bring harmony into society.
-People often wore miniatures of Elizabeth, as Cecil & Dudley did.
Who?: List similarities between elite & popular culture.
-Gentlemen & ordinary alike would watch bull-and-bear baiting, as well as cock fighting.
-Archery & fishing was popular for all.
-Shakespeare’s plays were accessible for all, and the characters in plays (like Bottom, MSN), appealed to ordinary people. Groundlings would pay only a penny for entry.
Who?: What was popular culture like?
-Ordinary pastimes included drinking, gambling, and cock-fighting. These would be used as an escape from reality, due to poverty & disease.
-Inns & Taverns became a key part of culture.
-Lingering influence of the Catholic church left the majority with a lot of superstitions, and they would wear charms as holy relics. Also, festival days, like Saint days, continued to be celebrated.
-Red Bull Theatre in Clerkenwell, London, provided story-telling for the masses.
Control: What kind of things did Elizabeth use culture to portray?
-Greatness of the Tudor Dynasty.
-Glory & Devotion of the Queen
-Glory of the restoration of Protestantism.
-Expansion overseas.
-Defeating the Spanish.
Control: What did she use to show the Greatness of the Tudor Dynasty? The Glory & Devotion of the Queen?
-Tudor Dyansty is complimented through plays. Shakespeare’s Richard III, written in 1592, portrayed Richard as a villanous hunchback, affirming H7’s legitimacy.
-Devotion of the Queen was demonstrated through sermons. The Homily of Obedience was prayers for the queen’s safety & blessings of her reign.
Control: What did she use to show the Glory of Restoration? Expansion overseas? Defeat of Spanish?
-They allow festivals to continue, Accession Day, which celebrates Elizabeth, is put in the Church calendar in 1576.
-Expansion is celebrated through patronage. Francis Drake, for example, is knighted after his circumnavigation.
-Defeat of Spain is shown through portraits, like the Armada portrait, 1588.
Portraits: How was the Tudor Rose, Pelican, Fleur de Lis, and Fan of Feathers used as symbols in portraits?
-TR: Used to show the greatness and strength of the Tudor dynasty, particularly in the 1559 Coronation Portrait.
-P: A Christian symbol of sacrifice, it was used to show Elizabeth’s devotion to her country. This was used in the 1575 Pelican portrait.
-FdL: The royal emblem of France, it was used to demonstrate her claim to the French throne in the 1559 Coronation portrait.
-FoF: Exotic feathers, used to symbolise expansion overseas, in the 1575 Darnley portrait.
