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Cultural and Literary Expression in the English Renaissance
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In order to take this course you must:
√ Have access to a computer.
√ Have continuous broadband Internet access.
√ Have the ability/permission to install plug-ins or software (e.g., Adobe Reader or Flash).
√ Have the ability to download and save files and documents to a computer.
√ Have the ability to open Microsoft files and documents (.doc, .ppt, .xls, etc.).
√ Be competent in the English language.
√ Have read the Saylor Student Handbook.Unit Outline show close
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Unit 1: Cultural and Historical Contexts
Let’s begin this course by taking stock of the various cultural and historical developments that would shape and give rise to the literature of the English Renaissance. The period saw a number of dramatic changes in politics (a number of chaotic transformations in monarchic governance took place), religion (the Protestant Church split with the Catholic faith), world power (England expanded its power in the New World), and culture (the Italian Renaissance arrived!). We will learn about each of these developments in detail, relating them to one another and imagining the influence that these changes would have on conceptualizations of the self and the world.
- 1.1 The Renaissance
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1.1.1 Defining the Renaissance
- Reading: The Open University’s “Looking at the Renaissance – Defining the Renaissance”
Link: The Open University’s “Looking at the Renaissance – Defining the Renaissance”(HTML)
Instructions: Please read this brief overview for a general understanding of what the Renaissance was all about and how contemporary scholars are reinterpreting its origins and cultural legacy.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: CUNY-Brooklyn: Professor Lilia Melani’s “General Characteristics of the Renaissance”
Link: Lilia Melani’s “General Characteristics of the Renaissance”(HTML) adapted from A Guide to the Study of Literature: A Companion Text for Core Studies 6, Landmarks of Literature.
Instructions: Read this selection from the text used by students in Brooklyn College’s English Department for an expansive overview of the significant trends that defined Renaissance thinking.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Open University’s “Looking at the Renaissance – Defining the Renaissance”
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1.1.2 A Return to Classical Traditions
- Reading: Palo Alto College-Palo Alto: Professor Michael S. Seiferth’s “Classical Influences On the Renaissance”
Link: Michael S. Seiferth’s “Classical Influences On The Renaissance”(HTML)
Instructions: Disregard the two brief introductory paragraphs. Read the first six paragraphs of these lecture notes from Palo Alto College Professor Michael S. Seiferth concerning the influence of classical works upon the Renaissance in general and the work of Plato and Aristotle upon the literature of the English Renaissance specifically.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: The Library of Congress’ “Rome Reborn: The Vatican Library & Renaissance Culture” exhibition: “Humanism”
Link: The Library of Congress’ “Rome Reborn: The Vatican Library & Renaissance Culture” exhibition: “Humanism”(HTML)
Instructions: Read the introduction and all four sections (“Seeking the Wisdom of the Ancients,” “Scholarship Challenges Tradition,” “Linguistic Correctness,” and “Confronting the Original Texts”) to this superb collection of Renaissance printing from the Vatican’s library. As you read, click on the images for a closer look at books and printed materials in the collection.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Palo Alto College-Palo Alto: Professor Michael S. Seiferth’s “Classical Influences On the Renaissance”
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1.1.3 Italian Influences
- Reading: from Peter Borghesi’s “Petrarch and His Influence on English Literature”
Link: Archive.org’s version of Peter Borghesi’s “Petrarch and His Influence on English Literature”(PDF)
Also available on Google Books
Instructions: Read pages 23-28 (through the first full paragraph) of Italian author Borghesi’s 1906 work for a lively discussion of the manner in which Italian culture and literature made its mark on English writers such as Geoffrey Chaucer and led to the English Renaissance.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: from Peter Borghesi’s “Petrarch and His Influence on English Literature”
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1.1.4 Humanism and Utopianism
- Reading: Nicolaa de Bracton’s “Humanism: An Introduction”
Link: Nicolaa de Bracton’s “Humanism: An Introduction”(HTML)
Instructions: “Magistra Nicolaa de Bracton” is the nom de plume of Susan Carroll-Clarke, a medievalist and essayist whose writing here provides a clear understanding of the essential concepts related to humanism.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpages above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: American Public University: Steven Kreis’ “The Medieval Synthesis and the Discovery of Man: The Renaissance” followed by “Renaissance Humanism” by the same author
Links: American Public University: Professor Steven Kreis’ “The Medieval Synthesis and the Discovery of Man: The Renaissance”(HTML) and “Renaissance Humanism”(HTML)
Instructions: Read the entire text of this excellent parsing of Humanism during the Renaissance from American Public University Professor Steven Kreis, an early pioneer in using online resources to benefit college students.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpages above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Illinois State University-Normal
“From the Organic Society to Utopian Civic Virtue: Reforming the Poor and Re-Forming the Social Order in England, 1500-1550”(HTML)
Instructions: For an analysis of the role English Renaissance Utopianism played in creating the modern understanding of the poor and disenfranchised, read Chapter III “A Utopian World of Virtue: Society Reconfigured, the Poor Reformed” from Professor Beier’s scholarly essay.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpages above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Nicolaa de Bracton’s “Humanism: An Introduction”
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1.1.5 A Spirit of Inquiry
- Lecture: U.C.L.A.-Los Angeles: Professor Eugen Weber “The Renaissance and the Age of Discovery” Lecture from The Western Tradition series produced by Annenberg Media.
Link: Professor Eugen Weber’s “The Renaissance and the Age of Discovery”(Requires Flash) from The Western Tradition series of lectures
Instructions: Scroll down to lecture #25, “The Renaissance and the Age of Discovery” and click on the “VoD” link to watch celebrated Professor Eugen Weber’s 27:32 minute lecture that offers a captivating and well-rounded overview of the spirit of inquiry that suffused the Renaissance.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Lecture: U.C.L.A.-Los Angeles: Professor Eugen Weber “The Renaissance and the Age of Discovery” Lecture from The Western Tradition series produced by Annenberg Media.
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1.1.6 The Advent of the Printing Press and Literacy
- Reading: Merry Wiesner-Hanks’ “The World of the Renaissance Print Shop”
Link: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Professor Merry Wiesner-Hanks’ “The World of the Renaissance Print Shop”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this excellent lecture on printing and the Renaissance by Distinguished Professor of History Merry Wiesner-Hanks which covers everything from the wine-presses which were adapted to make early printing machines to the popular, often salacious, content which the public demanded thereby influencing the history of Western culture.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: BBC Four Television’s “The Machine That Made Us” hosted by Stephen Fry
Link: BBC Four Television’s “The Machine That Made Us” (Adobe Flash)
Instructions: Watch this fascinating, hour-long documentary hosted by respected technology writer Stephen Fry who travels to France and Germany to explore the origins of printing and the amazing life story of Johannes Gutenberg. Further, Mr. Fry and his team attempt to build a Guttenberg press from scratch as well as paper using period technology.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Web Media: Alternate Video: “1455: Printing Press” by the Christian Heritage Museum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-BEI_4D7tQ
See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Merry Wiesner-Hanks’ “The World of the Renaissance Print Shop”
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1.1.7 The Prestige of Latin Versus Pride in the Vernacular
- Reading: The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, Volume III. Renascence [sic] and Reformation. Chapter XX. The Language from Chaucer to Shakespeare. Section 3. “Growing importance of the vernacular.”
