Summary Introduction to the Study of Literature in English book \"The Norton Anthology of English Literature,\" Stephen Greenblat- Summary of the chapter \" Sixteenth Century \" PDF

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Samenvatting van het hoofdstuk \"Sixteenth Century\", vrij uitgebreid. Enkel stukje \"Elizabethan Theatre\" ontbreekt....

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The Sixteenth Century ( 1485-1603) 

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Wild, remote place set apart from all the world ~ Roman poet Virgil o Still seemed like that in 16th century o To be sure some Continental travelers visited an wrote reports More wealthy Englishman traveling to the Continent o Obliged to learn other languages (Fr. It. Sp.) because very few people knew their language o Came home wearing foreign fashion and speak foreign phrases Begin 16th century: English no prestige abroad o Thomas More's Utopia (1515) written in Latin  Gained fame in Europe (yet not published in English until 1550's) Century's end: linguistic self-confidence ~ something extraordinary was happening to their language

The Court and the City Development English language indirectly linked to consolidation English State Social and economic health had been damaged by "Wars of the Roses" o Struggle for royal power between York and Lancaster o Struggle resolved by establishment of the Tudor dynasty (1485-1603)  United the two rival factions  England's barons couldn't oppose power of Crown + church supported royal power o Wily Henry VII imposed a stronger central authority and order on nation o Consolidation progressed throughout entire 16th century o By reign of last Tudor ~ concentrated in itself much of the nation's power  Although they needed consent of Parliament on crucial matters  Court was center of power and culture o Court entertainment: theater and masque o Court fashions in dress and speech o Court tastes in paintings, music and poetry -> shaped taste and imagination of country as a whole  

Culture and power not easy to seperate o Barely any freedom of speech o Limited means of mass communication -> Important public issues aired through entertainment; lyrics 

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In the Middle Ages noblemen guarded their power by keeping their distance from London and the King. In the Tudor era the route to power lay in the proximity to the royal body Proximity held out promise of wealth but also danger o Festive evenings weren't relaxing o Court fostered paranoia, an obsession with spying, secrecy, duplicity and betrayal o Tudor courtiers torn between protecting themselves and pressing need to display themselves Art of intrigue; many turned to Machiavelli's Il Principe ~ guidance on how power may be gained and kept Count Balassare Castiglione's Il Cortegiano ~ advice on cultivation and display of the self o Important to conceal effort that lay behind elegant accomplishments ~ natural Courtiers highly practiced at crafting and deciphering graceful words.

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Many poets were courtiers ~ Sir Thomas Wyatt, Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Walter Ralegh

Court culture performed for small audience; other forces of Tudor England more public Markets expanded significantly, international trade flourished, cities surge in size and importance London fastest growing city in all of Europe o Many immigrants from other parts in England o Wages about 50% higher Literacy increased during 15th century, more during 16th o Prostantism encouraged direct encounter with Bible o Printing made books became cheaper and more plentiful o Reinforced silent reading -> more intimate what had been communal Still stigma around printing ~ less exclusive -> manuscripts more prestige among elite Great innovations in Tudor era were presented as attempts to restore lost links with ancient traditions   

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Renaissance Humanism  

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15th century: English clerics and government officials see cultural and intellectual movements in the cities of Italy. Movement = renaissance -> unleashed new ideas and new social, political and economic forces that displaced spiritual and communal values of Middle Ages. o Achievements of the pagan philosophers of Ancient Greece and Rome more compelling than subtle distinctions drawn by medieval Christian theologians. o unleashed curiosity, individual self-assertation and powerful conviction that man was measure of all things. o Took root when Henry VII reigned, flowered in Henry VIII's reign Flowering not as in Italy (paintings etc) but in the intellectual program and literary vision known as humanism More's Utopia (1516) is an extreme instance of a general humanist interest in education Dutch humanist, Erasmus (close friends with More) was leader in assault what they regarded as a hopelessly narrow and outmoded intellectual culture based on dogmatic adherence to philisophy on Aristotle. English humanists wrote treatises on education to promote learning they regarded most suitable preparation for public service. o Focus shifted from Church to literacy and culteral knowledge o Core of curriculum still Latin Some educators mild, punishment established part, even gifted students Purpose: train sons to speak and write good Latin, sisters were educated at home or noble houses (didn't receive thorough training in ancient languages and literature) Humanists who classically learned didn't know whether to write in English or Latin; national languages seemed unstable o Through nationalism and expansion of reading public, power of vernaculars strengthened Humanist reverence for classics + English pride in the vernacular language = rise to many distinguished translations

