THE ENGLISH RENAISSANCE (1485 - 1650)

1. A BARD FOR AGES

1.1. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: A Renaissance outstanding figure who wrote poems and plays

1.2. William Shakespeare, poet and playwright, imbued the characters in his plays with such rich humanity.

1.3. Shakespeare owned an ability to absorb and transform different kinds of material from political issues to events from roman to english history.

2. METAPHYSICS AND CAVALIER POEMS

2.1. FOCUSED MORE ON SECULAR SUBJECTS.

2.2. ENGLAND WAS BECOMING IN AN PROTESTANT ENGLAND

2.3. CLAIMING TO HOLD A RELIGION COULD CAUSE FIGHTS

3. THE SACRED AND THE SECULAR

3.1. The contrast between the sacred and secular was sharply drawn.

3.2. The emphasis was on investigation rather than revelation

4. HUMANISM AND RELIGION

4.1. Sir Thomas More's humanism was grounded by Catholic church.

4.2. The translation and reading of the Bible was forbidden by Catholic religion.

4.3. There were penalties for translating the Bible

5. HUMANISTS

5.1. English writers concentrated on secular subjects, such as love, politics, science and philosophy

5.2. Humanism in England depended on more on personal contact than on systematic instruction at school

5.3. Queen Elizabeth I, famous for her wit and eloquence. She reigned while Humanist era was developing.

5.4. King James I and the Bible: Ater Elizabeth I's death; The throne passed to James I. He considered the translation of the bBibe in English.