Link: Bartleby.com’s version of The Cambridge History of English and American Literature’s “Growing Importance of the Vernacular”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this scholarly assessment of the transition from Latin to the vernacular in England during the Renaissance taken from the 18 volume work that came out between 1907 and 1921 and redefined the study of English and American literature.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, Volume III. Renascence [sic] and Reformation. Chapter XX. The Language from Chaucer to Shakespeare. Section 3. “Growing importance of the vernacular.”
- 1.2 The Reformation and Religious Issues
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1.2.1 John Wycliffe and Other Early Challenges to the Church’s Power
- Reading: Thomas E. Martin, Jr.’s “John Wycliffe”
Link: Britannia Biographies’ “John Wycliffe”(HTML) by Thomas E. Martin, Jr.
Instructions: Read this concise biography of an early English dissenter to find out why his bones were dug up, burned and scattered on water.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Jeff Hobbs’ “The History of Lollardy”
Link: Britannia History’s “The History of Lollardy”(HTML) by Jeff Hobbs
Instructions: Read this excellent summary of the activities of the followers of John Wycliffe and how their actions set the stage for the Protestant Reformation in England.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Thomas E. Martin, Jr.’s “John Wycliffe”
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1.2.2 Martin Luther and the 95 Theses
- Reading: Greatsite.com’s “Martin Luther”
Link: Greatsite.com’s “Martin Luther”(HTML)
Instructions: Given Martin Luther’s role in shaping Christianity it’s only appropriate that this superb biography should appear on one of the world’s foremost dealers of rare and antique Bibles. The biography should be read in its entirety.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: Video: PBS Video’s “Martin Luther: The Reluctant Revolutionary”
Link: PBS Video’s “Martin Luther: The Reluctant Revolutionary”(YouTube)
Instructions: Watch the 55 minute installment in PBS’ “Empires” series from 2003 for a somewhat dramatic but historically accurate and thoroughly entertaining discussion of Martin Luther’s world and the impact of his 95 theses.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Greatsite.com’s “Martin Luther”
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1.2.3 Henry VIII Becomes Head of the Church in England
- Reading: royal.gov.uk’s “Henry VIII”
Link: royal.gov.uk’s biographical entry for “Henry VIII (r.1509-1547)”(HTML)
Instructions: What better place to learn about a British monarch than the “The Official Website of the British Monarchy”? This overview of Henry VIII’s life and reign provides a solid foundation for understanding the tumultuous years of his rule.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Theodore Harvey’s “Henry VII: A Machiavellian Musical Monarch”
Link: Theodore Harvey’s “Henry VII: A Machiavellian Musical Monarch”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this opinion article by professional cellist and British royalty expert Theodore Harvey for an interesting study of Henry VIII’s participation in, and support of, the arts during his reign.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: royal.gov.uk’s “Henry VIII”
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1.2.4 Cultural and Social Impact of the Protestant Reformation
- Reading: The Norton Anthology of English Literature’s “Dissent, Doubt and Spiritual Violence on the Reformation: Overview”
Link: The Norton Anthology of English Literature’s “Dissent, Doubt and Spiritual Violence on the Reformation: Overview”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this helpful overview of the Reformation from one of academia’s most trusted sources for top-notch scholarly work and anthologies of primary sources.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Norton Anthology of English Literature’s “Dissent, Doubt and Spiritual Violence on the Reformation: Overview”
- 1.3 Elizabethan England
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1.3.1 Genealogy of the Monarchy
- Web Media: Chart: University of Tennessee-Martin: Professor Glenn Everett’s “Kings and Queens of England from 1485 to the Present”
Link: Professor Glenn Everett’s “Kings and Queens of England from 1485 to the Present”(HTML)
Instructions: Review Professor Everett’s helpful chart to better understand the monarchical relationships during the Renaissance.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: Chart: University of Tennessee-Martin: Professor Glenn Everett’s “Kings and Queens of England from 1485 to the Present”
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1.3.2 From Henry VIII to Elizabeth I: Major Differences and Developments
- Reading: Dr. Richard Hooker’s “Reformation: Protestant England”
Link: Washington State University-Pullman: Dr. Richard Hooker’s “Reformation: Protestant England”(HTML)
Instructions: For a concise overview of the monarchs from Henry VIII through Elizabeth I, read this page from Dr. Hooker’s superb online compendium of lessons and materials “World Civilizations” designed for use by freshmen.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: Dr. Richard Hooker’s “Reformation: Protestant England”
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1.3.3 Queen Elizabeth—Life and Legacy
- Reading: Britroyals’ “Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603)”
Link: Britroyals’ “Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603)”(HTML)
Instructions: Review this helpful page of content for a biography, images, a timeline, quotations and even a sample of the Queen’s signature for your perusal.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: King’s College-Wilkes-Barre: Professor Karen Woods’
“Queen Elizabeth I of England”(HTML)
Instructions: As part of the Women’s History site maintained by Professor Brian V. Pavlac, this contribution by Professor Woods offers a brief but thoughtful overview of Elizabeth I’s reign as well as a helpful bibliography with notes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Andre Hurault-Sieur de Maisse’s “An Audience with Queen Elizabeth I, 1597”
Link: EyeWitness to History.com’s version of Andre Hurault-Sieur de Maisse’s “An Audience with Queen Elizabeth I, 1597”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this brief excerpt from the journal of the French Ambassador to Elizabeth’s court and the revealing commentary that accompanies it.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Britroyals’ “Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603)”
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1.3.4 Colonial Endeavors
- Reading: Professor Howard Mumford Jones’ “Origins of the Colonial Idea in England”
Link: JSTOR’s version of Professor Howard Mumford Jones’ “Origins of the Colonial Idea in England”(PDF) from “The Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society” (Vol. 85, No. 5, September 30, 1942)
Instructions: Read this article (pp. 448-465) by esteemed Harvard University English professor Howard Mumford Jones for an incredibly well-informed and enlightening investigation into the philosophical and artistic underpinnings to the English Renaissance colonial enterprise including a brief discussion as to why Englishmen believed Irish savages ate young children. Note – you may ignore the footnotes if you wish though they are, like the remainder of Mumford’s writing here, well worth the time spent.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: Harvard University-Cambridge: W.A. Neilson’s “The Elizabethan Adventurers” from Harvard Classics Vol. 51: Lectures on the Harvard Classics
Link: Bartleby.com’s version of W.A. Neilson’s “The Elizabethan Adventurers”(HTML)
Also available on Google Books
Instructions: Read this fine summary of the English explorers with a brief foray into the origin of travel narratives from esteemed scholar Professor W.A. Neilson.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Professor Howard Mumford Jones’ “Origins of the Colonial Idea in England”
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1.3.5 The Rise of Nationalism
- Reading: Hans Kohn’s “The Genesis and Character of English Nationalism”
Link: Hans Kohn’s “The Genesis and Character of English Nationalism”(PDF)
Instructions: Read Part I (pp 69-79) of this excellent, scholarly essay written by renowned Jewish philosopher and historian Hans Kohn during the period of time that he taught of modern history at Smith College in Northampton, MA.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: Hans Kohn’s “The Genesis and Character of English Nationalism”
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1.3.6 Court Culture
- Reading: crossref-it.info’s “Elizabethan Court Life”
Link: crossref-it.info’s “Elizabethan Court Life”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this brief breakdown of the major aspects of life in Elizabeth’s court
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Victoria-Victoria: Professor Michael Best’s “Court Life” articles from the Internet Shakespeare Edition
Link: Professor Michael Best’s “Court Life”(HTML) articles
Instructions: After you’ve accessed the “Court Life” main page, use the links to access to the following brief but flavorful articles:
- “An office for revels?”
