Unit 2Unit 2English English

RenaissanceRenaissanceBritish LiteratureBritish Literature

Ms. CarrollMs. Carroll

20082008

Elizabethan PeriodElizabethan Period

English Renaissance also called Elizabethan English Renaissance also called Elizabethan EraEra

Named for Queen Elizabeth I, ruled for 45 Named for Queen Elizabeth I, ruled for 45 yearsyears

Time of English RenaissanceTime of English Renaissance

-expansion of British domination overseas-expansion of British domination overseas

-rising Nationalism and imperialism (until -rising Nationalism and imperialism (until 2020thth c) c)

-growth in arts and sciences-growth in arts and sciences

-civil order enforced-civil order enforced

Elizabethan Period Elizabethan Period cont’dcont’d

London grew 5x its medieval sizeLondon grew 5x its medieval size Trade with AsiaTrade with Asia Increase in middle classIncrease in middle class

-schools/education available for all -schools/education available for all

PoetryPoetry

Less narrative and more personalLess narrative and more personal Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry HowardSir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard

Brought influence of Petrarchan sonnetBrought influence of Petrarchan sonnet 14 lines14 lines Octet and sestetOctet and sestet

Difficult to translateDifficult to translate Sir Phillip Sydney introduced variation of Sir Phillip Sydney introduced variation of

sonnetsonnet Perfected by Shakespeare, called Perfected by Shakespeare, called

ShakespeareanShakespearean

Metaphysical PoetsMetaphysical Poets

Comes laterComes later Appeals to mind not emotionAppeals to mind not emotion Speculates about philosophySpeculates about philosophy The poems are tightly woven with dense The poems are tightly woven with dense

meaningmeaning Use of conceit, an extended metaphorUse of conceit, an extended metaphor John Donne, most prominentJohn Donne, most prominent Often religious themesOften religious themes Language often colloquialLanguage often colloquial

Cavalier PoetsCavalier Poets

Under the leadership of Stuarts, Under the leadership of Stuarts, after Elizabethafter Elizabeth

Ben Jonson, literary leader of the Ben Jonson, literary leader of the timetime

Robert Herrick, adopted the Roman Robert Herrick, adopted the Roman carpe diemcarpe diem Hesperides poemsHesperides poems

ProseProse

Development of the essayDevelopment of the essay Dominant figuresDominant figures

BaconBacon MoreMore

DramaDrama

Flowered during the Elizabethan periodFlowered during the Elizabethan period Began as mini-plays in Latin Began as mini-plays in Latin Pope Urban 4Pope Urban 4thth established Corpus established Corpus

Christi festivalsChristi festivals Similar to Greek and Roman theatre Similar to Greek and Roman theatre

although the Elizabethans knew little although the Elizabethans knew little about themabout them

Shakespeare and Marlow dominant Shakespeare and Marlow dominant figures of timefigures of time

Drama cont’dDrama cont’d

Acting guilds developed 14Acting guilds developed 14thth-16-16thth centuriescenturies

Morality plays progressed into Morality plays progressed into ‘drama’‘drama’

Professional acting troupes develop Professional acting troupes develop and theatres are builtand theatres are built

TragedyTragedy Tragedy is literary term for drama with Tragedy is literary term for drama with

serious and important actions and often serious and important actions and often disastrous results for protagonistdisastrous results for protagonist

Aristotle defines as “serious actions complete Aristotle defines as “serious actions complete in self”in self”

Catharsis: sympathetic reaction in audience Catharsis: sympathetic reaction in audience has a purifying resulthas a purifying result

Tragic flaw– what causes protagonist’s Tragic flaw– what causes protagonist’s downfall, often hubrisdownfall, often hubris

In In MacbethMacbeth, we see influence of Senecan , we see influence of Senecan dramadrama Involves revenge, murder, mutilation, and ghostsInvolves revenge, murder, mutilation, and ghosts

Elizabethan tragedy and Elizabethan tragedy and tragic heroestragic heroes

Member of power class by birth, conquest, or Member of power class by birth, conquest, or usurpationusurpation

More fully realized human, heightened powers and More fully realized human, heightened powers and destinydestiny

Fate in combination of what others do and what he Fate in combination of what others do and what he doesdoes

IndividualistIndividualist Represents universal human kindRepresents universal human kind Intelligent and sensitiveIntelligent and sensitive Learns through sufferingLearns through suffering IsolatedIsolated Shows personal courage in accepting death/defeatShows personal courage in accepting death/defeat

““Freytag Pyramid” for Freytag Pyramid” for tragic structuretragic structure

Act 1– expositionAct 1– exposition Act 2– rising actionAct 2– rising action Act 3– turning pointAct 3– turning point Act 4– falling actionAct 4– falling action Act 5– catastropheAct 5– catastrophe

