The renaissance period in England. Art and literature, development of drama. Dynasties, kings and queens. (0)

The Renaissance
In the history the Middle Ages were followed by the Renassance period . During this period a new class called bourgeoeisie came into being. This is the period when monarchies based on nationality were estabilished. The Renaessance started in Italy In the 14th century . Then it spread all over Europe , reached England in 16th century. The struggle for power culminated in a war called The War of Roses . It was a civil war between two dynasties, families. They had different emblems on one side the Yorks (white rose ) other Lancasters (red). They couldn’t decide who gets the throne. War ended 1485. A new dynasty came to throne, Tudor , the first king in this dynasty was Henry Vll. When he came to throne a period of stability followed because he built a nation based state. He was good at diplomacy.He could avoid quarrels and wars with neigbouring countries. France , Spain - greatest enemies.So he could save much money and thus laid a good economic basis for his state. Besides that he built a merchant fleet (kaubalaevastik) England begun to dominate in international trade. Unfortunately the king got old and died.
Next king was Henry Vlll, second son of the family, wasn’t prepared to become a king. Had to take the role as his elder brother died. Was prepared to come a clergyman – got good education: languages , music, literature . Brother jumped off horse into a river , died in bed. Elder brother was already married . Henry Vlll married with his brothers widow . Catherine of Aragon, she came from Spain, she was arden(innukas) Catholic . At first they had good relations. Soon there were big problems. Had daughter Mary , couldn’t get a son. Needed a new king. Henry decided to get a divorce . Henry wrote a long letter to Pope for a divorce. Pope said no. Then Henry decleared himself the head of English church to get divorce. Catherine was sent to live in countryside and brought up Mary, who was also a Catholic.
Next wife was Anne Bolyn, daughter of a knight. They had daughter called
Elizabeth l. Time went by and Henry had to get rid of Anne, she was sent to tower accused of treason (riigi reetmine) and executed. Henry was free, needed another wife. Had six wives together. 1 died, 1 survived, 2 divorced, 2 killed . Henry had a son, was a king Edward Vl, died very young. Henry was a talented musican and scholar, spent much money on it. Soon he had spent all savings his father had collected, he needed money. He understood that monasteries had become useless. So he closed them , took away the riches – dissolution of monasteries. When henry quarreled with the Pope, made England independent of Rome. Beginning of the Anglican church. Henry died 1547 , only son came to throne Edward Vll, was too young to rule alone . There was acouncil of nobles who did it for him. Unfortunately he died at the age of 16 There was a great problem with finding new king. His daughter Mary became a king. Called Bloody Mary. England had become protestant country . She started oersecuting protestants who were burnt alive . Was said that you could sense the smell of burning flesh all over England.
Mary married with the king of Spain, but Mary couldn’t get a child . She was afraid of her sister , that Elixabeth might murder her and come to the throne and that’s why she sent her to the tower accusing her of treason. When Mary died Elizabeth come to the throne. The peak of English Renassance. She was the ideal of a beautiful woman . She was very well educated (many foreign languages, Latin ). She made peace with Spain and France, built a big fleet considered trade on important matters , in her rule special companies were established to exploit trading possibilities with scandinavia and the far East . The East Indian company was established during her reign . She incourged the …. Of colonies abroad. 1492 Columbus found the centre of America. Elizabeth never got married, she was a virgin .In America state Virgina is named after her. Wales was united with the kingdom, Ireland became the Enlish colony. She had to choose sb to be her hier (troonipärija). James – son of Mary Stuart, Elizabeths cousin, daughters James V. Mary came to the throne when she was 6 days old. In her … she got married to her french prince Francois , she was widow at the age of 16, was sent back to Scotland . The hole life she tried to get to the throne Mary was arrested and put into a tower. Finally Elizabeth ordered Mary to be executed ( dog under skirt, red underwear, wig).
James came to throne, James VI Scotland, James I England 1603. He was a chatolic, not a very clever king. Chatolics were not satisfied with him as the ruler. 1605 Nov 5 a Guy Fawkes day. The Chatolics wanted to blow up parliament along with the king, but unfortunately were betrayed. Soldiers found Guy Fawkes in the celler who was ready to light the powder . G was tortured and executed. Children collect money and buy fireworks on 5th Nov they burn figures , have bonfires, use fireworks.
1621 a ship called “ The Mayflower ” set sail to America, there were protestants who decided to leave England, landed on the eastern shore of America new settlement called New Plymouth. First winter was hard , half of the died. Didn’t knew yet how to build warm houses . Local indians teached to use a plant that saved their life, maize. How to grow it. Got a good crop. In order to thank indians they organized a event thanksgiving. Started with the first settelers. Traditional dish turkey . Indians brought along wild turkey. Traditional sauce was cranberry.
James VII died it finished Tudor dynasty. A new king comes. In 15th and 16th century England entered period of capitalism. Wool made england rich english understood that it’s much more useful to make up smll factories to produce wool. Needed more sheep, more pastures for them. Took way common lands, surrounded them with fences. This process is called the enclosure (tarastamine). Peasants lost grass land, couldn’t grow animals , had to move to big towns.