- “Tournaments and duels”
- “Chivalry and honour”
- “The ideal courtier”
- “Jesters and fools”
- “Court politics”
- “Court fashion”
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: crossref-it.info’s “Elizabethan Court Life”
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1.3.7 The Growth of the City and City Life
- Reading: Elizabethan.org’s version of “The City of London” excerpted from Anthony Burgess’ “Shakespeare”
Link: “The City of London”(HTML) (excerpted from Anthony Burgess’ “Shakespeare”
Instructions: Read this very brief but colorful summary of Elizabethan London by one of England’s most respected modern authors.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Oklahoma-Norman: Professor Stephen M. Sutherland’s “Elizabethan London: A Study in Historical Geography”
Link: Professor Stephen M. Sutherland’s “Elizabethan London: A Study in Historical Geography” (PDF)
Instructions: Under "Section F, Geography" please find the last item; follow this link to open a PDF version of Professor Sutherland’s wonderfully lucid and detailed overview of London during the Elizabethan era.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Elizabethan.org’s version of “The City of London” excerpted from Anthony Burgess’ “Shakespeare”
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Unit 2: Prose and Polemical Writing
In this unit, we will acquaint ourselves with some of the most noteworthy prose and polemical works of Renaissance-era England, discussing their various rhetorical strategies and practices while relating them to their historical contexts. We will approach these works by author rather than by subject in order to provide us with a fuller portrait of the works in their respective contexts.
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2.1 Thomas More
Note on the text: In Utopia, Thomas More imagines a society and its various religious, social, and political customs as a means to criticize and contrast the politics of his times. As with many humanists, he is interested in education and reform.
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2.1.1 Brief Overview of Thomas More and His Philosophies
- Reading: The History Guide’s “Sir Thomas More, 1478-1535” excerpted from T.E. Bridgett’s “Life and Writings of Blessed Thomas More” (1913)
Link: The History Guide’s “Sir Thomas More, 1478-1535”(HTML)
Instructions: Read both the brief overview of More’s life and philosophy as well as the character description by More’s contemporary and fellow philosopher Desiderius Erasmus which follows.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The History Guide’s “Sir Thomas More, 1478-1535” excerpted from T.E. Bridgett’s “Life and Writings of Blessed Thomas More” (1913)
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2.1.2 Utopianism and Humanism—Contemporary Examples
- Reading: Julia R. Nelson’s “Sir Thomas More, Christian Humanism and Utopia”
Link: University of Wisconsin-Madison: Julia R. Nelson’s “Sir Thomas More, Christian Humanism and Utopia” (PDF)
Instructions: From the link above, please select the final link on the page to access the reading in PDF format. This excerpt from Julia R. Nelson’s undergraduate honor’s thesis was published in Archive: A Journal of Undergraduate History (Volume 7, May 2004). Read pages 59-66 (up to the section titled “Utopia”) for an excellent summary of the various trends of contemporary thought that preceded More’s Utopia.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: Alternate Reading: Utopian Thought and Imagination: An Introduction
Alternate Reading: http://ratiojuris.blogspot.com/2009/11/utopian-thought-imagination.html(HTML)
See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Julia R. Nelson’s “Sir Thomas More, Christian Humanism and Utopia”
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2.1.3 More’s Utopia
- Reading: Excerpts from Thomas More’s Utopia Public domain
Link: Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature’s illustrated version of the following excerpts from Utopia:
- Description of the Island of Utopia
- Utopian Trades
- Games of the Utopians
- Riches, Jewels, and Gold
- Utopians' Love of Learning
- Euthanasia and Suicide
- Marriage and Divorce
- Laws and Government
- Death, Funerals, Afterlife
- Temples and Religious Services in Utopia(all HTML)
Instructions: Using the links above, access the various subjects addressed by More concerning his Utopians to learn what the philosopher imagined to be the best of all possible worlds for his fellow countrymen.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Excerpts from Thomas More’s Utopia Public domain
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2.1.4 Rhetorical Techniques in Utopia
- Reading: Julia R. Nelson’s “Sir Thomas More, Christian Humanism and Utopia”
Link: University of Wisconsin-Madison: Julia R. Nelson’s “Sir Thomas More, Christian Humanism and Utopia”(PDF)
Instructions: From the link above, please select the final link on the page to access the reading in PDF format. This excerpt from Julia R. Nelson’s undergraduate honor’s thesis was published in Archive: A Journal of Undergraduate History (Volume 7, May 2004). Read pages 66-90 (beginning with the section titled “Utopia”) for an in-depth study of More’s Utopia.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Julia R. Nelson’s “Sir Thomas More, Christian Humanism and Utopia”
- 2.1.5 The Concept of the Imagination in Renaissance England
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2.2 John Lyly
Note on the text: In his prose romance Euphues, Lyly debuts his highly mannered style. The work was well-received by the public, while its elegant, elaborate style set the tone for literary expression in his times, and influenced a number of later authors
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2.2.1 Who Was John Lyly?