The Reformation 

Early 16th century, England one religion: Catholicism o Pope was acknowledged head

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o Roman Catholic Church was central institution o Sacred ritual: Mass Unmarried male clerical hierarchy great power over largely illiterate flock o Bible, liturgy, discussions were in Latin -> few people understood -> mediated to them by priests by church art, music and by liturgic ceremonies of daily life 14th century, church challenged by Lollards (teachings of John Wycliffe and followers) -> supressed until ignited in Germany by Martin Luther Began in 1517 as disputation and grew to revolt that ruptured unity of Western Christendom Luther charged that pope and hierarchy were servants of Satan, salvation depended upon destroying this conspiracy so people could have direct access to God. (translation of Bible) o Common watchwords of the Reformation were sola scriptura and sola fide -> only scriptures have authority in matters of religion and should determine what an individual must believe and practice, only faith of individual can effect a christian's salvation Henry VIII wanted legitemate son; Catherine of Aragon couldn't give him one. o Pope didn't allow him to divorce and marry Anne Boleyn. o (Later he beheaded Anne for adultery and married Jane Seymour) England lurched away from Church of Rome o 1531 Clergy was forced to beg pardon for having usurped royal authority in administration of canon law o 1533, Henry divorced and Anne was crowned Queen. o Act of Supremacy passed and Henry was crowned Supreme Head of the Church in England o People against the oath were beheaded or hanged, convicted, martyred 1547 : Henry died and his son Edward came to the throne. o was also a protestant and reformer o died 6 years later 1553 Mary (half sister of Edward) came to the throne (married to Philip II) o took steps to return to Roman Catholicism o unable to get Parliament to agree but restored Catholic Mass o initiated series of religious persecutions that earned her the name Bloody Mary o For some it came as a liberation -> churches weren't destroyed just hidden away o died childless in 1558 Elizabeth came to the throne (Mary's younger half sister) o Succession assured because protestants regarded marriage to Catherine invalid -> Mary illegitemate child, Catholics regarded marriage to Anne illegitemate -> daughter illegit o Elizabeth outwardedly complied with Catholic views but was secretly leaning towards Protestantism o Evaded traps set out for her o Duringh her coronation she kissed Bible -> signaled England's return to Reformation Many remained loyal to Catholic faith, authorities under Elizabeth moved towards offical Protestant settlement Minority: Puritans wanted to dismantle the Church hierarchy England had gone from Roman Catholicism to Catholicism under supreme headship of English King to guarded Protestantism to radical Protestantism to renewed and aggressive Roman Catholicism to Protestantism

A Female Monarch in a Male World   

Scottish Calvinist minister John Knox thundered against "the monstrous regiment of women" widespread conviction that women were unsuited to wield power over men assumed women were only led by their passions

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Body divided in "body natural" (subject to failings) and "body politic" (timeless and perfect) She assembled group of trustworthy advisors and insisted on making decisions herself Was drawn to the idea of royal absolutism (God had appointed her as deputy to rule kingdom) o Pro's and con's ideas of people assembled in Book of Homilies were read out loud In reality her power was not absolute She had considerable influence but couldn't dictate policy Had authority in the eyes of court and country by means of cult of love Had to be approached on her knees with compliments and in turn she spoke, if she felt like it, in comparable language of love - court moved in atmosphere of romance

The Kingdom in Danger   

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Elizabeth averted massacres and civil wars by moderate compromises but menace was never far off plus continual fears of rebellion, assassination and conspiracy Suspicion swirled around El's second cousin Mary (driven from own kingdown and took refuge in England) Fears of Catholic conspiracies intensified after Spanish armies invaded the Netherlands to stamp out Protestant rebels, after St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of Protestants in France and after assassination of Protestant leader, Willem of Orange Queen's life endangered when assassination of Elizabeth wasn't mortal sin Effect of proclamation was to make life more difficult for English catholics (loyal to queen -> suspicion) Spymaster unearthed other assassination plot and Elizabeth signed death warrant and cousin was beheaded Long anticipated military confrontation was unavoidable (sent by Philip II) o Armada was routed in most famous naval battles then fleet was destroyed by storms

