Tudor Literature Flashcards
What can be said about contemporary expressions of Henry VIII prior to 1530?
Prior to 1530, Henry VIII was glorified as the ideal prince: a combination of personal and kingly perfection
What ended the contemporary optimism of Henry VIIIs kingship according to G. Walker?
G. Walker suggested that veneration of Henry VIII ended with the King’s Great Matter
How did contemporaries criticise Henry VIII?
Henry VIII was criticised via indirect means- he was criticised for tyranny despite his legislation
How did subtetly of criticism vary?
Criticism increased in how subtle it was the closer to the centre of the political nation it was circulating
How does G. Walker criticise historiography with regards to contemporary literature?
G. Walker says that historiography such as G. Elton focuses too much on procedure and ignores nuanced reactions
What were the two conventional ways to respond to monarchical actions?
The two conventional ways to respond to monarchical actions were either works of supplication or counsel to the monarch
How were supplication and counsel conveyed to the monarch?
Either via a weakly worded complaint or a speculum principis
What does speculum principis mean?
Speculum principis means
“mirror for the prince”
What occurred when contemporaries produced texts in an effort to dissuade Henry VIIIs tyranny?
When contemporaries such as John Heywood tried to dissuade tyranny, they revolutionised the English literature tradition
How can a gradual disillusionment with traditional methods of encouraging the monarch be shown?
During Henry VIIIs reign, there was a gradual disillusionment with traditional processes of critique- this is evident in the change in Thomas Elyot’s work
Which two works of Thomas Elyot are drastically different in tone and content?
Thomas Elyot’s 1530 The Book Named the Governor and 1540 The Book of Governance show the disillusionment with systems of critique
How does G. Walker characterise John Heywood’s works and what is this indicative of?
G. Walker characterises John Heywood’s work as scatalogical and bawdy, suggests this shows how multifaceted the Renaissance court was
What does M. Smuts assert about Tudor Court?
M. smuts suggests that the English court, unlike the French, absorbed individuals and influences from outside and vice-versa
What does S. Cerasano assert about the nature of court discourse?
S. Cerasano suggests that courtly discourse was a double edged sword where masking was accepted
If S. Cerasano’s claim of doubled discourse is true, what did this mean for gender?
S. Cerasano’s double discourse which allowed masking liberated upper-class women by allowing them to be both public and private beings