- Reading: Anniina Jokinen’s “The Life of John Lyly”
Link: Anniina Jokinen’s “The Life of John Lyly”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this short biography written by the founder of the expansive and useful website Luminarium: An Anthology of English Literature.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: Possible Additional Source: Theatre Database
Possible Additional Source: http://www.theatredatabase.com/16th_century/john_lyly.html(HTML)
See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Anniina Jokinen’s “The Life of John Lyly”
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2.2.2 Euphuism as a Literary Style: Mannered, Stylized Prose
- Reading: for 2.2.2-2.2.3: Professor J.W.H. Atkins’ “Elizabethan Prose Fiction: Euphuism”
Link: The Bartleby.com’s version of the Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21). Volume III. Renascence and Reformation. Professor J.W.H. Atkins’ “Elizabethan Prose Fiction: Euphuism”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this article by J.W.H. ATKINS, M.A., Fellow of St. John’s College, Professor of English Language and Literature, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth for a scholarly analysis of the rhetorical characteristics of eupuism and its origins. Note- this reading applies to 2.2.3 as well)
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: for 2.2.2-2.2.3: Professor J.W.H. Atkins’ “Elizabethan Prose Fiction: Euphuism”
- 2.2.3 Roots of Euphuism
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2.2.4 Lyly’s Euphues Works: Style and Relationship to Tradition
- Reading: excerpt from John Lyly’s Euphues, The Anatomy of Wit
Link: Luminarium’s version of an excerpt from John Lyly’s“Euphues, The Anatomy of Wit”(HTML)
Also available on Google Books
Instructions: Read this brief excerpt from the introductory portion of Lyly’s famous work to gain a better appreciation for his style.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: excerpt from John Lyly’s Euphues, The Anatomy of Wit
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2.2.5 Lyly’s Legacy: Influence on Shakespeare, Sidney, and More
- Reading: Professor J.W.H. Atkins’ “Elizabethan Prose Fiction: Lyly’s influence”
Link: The Bartleby.com’s version of the Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21). Volume III. Renascence and Reformation. Professor J.W.H. Atkins’ “Elizabethan Prose Fiction: Lyly’s influence”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this article by J.W.H. ATKINS, M.A., Fellow of St. John’s College, Professor of English Language and Literature, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth for a scholarly analysis of Lyly’s influence.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Professor J.W.H. Atkins’ “Elizabethan Prose Fiction: Lyly’s influence”
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2.3 John Foxe
Note on the text: In The Book of Martyrs, Foxe provides a record of all known
Christian martyrs throughout history, focusing on the persecution of Protestants.
The work is considered one of the most influential in Christianity, deepening the
wide rift between Catholics and Protestants while assisting in the formation of a
Protestant identity.
Please note – The work commonly called The Book Of Martyrs was in fact titled Acts and Monuments by its author who disliked the alternate title. For our purposes, the two titles are interchangeable. -
2.3.1 The Life of John Foxe
- Reading: for 2.3.1-2.3.2: Dr. Thomas S. Freeman’s “John Foxe: a biography”
Link: Humanities Research Institute, University of Sheffield-Sheffield: Dr. Thomas S. Freeman’s “John Foxe: a biography”(HTML)
Instructions: This lengthy, comprehensive essay by noted Foxe expert Dr. Thomas S. Freeman explores the life of John Foxe, his works and influence. Please note that this essay will address all the topics for 2.3.1-2.3.2.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: for 2.3.1-2.3.2: Dr. Thomas S. Freeman’s “John Foxe: a biography”
- 2.3.2 Foxe and Protestantism: Exile and Suffering
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2.3.3 Foxe’s Book of Martyrs: Style, Technique, and Purpose
- Reading: Dr. John N. King’s “Literary Aspects of Foxe’s Acts and Monuments”
Link: Dr. John N. King’s “Literary Aspects of Foxe’s Acts and Monuments” (HTML)
Instructions: Read this incisive essay by Ohio State University Distinguished Professor of English and Religious Studies Dr. John N. King for an excellent analysis of Foxe’s literary technique. Note – the essay makes copious use of excerpts from Acts and Monuments
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- Reading: Dr. John N. King’s “Literary Aspects of Foxe’s Acts and Monuments”
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2.3.4 The Book of Martyrs’ Reception: Widespread Popularity and Catholic Critiques
- Reading: Professor David Loades’ “The Early Reception”
Link: Professor David Loades’ “The Early Reception”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this knowledgeable analysis of the book’s early receptions by respected Oxford University Professor David Loades.
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- Reading: Professor David Loades’ “The Early Reception”
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2.3.5 Foxe’s Influence on the Formation of Protestant Identity
- Reading: Professor David Loades’ “Foxe in theological context”
Link: Professor David Loades’ “Foxe in theological context” (HTML)
Instructions: Read this handy comparison of the ramifications of Foxe’s work to both Catholics and Protestants by respected Oxford University Professor David Loades.
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- Reading: Professor David Loades’ “Foxe in theological context”
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2.4 Sir Walter Raleigh
Note on the text: The Discovery of Guianais Sir Walter Raleigh’s account of discovering an area of the New World. Both travel journal and political statement, Raleigh’s work provides insight into Renaissance conceptualizations of the New World, the political climate, and the Elizabethan court.
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2.4.1 Brief Biography of Sir Walter Raleigh
- Reading: The BBC’s “Sir Walter Raleigh (c.1552-1618)”
Link: The BBC’s “Sir Walter Raleigh (c.1552-1618)”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this worthy summary of Sir Walter Raleigh’s life from the “Historic Figures’ section of the BBC’s “History” site.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: The BBC’s “Sir Walter Raleigh (c.1552-1618)”
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2.4.2 Encounter with the New World: Conceptualizations and History
- Lecture: U.C.L.A.-Los Angeles: Professor Eugen Weber “The Renaissance and the New World” Lecture from The Western Tradition series produced by Annenberg Media.
Link: Professor Eugen Weber’s “The Renaissance and the New World”(Requires Flash) from The Western Tradition series of lectures
Instructions: Scroll down to lecture #26, “The Renaissance and the New World” and click on the “VoD” link to watch celebrated Professor Eugen Weber’s 27:35 minute lecture that offers a captivating and well-rounded overview of the manner in which the New World changed Europe.
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- Lecture: U.C.L.A.-Los Angeles: Professor Eugen Weber “The Renaissance and the New World” Lecture from The Western Tradition series produced by Annenberg Media.
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2.4.3 Tradition of Travel Writing
- Reading: Ellen Hampton’s “Falsehood, Fantasy and Forger : 16th century English discovery literature on the New World”
Link: Ellen Hampton’s “Falsehood, Fantasy and Forgery: 16th century English discovery literature on the New World” (PDF)
Instructions: Scroll down to find the link to Hampton's article in PDF format. Read this excellent essay which summarizes European travel writing endeavors of the 16thCentury and compares them with the English travel writers who followed. This essay was published in Représentations – an independent electronic journal based in France.
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- Reading: Ellen Hampton’s “Falsehood, Fantasy and Forger : 16th century English discovery literature on the New World”
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2.4.4 Sir Walter Raleigh’s Travel Writing
- Reading: Part IV of Sir Walter Raleigh’s The Discovery of Guiana
Link: Fordham Univeristy’s version of Part IV of Sir Walter Raleigh’s The Discovery of Guiana(HTML)
Instructions: Scroll down the text to read the full “Part IV” which includes Raleigh’s famous assertion of his belief in the existence of the Ewaipanoma – a tribe with “eyes in their shoulders, and their mouths in the middle of their breasts.”
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- Reading: Part IV of Sir Walter Raleigh’s The Discovery of Guiana
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2.4.5 The Concept of Self-Fashioning in Elizabethan England
- Reading: Sapience’s “Greenblatt, Renaissance Self-Fashioning from More to Shakespeare”
Link: Sapience’s “Greenblatt, Renaissance Self-Fashioning from More to Shakespeare”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this blog entry by a New England grad student that breaks down to essential elements of leading New Historicist Stephen Greenblatt’s groundbreaking work.