Science and learning

1492 America was discovered by Columbus. Vasco da Gama found searoute to India (Suessi kanal 1950). Magalhaesi väin between South America and Tulemaa saar. He circumnavigated the Earth.
Copernic claimed that the sun was the centre of the universe and other planets went around it.
Establishment of Protestant churches movement was started by Martin Luther. Different branches of this movement in France Calvinism, Chatolic. Constant conflic between them in Ulster ( North-Ireland).
In the 15th century printing was diccovered in Germany. 1476 a man called Caxton opened the first printing shop in London. Books became cheaper . Until that books were copied by clergyman. More books could be produced. Literacy spread, knowledge of reading . By te end of Renaissance half of the people could read. Monasteries wasn’t so important anymore . Grammar schools came. Students are taught English, Latin, Ancient History, Greek , Religion and Arithmetic. One of the oldest schools was Stratford , Shakespeare taught there.

Art and Literature

The word Renaissance means the rebirth of ancient Rome and Greek art and literature. Ancient artists showed man as a creature full of joy of life and they glorified the beauty of man.
The learned man tried to arouse (äratada) peoples interest in the origin of nature. A group of scientists called humanists came into being. Were gratelyinterested in science. Especially natural science, fond of experimenting (alkeemia). Leonardo da Vinci ( helikopter, kuldlõige), Michelangelo . Petrarka tõi sonetivormi, Cervantes “ Don Quijote ”, Shakespeare.

Development of Drama

During the renaissance period art and literature developed quickly. People were fond of singingand acting. Enjoyed life. Drama became most important genre of literature in this period. Drama as a genre started already in the middle ages. At the beginning it was a religious thing, because acting in those days was part of religious ceremony. Oldest plays were called mysteries and miracles, played by clergyman, showed scenes from Christ ’s life and saints lives . Were performed on religious holidays in church and they both encluded many choral elements ( singing ). Often formed cycles, several strories about same event
14th century guilds became responsble for performing certain parts of saints lives and they performed them on cart that were pushed around in town. People who belonged to guild were actors , craftmen. At the end of 14th morality plays appeared and they were single plays. Aim was to teach people a moral lesson. Often dramatized these plays the conflict between good and evil . Characters were different vices and virtues. Bestknown morality was “Everyman” written 1485.
In the 16th century more human themes were dealt with in plays. Different types of palys. Interludes are one act plays, staged in richman houses and the aim was to entertain.
In court the court masque included dancing, singing, scenery and costumes . Based on mythology and allegorie. Characters were fairies etc. Often actors were members of the court. Also king or queen . Louise XV was fonf of acting, often took part. At the end of 16th start 17th saw the appearance of professional actors. They travelled from town to town in caravan. In 1572 a law was past that stated that only the actors belonging to certain companies were aloud to perform . These companies were: The actors of Earl Leicaster, Earl of Warwick and Earl of Southampton and queen Elizabeths actors. It was forbidden to give performances on Sunday (church day), pubs were also closed. At first shown in inyards. In 1576 the first playhouse was built in London called “The Theatre ”. In 1599 another was built called “The Globe ”. Shakespeares tragedies were performed there. Original has burnt down. Nowadays there is new “The Globe”. Stage in the middle, audience surrounded it. Theatre house had balkony, mad use of it. No curtins. Got light from sun or candles, torches. Many burnt down.
Almost none scenery and decorations. Audience was informed with signs where was written where the action took place . Action was very quick, continoius. Actors were men and boys .
Drama was divided into tragedy and comedy . First one swere imitations of ancient Roman tragedies and comedies. The first playwrights were men of academic learning. Called Universitie Wits. First plays were the plays of action, situations were natural. Characters were real humans with their vices and virtues.
The first outstanding playwright was Christopher Marlowe 1564- 1593 . Born in Canterbury son of a cobbler . In 1580 went to Cambridge university , showed himself as atheist. During his schoolyears he was nutorious of his violent and disreputable behaviour ( kaak ). In 1584 he got his bachelor of Arts . Is thought that he belonged to Elizabeths secret service. Was reason why didn’t get his masters degree . 1587 wrote “Tamburlaine the Great” was suspected from the beginning. After that “ Doctor Faustus ”, “The Jew of Malta” etc. In his playshe reveals the true spirit of the Renaissance. Main themes are lust for power. The desire to do a way with the old restriction of the church. Problems were morality and ruthless ambition. His main contribution to literature is the elaboration (väljatöötamine) of plank verse . Died very young aged 29, was murdered. Service for inteligence or simple fight in pub was stabbed.
Thomas More (1478-1535)
Born in London, educated in Oxford , was lawyer and MP ( member of parliament) was a Chatolic. Fought against Popes and the kings absolute power( Henry VIII). Refused to obey the king as the head of the English church due to that he was sent to the tower and beheaded as a traitor. Lateer decleared as a saint.
Literature: Wrote many books “ Utopia ” 1516 a bit fiction . Political essay that consists of two parts. Written in Latin, after his death translated into many European languages, especially popular in 19th century. The book is authors imiginary conversation with Raphael Hythody who was a traveller. I part describes what R.H. thought of England and points to vices that he had seen . Enclosure and after effects. II part H. visits an unknown land called Utopia and he states that Utopia is an ideal republic because:

