The
Renaissance
British Literature
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Introduction
The Renaissance, from the
14th to the 17th century,
marked a cultural and
intellectual rebirth in Europe.
Introduction
In this period, happened the
revival of classical learning,
humanism, artistic innovation,
and scientific progress.
Introduction
Profound impact on art,
literature, science, politics,
and the development of
modernity.
The Elizabethan Era
(1558-1603)
The Elizabethan Era, named
after Queen Elizabeth I of
England, was a defining period
in English history that covered
the late 16th century.
GOLDEN AGE OF ENGLISH LITERATURE:
Marked by the literary achievements of
Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Jonson.
Renowned period for English literary
excellence.
CULTURAL BLOOMING:
Advancements in arts, including theater,
music, and visual arts. Iconic theaters like the
Globe were constructed.
EXPLORATION AND EXPANSION:
Era of significant exploration and expansion.
Explorers like Raleigh and Drake paved the
way for the British Empire.
POLITICAL STABILITY:
Under Queen Elizabeth I, England experienced
political stability. Emerged as a powerful
nation in Europe during her reign.
IMPACT
The Elizabethan Era left an enduring
impact on English literature, theater,
and culture, with Shakespeare's works
continuing to be performed and
celebrated worldwide.
The era's It is considered
exploration and a period of
expansion efforts profound
laid the creativity,
foundation for innovation, and
the British artistic
Empire and its achievement.
global influence.
Jacobean Era
Reign of James VI of
Scotland (James I of
England) from 1603.
Succeeds the Elizabethan
era and precedes the
Caroline era.
Distinctive Styles
Jacobean architecture
Visual arts
Decorative arts
Literature
Literature in the Jacobean
Era
Themes carried over from the
Elizabethan era.
Dark and questioning nature
of Jacobean literature.
Jacobean Poetry
Two main streams: Ben Jonson's lucid
verse and intellectual complexity of
Metaphysical poets like John Donne.
Prose in the Jacobean Era
Writers displaying toughness and flexibility
of style.
Writers displaying toughness and flexibility
of style.
Jacobean era
King James Version
Monumental prose achievement in 1611.
Legacy of the Jacobean Era
Influence on subsequent literature, arts, and
culture.
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
LITERATURE
Elizabethan Literature Jacobean Literature
·The reign of Queen Elizabeth I is
considered to be the literary height of
the English Renaissance. ·Dark in mood and questioning the stability
·Golden age of Drama. of the social order.
·Tragedy was the most popular genre.
·Famous poets and dramatists like
The uncertain time in British history due to
Shakespeare and Ben Jonson.
conflicts reflect in works like Macbeth
·Inspiration came from Italian forms and
(Shakespeare) and The Alchemist (Ben
genres such as: Jonson).
oLove sonnets The creation of the King James Version of
oSpenserian stanza the Bible
oDramatic blank verse
Religion
Elizabethan era
·The two major religions in Elizabethan England were the
Catholic and Protestant religions.
·Protestantism as the official religion.
·Allowance to people to practice the Catholic religion
without recrimination.
Jacobean era
·The religious conflict continued during James I reign.
·The Protestants had become powerful and the Catholics
became a minority group.
·The conflict remains.
SOCIETY
What was
society like in
the Jacobean
era?
Society was hierarchical, like a
pyramid, with wealthy aristocrats at
the top, merchants in the middle, and
working class people and servants at
the bottom. Gender roles were
structured as well with men working
outside the house in business and
politics and women performing
housework and taking care of
children.
What was
society like in
the Elizabeth
era?
The Elizabethan society was highly structured,
and the structure was believed to have been
ordered by God. The religious divide was
between the Catholic and Protestant religions.
Under the reign of Elizabeth I, Catholics were
not persecuted for their religion, but were
executed after expressing support for the
Spanish. Social change during the 16th century
was inspired by increased population and
economic inflation.
POLITICS
Elizabeth I era
Queen Elizabeth I was sovereign of
England, meaning she had upmost
authority and rule, compared to the
monarchy today. Elizabethan
government operated on a
hierarchical system. Elizabethans
believed that God had appointed the
monarch and she had the power and
status to grant jobs to those below
her. They in turn granted rewards and
jobs to the people below them and
so on. The Court was the centre of
political power in Elizabethan
England and wealthy people went to
court to try and win the favour of the
queen.
Jacobean era
King James' reign in the Jacobean era was
marked by intense conflict between
protestant and catholic states across Europe.
One of the bloodiest wars in European history,
the Thirty Years War, was fought between 1618
and 1648. While the war began over religion,
its lasting impact would be about the
sovereignty of individual states in Europe.
Jacobean England had a bloodcurdling appetite for violence
MOST REPRESENTATIVE
AUTHORS
Michelangelo
A painter, sculptor, and architect,
Michelangelo is one of the three titans of the
Florentine Renaissance, alongside da Vinci
and Raphael. His works have since exerted
an unparalleled influence on the development
of art
Raphael
A painter and architect, Raphael is known for
his frescoes in the Vatican, including the
School of Athens. He is considered one of the
greatest artists of the High Renaissance
William
Shakespeare
One of the most influential writers in the
English language, Shakespeare wrote some
of the finest and most enduring works of
literature in history, including Romeo and
Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth
Nicolaus
Copernicus
A mathematician and astronomer, Copernicus
is known for his heliocentric model of the solar
system, which placed the sun at the center of
the universe
Machiavelli
A political philosopher and writer, Machiavelli
is often called the father of modern political
philosophy and political science. His ideas
had a profound impact on political leaders
throughout Europe, aided by the new
technology of the printing press
Thomas More
A writer and statesman, More is known for his
book Utopia, which describes an ideal society.
He was also a prominent figure in the English
Reformation
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