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- Reading: Sapience’s “Greenblatt, Renaissance Self-Fashioning from More to Shakespeare”
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Unit 3: Poetry
We will now turn to poetic traditions in Renaissance England, examining various forms and modes that were particularly popular during the period, from the sonnet to the epic poem. We will read a number of representative poems, conducting close readings in order to better understand the conventions and styles then in favor and relating these works to the Renaissance period more generally.
- 3.1 The Sonnet
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3.1.1 The Rise of the Sonnet
- Reading: Gubernatix’s “Sonnets in English Literature”
Link: Gubernatix’s “Sonnets in English Literature”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this useful, well documented essay posted by one of the BBC’s h2g2 project’s authorized researchers for a concise survey of the rise of the sonnet form in English Renaissance literature and its subsequent loss of popularity.
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- Reading: Francesco Petrarch’s poem 264 from The Canzoniere (“I go thinking”) translated by A.S. Kline
Link: Francesco Petrarch’s poem 264 (“I go thinking”) from The Canzoniere translated by A.S. Kline
Also available on Kindle($9.99)
Instructions: 14thCentury Italian poet Fransesco Petrarch is credited with mastering the sonnet form and inspiring the literary Renaissance that swept Europe and culminated in Shakespeare’s exploration of the form. Read this translation of one of Petrach’s sonnets posted by Petrach enthusiast Peter Sadlon.
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- Reading: Sir Thomas Wyatt’s “Whoso list to hunt”
Link: Sir Thomas Wyatt’s “Whoso list to hunt” (PDF)
Also available in Google Books (taken from James Yeowell’s The Poetical Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt)
Instructions: Read and (if you like) listen to this famous sonnet by one of the father’s of the English sonnet Thomas Wyatt who reputedly composed these lines while imprisoned for loving Anne Boleyn who married Henry VIII and was later executed.
Terms of Use: This poem is in the public domain, and the HTML and PDF links above above will direct you to a Saylor Foundation copy of the poem that you are free to copy, download, and distribute. Please note that the Google Books version above may be subject to different licensing and copyright terms, and that you may not be permitted to use or reuse the content contained therein without explicit written permission.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Gubernatix’s “Sonnets in English Literature”
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3.1.2 Form and Innovation: Petrarchan, Spenserian, and Shakespearean Sonnets
- Reading: Nelson Miller’s “Basic Sonnet Forms”
Link: Nelson Miller’s “Basic Sonnet Forms”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this essay by Poet’s Corner editor Nelson Miller for an easy-to-understand comparison of the Petrarchan, Spenserian, and Shakespearean sonnet forms with accompanying examples.
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- Reading: Nelson Miller’s “Basic Sonnet Forms”
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3.1.3 Sir Philip Sidney: The Courtier and His Sonnets
- Reading: Professor Peter Sinclair’s “Background to Sir Philip Sidney and the Sonnet Tradition”
Link: Professor Peter Sinclair’s “Background to Sir Philip Sidney and the Sonnet Tradition”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this overview by Albertus Magnus College Professor Peter Sinclair for a better understanding of the adventure-filled, creative life of Sir Philip Sidney.
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- Reading: Professor Peter Sinclair’s “Background to Sir Philip Sidney and the Sonnet Tradition”
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3.1.4 The Sonnet Sequence
Note on the text: Astrophil and Stellais a technically complex sonnet sequence by Philip Sidney. It presents a remarkably rich portrait of the emotional life of a poet in various stages of a romantic relationship with his mistress.
- Reading: Sir Philip Sidney’s “Astrophil and Stella”
Link: The Poets’ Corner’s version of Sir Philip Sidney’s “Astrophil and Stella”(HTML)
Also available in PDF
Instructions: Read the 30 sonnets which form the cycle of Sidney’s famous poem of love, life and death. To view in PDF format, please follow the "PDF" link above; click on the file name "astrophel.pdf" to open the document.
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- Reading: Sir Philip Sidney’s “Astrophil and Stella”
- 3.2 Epic Poetry
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3.2.1 Tradition of Epic Poetry
- Reading: Professor Hugh Blair’s “Lecture XLII: Epic Poetry” and “Lecture XLIII: Homer's Iliad and Odyssey; Virgil's Aeneid”Link: Michigan State University’s versions of Professor Hugh Blair’s “Lecture XLII: Epic Poetry”(HTML) and “Lecture XLIII: Homer's Iliad and Odyssey; Virgil's Aeneid”(HTML)
Instructions: Read these two lectures taken from the Belles Lettres by the celebrated Scottish scholar Hugh Blair (1718-1800) delivered while he was a teacher at the University of Edinburgh for an excellent overview of the Epic Poetry tradition and a brief discourse on two of ancient Greece’s masters of the form.
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- Reading: Professor Hugh Blair’s “Lecture XLII: Epic Poetry” and “Lecture XLIII: Homer's Iliad and Odyssey; Virgil's Aeneid”
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3.2.2 Italian Influence: Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso
- Reading: Excerpt from Ludovico Ariosto’s “Orlando Furioso”
Link: Internet Sacred Text Archive’s version of excerpts from Ludovico Ariosto’s “Orlando Furioso”(HTML)
Public Domain
Instructions: Read the brief introduction and then click on “Canto I” to read the “Argument” through stanza VI for a sampling of the influential Italian poet’s style.
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- Reading: Excerpt from Ludovico Ariosto’s “Orlando Furioso”
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3.2.3 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene: Allegory, Style, and Form
- Reading: The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, Volume III. Renascence [sic] and Reformation. Chapter XI. The Poetry of Spenser. Section 11. “Orlando Furioso”
Link: Bartleby.com’s version of The Cambridge History of English and American Literature’s “Orlando Furioso”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this exploration of the manner in which Spenser was directly influenced by Aristo’s epic taken from the 18 volume work that came out between 1907 and 1921 and redefined the study of English and American literature.
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- Reading: The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, Volume III. Renascence [sic] and Reformation. Chapter XI. The Poetry of Spenser. Section 9. “The Faerie Queene”
Link: Bartleby.com’s version of The Cambridge History of English and American Literature’s “The Faerie Queene”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this excellent analysis of Spenser’s most famous work taken from the 18 volume work that came out between 1907 and 1921 and redefined the study of English and American literature.
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- Reading: Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queen – Book II, Canto X
Link: University of Oregon’s version of Faerie Queen – Book II, Canto X (HTML)
Also available in PDF, iBooks (Free)
Instructions: Scroll down to Canto X for a history of the kings of Britain including that of “King Leyr” – the literary inspiration for Shakespeare’s “King Lear”. To view in PDF format, please follow the "PDF" link above; scroll down the list of authors to Edmund Spenser, and select "The Faerie Queene"
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- Reading: The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, Volume III. Renascence [sic] and Reformation. Chapter XI. The Poetry of Spenser. Section 11. “Orlando Furioso”
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3.2.4 John Milton’s Paradise Lost: Religion, Imagination, and Language
- Reading: The Norton Anthology’s “Paradise Lost in context: An Overview”
Link: The Norton Anthology’s “Paradise Lost in context: An Overview”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this superb summary of Milton’s work as well as the cultural and theological basis for its composition and thematic structure.