The true story…The true story…

Differences between play and historyDifferences between play and history Knew little of 1044 Scotland in England 1606Knew little of 1044 Scotland in England 1606 Duncan I, king in 1034 after killing grandfatherDuncan I, king in 1034 after killing grandfather Macbeth kills Duncan and rules for 17 yearsMacbeth kills Duncan and rules for 17 years 1057, Malcolm raised army with help of English 1057, Malcolm raised army with help of English

and defeated Macbethand defeated Macbeth Shakespeare got his story from Holinshed Shakespeare got his story from Holinshed

ChroniclesChronicles In the history books, Macbeth’s wife is hardly In the history books, Macbeth’s wife is hardly

mentionedmentioned

MacbethMacbeth, the play, the play Written in 1606Written in 1606 Written for James I of England (who was Written for James I of England (who was

James VI of Scotland)James VI of Scotland) Scottish ancestry, descendent of Banquo-Fleance Scottish ancestry, descendent of Banquo-Fleance

lineline Some question on the legitimacy of this claimSome question on the legitimacy of this claim

Shakespeare polished the history for a more Shakespeare polished the history for a more positive viewpositive view

Fascinated by witches/supernatural, after three Fascinated by witches/supernatural, after three women confessed to witchcraft to try to sink his women confessed to witchcraft to try to sink his ship– the women were brunedship– the women were bruned

Just after a plot to murder king, relevant themeJust after a plot to murder king, relevant theme Supports divine authority of kingSupports divine authority of king

MacbethMacbeth, the play , the play (cont’d)(cont’d)

One of the last tragedies Shakespeare wroteOne of the last tragedies Shakespeare wrote An action-packed, psychological thrillerAn action-packed, psychological thriller Simple in plot structure: rise and fall of manSimple in plot structure: rise and fall of man Most complex and probing study of heroMost complex and probing study of hero Weaves symbolism, imagery, and ironyWeaves symbolism, imagery, and irony Written primarily in blank verseWritten primarily in blank verse Addresses the self-defeating character of evilAddresses the self-defeating character of evil Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most

compelling characters; this is one of his compelling characters; this is one of his greatest tragedies.greatest tragedies.

The question for you is WHY???????The question for you is WHY???????

ThemesThemes

Things are not what they seemThings are not what they seem Blind ambitionBlind ambition Power corruptsPower corrupts The power of superstition on human The power of superstition on human

behaviorbehavior What other themes do you see?What other themes do you see?

Literary DevicesLiterary Devices

Allusion– mythological and BiblicalAllusion– mythological and Biblical Figurative language– imagery, Figurative language– imagery,

similes, metaphors, personification, similes, metaphors, personification, alliterationalliteration

SymbolismSymbolism ForeshadowingForeshadowing Dramatic ironyDramatic irony AmbiguityAmbiguity

Lady Gruoch MacbethLady Gruoch Macbeth

What motivates her?What motivates her? Wants to deny her femininityWants to deny her femininity Abuses husbandAbuses husband What does her character reveal about What does her character reveal about

Shakespeare’s belief of women?Shakespeare’s belief of women? Historically she was married to Historically she was married to

Gillacomgain; Macbeth killed him, Gillacomgain; Macbeth killed him, married her, and raised son Lulachmarried her, and raised son Lulach

The WitchesThe Witches Appropriate given interest in topic by James IAppropriate given interest in topic by James I In Shakespeare’s time many believed in witchesIn Shakespeare’s time many believed in witches Called “Weird Sisters” a reference to Holinshed’s Called “Weird Sisters” a reference to Holinshed’s

ChroniclesChronicles, but referred to as goddesses of fate, but referred to as goddesses of fate Shakespeare presents them as typical witchesShakespeare presents them as typical witches Reminiscent of the three Fates of Greek myth and Reminiscent of the three Fates of Greek myth and

three Norns of Norse myththree Norns of Norse myth Instruments of darknessInstruments of darkness Manifestations of evil in the worldManifestations of evil in the world Tempters… they appeal to what Macbeth wants to Tempters… they appeal to what Macbeth wants to

believebelieve Symbols of the potential for evil in the human Symbols of the potential for evil in the human

imaginationimagination A permanent feature of landscape; they are not A permanent feature of landscape; they are not

defeateddefeated

To think about as you To think about as you readread

What makes this a tragedy? What makes What makes this a tragedy? What makes Macbeth a tragic character/hero?Macbeth a tragic character/hero?

Why does Macbeth do what he does? What Why does Macbeth do what he does? What role does Lady Macbeth (Gruoch) play?role does Lady Macbeth (Gruoch) play?

What psychological things are happening in What psychological things are happening in play?play?

What is the relationship between Macbeth What is the relationship between Macbeth and his wife? How are they alike? How are and his wife? How are they alike? How are they different?they different?

Is humanity fundamentally amoral? Is humanity fundamentally amoral?