Unit 2 History Notes
The English Renaissance
1485-1625
English Renaissance:
Two dynasties founded – Tudor and Stuart
Monarchs increased power
Feuding over and changes in religious practices
Emphasis on learning/arts
Tudors
Henry VII
Rebuilt England which was depleted by war
Restored prestige of monarchs
Died 1509
Tudors …
Henry VIII
“Defender of the Faith”
Had 6 wives
Caused break with Roman Catholic church
Tudors …
Edward VI (Henry VIII’s son) gained throne at 9 yrs old
During rule England’s religion began shifting from Catholicism to Protestant
Died @ 15 in 1553
Tudors …
1553 Mary I (Edward’s half sister) gained thrown
Executed 300 Protestants-nicknamed “Bloody Mary”
Attempted to restore Catholicism
Strengthened anti-catholic sentiment
Tudors …
1558 Elizabeth I became queen (Mary’s half sister)
England’s ablest monarch since William the Conquerer
Educated
Supporter of the arts
Elizabeth …
Ended religious turmoil
Reestablished monarch’s supremacy in Church of England
Instituted policy of religious moderation
Mary Stuart
Elizabeth’s cousin-many thought she should be queen
Elizabeth imprisoned her
Mary instituted many plots against Elizabeth-with the Catholics on here side
Mary Stuart …
Beheaded in 1587
Considered a catholic martyr
New dynasty-Stuarts
1603 Elizabeth dies-
James VI (son of Mary Stuart) appointed king
Protestant
Supporter of arts
Sponsored first American colony
Struggled with Parliament for power
Believed in divine right of kings
Would later cause war
Unit 2 Literature Notes
Sonnets:
Lyric poetry popular during Elizabethan age
Sonnet:
14 line lyric poem with single theme usually written in iambic pentameter
takes a definite form/rhyme scheme
Sonnet cycle: a series of sonnets that fit loosely together to form a story
Sir Phillip Sidney: Astrophel and Stella
Edmond Spenser: Amoretti
Terms:
Rhyme scheme: the pattern of rhyme
Couplet: 2 line section
Quatrain: 4 line section
Sestet: 6 line section
Octave: 8 line section
Iambic pentameter: rhythm of speaking, meant to resemble the heartbeat
5 “iams” in a line of verse
Petrarchan sonnet:
Divided into octave and sestet
Rhyme scheme: abba abba cdecde
Spenserian sonnet:
Octave and sestet
Abab bcbc cdcdee
Shakespearean sonnet:
Rhyme scheme:
abab cdcd efef gg
Five iambic feet to line
Three quatrains, one couplet