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- Reading: John Milton’s “Paradise Lost – Book I”
Link: Dartmouth College’s version of John Milton’s“Paradise Lost – Book I”(HTML)
Also available in PDF, Google Books, iBooks (Free)
Instructions: Read the Argument and Book I of Milton’s famous epic poem. To view in PDF format, please follow the "PDF" link above; select either of the files in the box "Download Free eBook".
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- Reading: The Norton Anthology’s “Paradise Lost in context: An Overview”
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3.2.5 Marlowe’s Hero and Leander: Greek Mythology in Epyllion Form
- Reading: The Poetry Foundation's version of Christopher Marlowe's "Hero and Leander"
Link: The Poetry Foundation's version of Christopher Marlowe's "Hero and Leander" (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the entirety of this poem. Note that it is written in "epyllion" or "little epic" form. (For more on this poetic form, please refer to the reading in the next resource box. Scholars have considered this poem particularly interesting for its "meta-poetic" narrative, or its treatment of the nature and status of literature. In other words, this is a poem about poetry -- an art form about art itself. Ask yourself what Marlowe is suggesting about cultural expression, and consider the ways in which the form of the poem plays into this commentary.
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- Reading: Luminarium's "Epyllion"
Link: Luminarium's "Epyllion" (HTML)
Instructions: Please read this brief entry on the epyllion form.
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- Reading: The Poetry Foundation's version of Christopher Marlowe's "Hero and Leander"
- 3.3 Emergence of Metaphysical Poetry
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3.3.1 Wit, Stylistic Maneuvers, and Other Characteristics of Metaphysical Poetry
- Reading: W. Bradford Smith’s “What Is Metaphysical Poetry?”
Link: W. Bradford Smith’s “What Is Metaphysical Poetry?”(HTML)
Instructions: Read the full article paying special attention to the author’s definition of metaphysical poetry on and the subsequent discussion of the manner in which metaphysical poetry was a reaction to what had come before. Note – this reading also addresses 3.3.2
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: W. Bradford Smith’s “What Is Metaphysical Poetry?”
- 3.3.2 Metaphysical Poetry as a Reaction to Existing 16th-Century Verse
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3.3.3 Typical Themes and Concerns
- Reading: Sir Herbert J.C. Grierson’s “Introduction” to Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the Seventeenth Century: Donne to Butler
Link: Bartleby.com’s version of Sir Herbert J.C. Grierson’s “Introduction”(HTML) to Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the Seventeenth Century: Donne to Butler
Instructions: This classic essay by noted Scottish literary scholar Sir Herbert J.C. Grierson provides historical context and dissects the works of several metaphysical poets. Note – this reading also addresses 3.3.4
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- Reading: Sir Herbert J.C. Grierson’s “Introduction” to Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the Seventeenth Century: Donne to Butler
- 3.3.4 The Figure of the Cavalier
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3.3.5 Principle Metaphysical Poets: John Donne, Andrew Marvell, and Henry Vaughan
- Reading: John Donne’s “The Flea”, Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” and Henry Vaughan’s “To Amoret gone from him”
Links: Luminarium’s versions of John Donne’s “The Flea”(HTML, also available on Google Books), Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”(HTML, also available in PDF) and Henry Vaughan’s “To Amoret gone from him”(HTML)
Also available on Google Books
Instructions: Read these representative poems from the leading metaphysical poets of the English Renaissance
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- Reading: John Donne’s “The Flea”, Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” and Henry Vaughan’s “To Amoret gone from him”
- 3.4 Other Lyrical Poetry Experiments
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3.4.1 The Tradition of Lyrical Poetry
- Reading: Professor Mark Damen’s “Greek Lyric Poetry”
Link: Utah State University-Logan: Professor Mark Damen’s “Greek Lyric Poetry”(HTML) from online course materials
Instructions: Read this brief but thorough introduction to the tradition of Greek lyric poetry and its legacy
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- Reading: Professor Mark Damen’s “Greek Lyric Poetry”
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3.4.2 Concepts of Love and Emotion in the Renaissance
- Reading: Dr. Amy Schmitter’s “Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Theories of the Emotions”
Link: Dr. Amy Schmitter’s “Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Theories of the Emotions” (HTML) in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Instructions: From the page linked above, select the link for (or scroll down to) item number 7, “Renaissance and 16thCentury Discussions”, to read Dr. Schmitter’s analysis of several leading Italian Renaissance thinkers’ views of emotions.
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- Reading: Dr. Amy Schmitter’s “Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Theories of the Emotions”
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3.4.3 The Pastoral Elegy
- Reading: John Milton’s Lycidas
Link: Dartmouth College’s version of John Milton’s “Lycidas”(HTML)
Also available on Google Books, PDF, iBooks (Free)
Instructions: Read the introduction to the work at the bottom of the page and then the complete poem as reproduced here.
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Note on the text: Milton’s “Lycidas” is a pastoral elegy, or an expression of grief at the loss of a friend. Highly stylized and conventional, the form would remain popular amongst later Romantic and Victorian poets.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: John Milton’s Lycidas
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Unit 4: Elizabethan Drama
Something electric happened to drama in Elizabethan England; the plays from this era remain one of the richest, most widely-adored, and most frequently-referenced bodies of literature in literary history. In this unit, we will examine the traditions from which Elizabethan dramatists drew and the conventions, styles, and themes they developed in their own right. We will finish by spending a significant amount of time acquainting ourselves with two of the era’s major dramatists: Christopher Marlowe and the Bard himself, William Shakespeare.
- 4.1 Influences
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4.1.1 Classical Roots: Greek and Latin Tragedies
- Reading: University of South Florida-Tampa: Dr. Patrick M. Finelli’s “History of Theater”
Link: Tupelo Community Theater’s version of Dr. Patrick M. Finelli’s “History of Theater”(HTML)
Instructions: Read the following sections from this useful essay: “Greek Theater”, “Roman Theater”, “Medieval Theater” (note – you will need to click on “next section” to see the conclusion of the last section). Note – this also addresses topics covered in 4.1.2.
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- Reading: Dr. Charles Burton Gulick “Greek Tragedy”
Link: Dr. Charles Burton Gulick “Greek Tragedy”(HTML) from Harvard Classics Vol. 51: Lectures on the Harvard Classics
Instructions: Read this lucid overview of Greek Tragedy to prepare for later readings and examples of Shakespeare’s work in the genre.
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- Reading: University of South Florida-Tampa: Dr. Patrick M. Finelli’s “History of Theater”
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4.1.2 Medieval Traditions: Mystery/Morality Plays and Their Performances
- Reading: Martha Fletcher Bellinger’s “Moralities, Interludes and Farces of the Middle Ages”
Link: Moonstruck Drama Bookstore’s version of Martha Fletcher Bellinger’s “Moralities, Interludes and Farces of the Middle Ages”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this essay, originally published in A Short History of the Drama, for an excellent overview that addresses, among other topics, why medieval audiences enjoyed onstage jokes about sex and digestion.
