The Renaissance

Question 1

Renaissance in Europe: Where did it begin?

Answer 1

Florence, Italy.

Question 2

Renaissance in Europe: How was the outlook on people different from the Middle Ages?

Answer 2

Humanism. Empasized the capacities of the human mind vs Middle Age’s emphasis on God.

Question 3

Renaissance in Europe: How was the renaissance the beginning of the modern world?

Answer 3

There was territorial exploration/discovery which lead to commercial and colonial domination.

Question 4

Renaissance in England: Why was the renaissance late coming to England?

Answer 4

England was experiencing internal turmoil and instability. 2 dominant aristocratic houses (York and Lancaster) battling for throne (Wars of the Roses)

Question 5

Renaissance in England: How did the Renaissance come to England (kinda)?

Answer 5

Henry VIII wanted to be thought of as a Renaissance Prince

Question 6

Renaissance in England: What was the first “literary masterpiece” of the English Renaissance?

Answer 6

Sir Thomas More’s Utopia.

Question 7

Renaissance in England: How did the Protestant revolution begin? Why?

Answer 7

Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the church which accelerated the Protestant Reformation. They stood against the corruption of the Catholic Church.

Question 8

Renaissance in England: Why did Henry VIII create the Church of England?

Answer 8

He creates his own church to get a divorce (bc him current wife wasn’t giving him male babies)

Question 9

Renaissance in England: What were the repercussions of the creation of the Church of England?

Answer 9

Church of England is less elaborate. Puritan movement takes it to the extreme later on. Historically it created a lot of animosity in the 1600s (it created divisions within its own people)

Question 10

Renaissance in England: Elizabeth I takes over in 1558 and rules until 1603 (Elizabethan Age). What was England like under the rule of Elizabeth I?

Answer 10

The arts flourished under her rule.

Question 11

Renaissance in England: Why was the defeat of the Spanish Armanda in 1588 so important?

Answer 11

It established English nationalism (great naval force) and it showed the victory of the Protestants over the Catholics

Question 12

Elizabethan Literary Achievement: Who were the two promising Elizabethan poets?

Answer 12

Philip Sydney and Edmund Spencer.

Question 13

Elizabethan Literary Achievement: Elizabeth I was a patron of drama. What were the roots of Elizabethan drama?

Answer 13

Folk culture, mixing of medieval/religious plays and miracle plays and court life.

Question 14

Elizabethan Literary Achievement: Who were the three major Elizabethan dramatics?

Answer 14

Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, William Shakespeare

Question 15

Elizabethan Literary Achievement: Why was Elizabethan theatre described as being based on the “mind’s eye”?

Answer 15

Because there are minimal props, lighting etc. Much of it was based on imagination.

Question 16

Elizabethan Literary Achievement: Public theatres became popular in the mid 1570s. Why was theatre socially unique in this period?

Answer 16

Public theatres bought together a cross-section of society that would never been seen together anywhere else.

Question 17

Elizabethan Literary Achievement: Comment on the painting “The View of London”

Answer 17

London has become this busy city full of hustle and bustle (becoming a powerful city)

Question 18

Elizabethan Tastes and Attitudes: How was the word artificial defined during this time period? How was it reflected in art, attitudes, literature?

Answer 18

Artificial meant orrnate detail and intricacy. People respected art and the detail that was put into it. EX: the english garden -> symetrical.

Question 19

Elizabethan Tastes and Attitudes: What was the Great Chain of Being?

Answer 19

It’s a super rigid social hierarchy. God is always at the top, ten angels, humans, animals, plants, minerals. And within those labels there’s another hierarchy of who’s in power. It was believed that things will filter down. (Para. Lost)

Question 20

Jacobean Era: Why was James I not as successful a leader?

Answer 20

Because he advocated the Divine Rights of Kings (once threatened to moon the crowd). Elizabeth was good at pleasing the people and James I was a harsh transition. Wanted lots of power/money, while Elizabeth was talking about forming a parliament.

