G6 Renaissance England

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

England during the Renaissance

But first...

In what language are the poems that we have discussed so far?

1. Old English
2. Middle English
3. Early Modern English
4. Modern English

You have watched a part of Richard II by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote in

1. Old English
2. Middle English
3. Early Modern English
4. Modern English

You have watched a part of The Canterbury tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer wrote in

1. Old English
2. Middle English
3. Early Modern English
4. Modern English

The Canterbury Tales (+/- 1384-1400)

Beowulf (10th century)

You have just listened to the opening lines of the Epic Beowulf. This is an example of

1. Old English
2. Middle English
3. Early Modern English
4. Modern English

400-500 AD

Germanic tribes migrate/ invade Britain. 

1066: Battle of Hastings

• William the Conqueror invades England;
• Defeats King Harold II and becomes King of Britain;
• French is introduced at court. 

Now...

Moving on to Renaissance England

Mary I (bloody Mary)

Elizabeth I

Henry VIII

Henry VIII (1509-1547)

• Most known for his six wives;
• Wanted to divorce his first wive Catherine of Aragon;
• Established the Church of England in 1533;  
• A Renaissance Man; 

Mary I (1555-1558)

• Daughter of Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon;
• Was Catholic, wanted to reinstate Catholocism in a now protestant Britain;
• Got her nickname 'Bloody Mary' because she fiercely prosecuted protestants in Britain. 

Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

• The Virgin Queen (never married);
•  Before her reign, there was a period of great uncertainty: two official religions;
• Re-established the English Church as the official religion;
• Dilemma for Catholics: pledge obedience to either the pope or the Queen;
• In 1588 defeated the Spanish fleet, Armada, which tried to invade England; 
• Succeeded by James IV of Scotland (James I of England);