Note – this reading also covers 4.1.3
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- Reading: Martha Fletcher Bellinger’s “Moralities, Interludes and Farces of the Middle Ages”
- 4.1.3 Late 15th-Century Interludes
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4.1.4 A Shift to the Secular: the Emergence of Non-Religious Plays
- Reading: Harvard University-Cambridge: W.A. Neilson’s “Elizabethan Drama” (HTML)
Link: W.A. Neilson’s “Elizabethan Drama”(HTML) from Harvard Classics Vol. 51: Lectures on the Harvard Classics
Also available on Google Books
Instructions: In 1.3.4 we read Professor Neilson’s study of the Elizabethan explorers. Bringing the same level of scholarship to this essay, Professor Neilson here explores the emergence and form of Elizabethan drama. Read the entire essay but take special note of the first two sections where Professor Neilson’s traces the emergence of uniquely English, secular theater.
Note – this essay partially fulfills the reading requirement for 4.1.5
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- Reading: Harvard University-Cambridge: W.A. Neilson’s “Elizabethan Drama” (HTML)
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4.1.5 Comedy Hits the Stage
- Reading: Professor Susan Snyder’s ‘The Genre of Comedy”
Fathom’s version of Professor Susan Snyder’s “The Genre of Comedy”(HTML) (Cambridge University Press)
Instructions: Read this seminar from Cambridge University Press’ The Genres of Shakespeare’s Plays lesson authored by Susan Snyder of Swarthmore College for an excellent examination of the Elizabethan comedy genre.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: Professor Susan Snyder’s ‘The Genre of Comedy”
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4.2 Theater in Elizabethan England
- Reading: Samuel Bowles’ “Shakespeare’s Elizabethan Audience”
Link: Samuel Bowles’ “Shakespeare’s Elizabethan Audience” (PDF)
Instructions: To access the PDF, please scroll down to the final entry under the Table of Contents, and select the link "download paper". Read this superior essay by University of Southern Indiana President’s Medal recipient Samuel Bowles for a comprehensive discussion of Elizabethan theater audiences.
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- Reading: Samuel Bowles’ “Shakespeare’s Elizabethan Audience”
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4.2.2 Theater Companies
- Reading: Thomas Larque’s “A Lecture on Elizabethan Theater”
Link: Thomas Larque’s “A Lecture on Elizabethan Theater”(HTML)
Instructions: Read Section 4 “The Players”, Section 5 “The Playwrights” and Section 7 “Costume, Scenery and Effects” by scholar Thomas Larque for a better understanding of theatrical life during the Elizabethan age.
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- Reading: Thomas Larque’s “A Lecture on Elizabethan Theater”
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4.2.3 Playhouses
- Reading: Arkansas State University-Jonesboro: Dr. Wayne Narey’s “Renaissance English Drama: Elizabethan Playhouses”
Link: Luminarium’s version of Dr. Wayne Narey’s “Renaissance English Drama: Elizabethan Playhouses”(HTML)
Instructions: For a general understanding of the origins and evolution of the Elizabethan stage
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- Reading: Arkansas State University-Jonesboro: Dr. Wayne Narey’s “Renaissance English Drama: Elizabethan Playhouses”
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4.2.4 Staging Conventions
- Reading: Arkansas State University-Jonesboro: Dr. Wayne Narey’s “Renaissance English Drama: Elizabethan Staging Conventions”
Link: Luminarium’s version of Dr. Wayne Narey’s “Renaissance English Drama: Elizabethan Staging Conventions”(HTML)
Instructions: For a general understanding of the origins and evolution of the Elizabethan staging conventions.
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- Reading: Arkansas State University-Jonesboro: Dr. Wayne Narey’s “Renaissance English Drama: Elizabethan Staging Conventions”
- 4.2.5 Overview of Major Dramatists and Contributions
- 4.3 The Masque
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4.3.1 What Is a Masque?
- Reading: Helen Hull, Meg Pearson and Erin Sadlack’s “History of the Masque Genre”
Link: Helen Hull, Meg Pearson and Erin Sadlack’s “History of the Masque Genre”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this thorough essay posted by several University of Maryland graduate students that provides a solid understanding of the masque – its origins and significance to Elizabethan theater. Note – this reading also fulfills 4.3.2 and 4.3.3
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage aboveSee a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Helen Hull, Meg Pearson and Erin Sadlack’s “History of the Masque Genre”
- 4.3.2 Roots in Oral Medieval Traditions
- 4.3.3 The Masque, Patrons, and the Court
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4.3.4 Ben Johnson and the Art of the Masque
- Reading: The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes – Volume VI. The Drama to 1642, Part Two, Section XIII – “Johnson’s Masques”
Link: Barleby.com’s version of “Johnson’s Masques”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this scholarly assessment of Johnson’s masques taken from the 18 volume work that came out between 1907 and 1921 and redefined the study of English and American literature.
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- Reading: Ben Johnson’s “The Masque of Blackness”
Link: Luminarium’s version of Ben Johnson’s “The Masque of Blackness”(HTML) from The Works of Ben Johnson (1853)
Instructions: Read the full text of Johnson’s influential work, noted for its poetic achievements, that won him favor at court and cemented his reputation as the most accomplished author in the genre.
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Note on the text: The Masque of Blackness,” Ben Jonson’s quasi-dramatic work, was performed before a court audience, earning him the favor of a number of wealthy patronsSee a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes – Volume VI. The Drama to 1642, Part Two, Section XIII – “Johnson’s Masques”
- 4.4 Christopher Marlowe, “Father of English Tragedy”
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4.4.1 Brief Biographic Snapshot
- Reading: Kevin N. Nensteil’s “A Brief Life of Christopher Marlowe”
Link: Kevin N. Nensteil’s “A Brief Life of Christopher Marlowe”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this essay by novelist and playwright Kevin N. Nensteil to learn more about the various controversies surrounding Marlowe’s early life as well an overview of his works.
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- Reading: Kevin N. Nensteil’s “A Brief Life of Christopher Marlowe”
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4.4.2 The Dramatic Blank Verse Tradition
- Reading: The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes – Volume V. The Drama to 1642, Part One. Chapter VII. Marlowe and Kyd. Section 15 “Creation of Blank Verse as a dramatic instrument.”
Link: Bartleby.com’s version of “Creation of Blank Verse as a dramatic instrument.”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this scholarly assessment of black verse in theater and Marlowe’s contribution taken from the 18 volume work that came out between 1907 and 1921 and redefined the study of English and American literature.
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- Reading: The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes – Volume V. The Drama to 1642, Part One. Chapter VII. Marlowe and Kyd. Section 15 “Creation of Blank Verse as a dramatic instrument.”