Question 21

Jacobean Era: How was science challenging to the thought during this time period?

Answer 21

Copernicus formulated the model of the universe in which the sun was in the middle and not the Earth. This challenged what was written in the bible.

Question 22

Disruption and Change: Why was Charles I not a successful leader?

Answer 22

He tired to rule without parliament (raised taxes a lot) and alienated a lot of puritans (from Scotland) and when they threatened to invade, he called up parliament. But, Parliament made a list of grievances

Question 23

Disruption and Change: Why did the Civil War break out in England in 1642?

Answer 23

Charles I alienated a lot of puritans (from Scotland) and when they threatened to invade, he called up parliament. But, Parliament made a list of grievances so Charles decides to dissolve parliament. This caused the civil war between the Crown and the Parliament (sided with Cromwell and the Puritan Movement)

Question 24

Disruption and Change: Who were the “Cavaliers”? Who were the “Roundheads”?

Answer 24

Cavaliers: King’s supporters (long hair, carpe diem). Roundheads: Puritans (bowl haircut, milton)

Question 25

Disruption and Change: Who became the leader of the New Model Army? Describe his leadership.

Answer 25

Cromwell takes over. He was very ruthless and efficient.

Question 26

Disruption and Change: What happened to Charles I?

Answer 26

Executed.

Question 27

Disruption and Change: Oliver Cromwell took over leadership and called himself the Protectorate. How was this problematic? What was life like under Puritan rule?

Answer 27

This was a time of censorship and rules. Theatres shut down. Very different from Elizabeth. England under Puritan rule seen as a period of oppression

Question 28

Disruption and Change: After dissatisfaction with the leadership of Cromwell’s son, who did many middle-class people want to reclaim the throne?

Answer 28

Charles II. (he was hiding in Europe). The period under his rule was classed the Restoration.

Question 29

Disruption and Change: What was “The Restoration”?

Answer 29

Restoring the monarchy. Period under rule of Charles II.

Question 30

Disruption and Change: How did the English Civil War change social and political attitudes in England?

Answer 30

Parliament had a new sense of importance. When Charles II was brought back, parliament had a lot more power.

Question 31

Lit in a Century of Change and Uncertainty (17th): How did drama change in England from the Elizabethan Era to the 17th century.

Answer 31

More dark themes

Question 32

Lit in a Century of Change and Uncertainty (17th): Poetry in this century was described in terms of two styles: Metaphysicals (School of [John] Donne) and Classical/Conservative (School of [Ben] Jonson).
What are key differences between these styles?

Answer 32

Metaphysical: Philosophical, metaphors. Classical: A return to form, structure?

Question 33

Lit in a Century of Change and Uncertainty (17th): Who were the “Cavalier” poets? What was their style?

Answer 33

Rich guys writing with patronage and for fun.

Question 34

Lit in a Century of Change and Uncertainty (17th): The interest in science and philosophy encouraged a refining of which type of writing?

Answer 34

The essay.

Question 35

Lit in a Century of Change and Uncertainty (17th): How did religious sermons change during this time period?

Answer 35

Sermons became almost like theatrical performances. (john Donne?)

Question 36

Lit in a Century of Change and Uncertainty (17th): What was the most influential prose to come out?

Answer 36

King James Bible.

Question 37

Lit in a Century of Change and Uncertainty (17th): Why is John Milton described as being reflective of the old English Renaissance and the 17th century?

Answer 37

Because he was working with a classical understanding, he was trying to use religion to get people to pay attention to their own lives. Puritan background.

Question 38

Lit in a Century of Change and Uncertainty (17th): Although best known for Paradise Lost, what interesting argument does Milton make in Areopagitica? How is this reflective of the 17th century

Answer 38

Milton is arguing that things should be written without censorship.

Question 39

Lit in a Century of Change and Uncertainty (17th): Which famous English writer is often seen as the end of the English Renaissance?

Answer 39

John Milton.