The English and Otherness   

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1485: people devoted little thought to their national identity Events in Tudor Era, break with Rome -> newly aware and proud of Englishness Elizabethan London large population from all over the world o Were mostly protestant refuges protected by government o Not welcome by legal populace 16th century: demonstrations, bloody riots against foreigners who were taking jobs away Also not keen on Scots, Welsh and Irish Medieval England's Jewish population, new target of persecution, had been expelled by Edward I Elizabethans quite fascinated with Jews and Judiasm Government officials ordered the arrest of those suspected to be Jews o Christopher Marlowe's The Jew of Malta o Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice Jew's weren't legally permitted in England until middle of 17th century 16th century England also small African population o some people believed that they were black because of climate o Others believe they had inherited a curse o Regarded blackness as physical defect Black people often used as entertainment Cartwright's Case (1569) "England too Pure an Air for Slaves to breathe in" yet records of black slavery in Elizabethan and Jacobean era

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o Mid 16th century involved in trade that carried of African slaves to New World o 1562 John Hawkins embarked first slaving voyage o Elizabeth didn't agree yet loaned him ships and invested Elizabeth invested in thing that combined aggressive nationalism and pursuit of profit o English acts of piracy, queen investing in raids but not taking any responsibility o Francis Drake sailed, pillaged spanish towns on pacific and reached San Fran, crossed the phillipines and returned around Cape of Good Hope, came back with million pounds in treasure and Elizabeth knighted im on deck of his ship, The Golden Hind

Writers, Printers and Patrons     

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Poetry circulated in manuscripts, copied by reader after reader in personal anthologies or reproduced by professinal scribes for fee No royalties paid to any writer, no copyright St. Paul's Cathedral main bussiness center Freedom of press did not exist Before EA: Stationers' Company responsible for licensing books o only books that had been approved by either 6 privy councilors or the archbishop of Canterbury and bishop of London o Scandalous works weren't really repressed though there have been some horrendous executions Censors focused on works of history and religious treatises Publishers were largely interested in profit margins The more imposing folio format tended to be reserved for those regarding as meriting especially respectful treatment. Elizabethan writers of exalted social standing o Sir Philip Sidney for instance o Poetry was pleasure Writers of lower rank o Samuel Daniel, Michael Drayton o Offering poetry for protection, career advancement or financial reward Financial rewards came in the form of gifts from wealthy patrons wanting to enhance status Before EA: universities devoted to educating clergy, second half of century also sons of gentry and aristocracy Women not allowed in schools but Protestantism (emphasis on Scripture) improved female literacy, still weren't taught how to write

Tudor Style: Ornament, Plainness, and Wonder       

Renaissance literature is product of rhetorical culture 1512: Erasmus published De copia that taught readers verbal richness Renaissance England: figures were shaped and repeated to confer beauty, expressing power Elizabethans had a taste for elaborate ornament in lanuage Creator of euphuism is John Lyly Elizabethans were certainly capable of admiring plainness of speech ~ King Lear, Ben Jonson, Thomas Nashe 16th century was age of superb vocal music o William Byrd, Thomas Morley, John Dowland o Wrote madrigals (for 2-8 vocalists, unaccompanied)

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o Wrote airs (solo voice accompanied by lute o Plain and Easy Introduction to Practical Magic, by Morley Many poems were written to be set to music. Many writers expressed the faith that the universe itself had in its basic constructin the beauty, concord and harmonious order of a poem or piece of music Syntax and punctuation looser, more flexible Seashells were beloved by Renaisance collectors Most important work of literary criticism: Defense of Poesy by Sidney o magical power is also moral power o human sinfulness has corrupted life, robbing it of the sweet wholesomeness it once possessed but poetry can mark the way back to a more virtuous and fulfilled existence Literary codes o Pastoral: shepherds and shepherdesses who are engaging in friendly singing contests, leisure, humility, contentment, conceal serious satiric comments as local concerns o Heroic: values of honor, martial courage, loyalty, leadership, glorification of nation Major succes in heroic poetry is Spenser's Faerie Queene o Poem is mix of genres

The Elizabethan Theater 

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