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4.4.3 The Birth of English Tragedy in Marlowe’s Works
- Reading: Wiliam Lyon Phelps’ “The Life and Works of Christopher Marlowe”
Link: theatrehistory.com’s version of Wiliam Lyon Phelps’ “The Life and Works of Christopher Marlowe”(HTML)
Also available on Google Books
Instructions: Read this essay, originally published in Christopher Marlowe (1912) for an exceptional gloss of the playwright’s life and lasting significance. Note – this reading also fulfills 4.4.5
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- Reading: Wiliam Lyon Phelps’ “The Life and Works of Christopher Marlowe”
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4.4.4 Overview of His Works
- Web Media: Video: “‘Dr. Faustus’ excerpts by Christopher Marlowe (poetry reading)””
Link: “‘Dr. Faustus’ excerpts by Christopher Marlowe (poetry reading””(Requires Flash)
Instructions: Watch this audio and video clip posted to youtube.com which is particularly helpful due to the inclusion of period images and frequent use of on-screen text.
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- Web Media: Video: “‘Dr. Faustus’ excerpts by Christopher Marlowe (poetry reading)””
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4.4.5 Hallmarks and Accomplishments: The Marlowe Legacy
Note on the texts: In his major drama “Doctor Faustus,” Christopher Marlowe presents the somewhat conventional story of a man who bargains with the devil for forbidden knowledge, adding depth and complexity with his brilliant representation of the title character’s psyche and insatiable drive for power.
- 4.5 William Shakespeare
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4.5.1 Shakespeare the Man: Who Was William Shakespeare?
- Reading: AbsoluteShakespeare.com’s “Shakespeare Biography
Link: AbsoluteShakespeare.com’s “Shakespeare Biography”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this fact-based, clearly outlined review of Shakespeare’s life.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: New Folger Library’s “Shakespeare’s Story”
Link: New Folger Library’s “Shakespeare’s Story”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this selection which forms part of the “Shakespeare’s Life” from the New Folger Library’s Shakespeare editions edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: AbsoluteShakespeare.com’s “Shakespeare Biography
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4.5.2 Shakespeare the Bard: Overview of His Dramatic Achievements
- Reading: Farleigh Dickinson University’s FDU Magazine’s “All the World’s His Stage”
Link: FDU Magazine’s “All the World’s His Stage”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this lively discussion of Shakespeare’s legacy, style and major works. Participants include Stephen Hollis, director of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s theater arts program and assistant professor of visual and performing arts; Harry Keyishian, professor of English; and June Schlueter, provost and Charles A. Dana Professor of English at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa.
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- Reading: Farleigh Dickinson University’s FDU Magazine’s “All the World’s His Stage”
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4.5.3 Shakespearean Style, Language, and Technique
- Reading: The Review of Arts, Literature, Philosophy and the Humanities’ review of Shakespeare’s Language by Frank Kermode
Link: The Review of Arts, Literature, Philosophy and the Humanities’ review of “Shakespeare’s Language by Frank Kermode”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this book review for a humorous, well-informed look at Shakespeare’s linguistics.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: “Gwynneth Bowen’s “Shakespeare’s Early Style” (HTML)
Link: Sourcebook’s version of “Gwynneth Bowen’s “Shakespeare’s Early Style”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this excellent parsing of Shakespeare’s early compositions; the article originally appeared in The Shakespeare Fellowship News-Letter in 1958.
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- Reading: University of Toronto-Toronto: Professor David Reibetanz’ “Shakespeare’s Mature Style: Language as Drama”
Link: Professor David Reibetanz’ “Shakespeare’s Mature Style: Language as Drama”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this essay dealing with Shakespeare’s later compositions. Compare with Bowen’s treatment in the earlier reading.
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- Reading: Jem Bloomfield’s “Soliloquy Basics”
Link: Jem Bloomfield’s “Soliloquy Basics” (HTML)
Instructions: Read this brief but helpful description of a key element of Shakespeare’s literary technique.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Cosmos Online’s “Shakespeare Good for the Brain” (HTML)
Link: Cosmos Online’s “Shakespeare Good for the Brain”
Instructions: Read this article from Australia’s award-winning, “#1 science media brand” to learn about a 2006 University of Liverpool study of what happens to a person’s brain while reading Shakespeare.
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- Reading: The Review of Arts, Literature, Philosophy and the Humanities’ review of Shakespeare’s Language by Frank Kermode
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4.5.4 Close Reading of Shakespeare’s Work
- Reading: New Folger Library’s “Romeo and Juliet”
Link: New Folger Library’s “Romeo and Juliet”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this short but helpful overview from the New Folger Library’s Shakespeare editions edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine
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- Reading: “Romeo and Juliet – an analysis of the play by Shakespeare”
Link: theatrehistory.com’s version of “Romeo and Juliet – an analysis of the play by Shakespeare”(HTML)
Instructions: Read this insightful essay with pertinent passages from the play originally published in The Drama: Its History, Literature and Influence on Civilization, vol. 14. (ed. Alfred Bates) in 1906.
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- Reading: William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
Link: Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s version of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”(HTML)
Instructions: Read the entire text of Shakespeare’s famous romantic tragedy.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: Baz Luhrman’s “You Kiss By the Book”
Link: Imdb’s version of Baz Luhrman’s “You Kiss by the Book”(Requires Flash)
Instructions: Watch Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Daines act the famous soliloquy from Act 1, Scene 5 of “Romeo and Juliet” from director Baz Luhrman’s 1996 film.
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- Web Media: Franco Zeffirelli’s “Balcony Scene”
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Web Media: “Romeo and Juliet – The Death of Juliet – A. Ferri A. Corella”
Link: Youtube.com’s versions of “Romeo and Juliet – The Death of Juliet – A. Ferri A. Corella” (YouTube)
Instructions: Watch this 2000 La Scala Ballet version of Act 5, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” as danced by Alessandra Ferri as Juliet and Angel Corella as Romeo.
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: New Folger Library’s “Romeo and Juliet”
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4.5.5 Influence on the Canon and the English Language Itself
- Web Media: The Kennedy Center’s “Shakespeare: Legacy and Modern Interpretations”
Link: The Kennedy Center’s “Shakespeare: Legacy and Modern Interpretations”(YouTube)
Instructions: Watch this short video that examines the impact of Shakespeare’s work on modern language and consciousness.
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- Reading: Wily Walnut’s “Learn what literary genius William Shakespeare knew about communication and how you can "get it" inside your head!”
Link: Wily Walnut’s “Learn what literary genius William Shakespeare knew about communication and how you can "get it" inside your head!”(HTML)
Instructions: To appreciate the extent of Shakespeare’s influence, read this usurpation of his reputation that is remarkably on-target, occasionally crass and often humorous. Enjoy.
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Note on the text: Perhaps the most famous love story of all time, Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” has been performed, adapted, and re-imagined innumerable times. The original work features Shakespeare’s unique blend of the humorous and the tragic as he explores class relations, the concept of fate, and the experience of love.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: The Kennedy Center’s “Shakespeare: Legacy and Modern Interpretations”
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Final Exam
- Final Exam: The Saylor Foundation's ENGL202 Final Exam
Link: The Saylor Foundation's ENGL202 Final Exam
Instructions: You must be logged into your Saylor Foundation School account in order to access this exam. If you do not yet have an account, you will be able to create one, free of charge, after clicking the link.
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Final Exam: The Saylor Foundation's ENGL202 Final Exam