The Government is elected

No private property- everybody gets as much they need

Everybody works

After work people enjoy music, art and sport .

The most difficult vwork is done by slaves

All schooling is free

Old peaple are honoured and the oldest becomes the governor

Utopians think that a man must be healthy and wise but not rich

William Shakespeare

23. April 1574 - 23. April 1616 . Born in Stratford-Upon- Avon . His father was a merchant and for some time was one of the leading citizens of the town. S.-s mother came from the family of a rich farmer and there were 8 children in S.-s family. William was third of them. He attended the local grammar school had to leave school at the age of 16because his father lost his property. He started working . When he was 18 he married Ann Hathaway who was rich farmers daughter, had 3 children. First Susanna , then the twins Judith and Hamlet .
In 1596 S left Stratford because he had had a quarrel with the local squire went to London at first was an actor . Then begun revising old plays and in some time started writing himself (poems). 1593-1594 two long poems were written “Lucrece” and “ Venus and Adonis ” were dedicated to the Earl of Southampton.
After that strated writing plays, was prolific( viljakas), average was 2 plays a year . First plays were displayed at “The Theatre” and “The Curtin”. World famous tragedies were performed at “The Globe”. Was quite well off. Became shareholder (aktsionär) in several theatres . i.e. was one of the owners of the theatres. Begun buying property both in London and Stratford. Is career as a dramatist lasted for 20 years . After that ver difficult years followed because he lost his parents , brother and only son with short time. In about 1610 he left London and settled down in Stratford. Was 52 when died. Buried in the local church in Stratford.
Before death designed his own epitaph( text on tombstone). If anybody touched is bones and ashes, he would be cursed. That stopped reburying
Three periods in his literary period
I Optimistic period
II Pessimistic period
III Romantic
The Optimistic period
He wrote poems and sonnets (154), world famous comedies, bright comedies, two tragedies “ Romeo and Juliet” and some historical plays. 4 different items .

Sonnet

A poem of 14 lines, perfected in Italy by Petrarch. Each line has 10 syllables an d the stress is on everu other syllable. Adressed on two people. One was so called The Dark Lady. Other was The Writers Young Friend . Started to wrote them because sonnets abled him to criticise various human vices to express his feelings of love and friendship and his admiration of beauty. The above mentioned themes were very important in the Renaissance period. The ideal woman of those days looked like Elizabeth I. She had golden hair and … complection, but The Dark Lady was totally different from ideal. Other person was The Young Friend. Maybe was the Earl of Southampton. Author and Young Friend are sincere friend until a woman appears . The author is aware of fact that his beloved Lady is not true to him and he can’t trust his friend either. This makes the author suffer twice. So one can find traditional triangle of love in the sonnets.

Comedy

Bright in I period and dark in the II. Characterstic features are:

Although the comedies take the reader to Italy they reflect England in the Renaissance period

The characters are Renaissance men and women whose aim in life is to enjoy life.

Sometimes the comediesare full of sorrow and heartbreak but they always have a happy end.

The Author’s aim is to take the spectator away from everyday troubles.

Used funny situations and funny characters for comic effect .

Belives in man’s virtues.

The language is smooth and flowing .

The problems of comedies are serious at core ( olemuselt , tuumalt) and they contain deep philosophical thoughts.
“A Midsummer Nights Dream”
“The Merchant of Venice”
“Much Ado About Nothing”
“The Marry Wives of Windsor ”
“The 12th Night ”
“The Taming of a Shrew”
“Two Gentleman of Rome”