The Beginnings of the Renaissance

By the end of the Middle Ages, England had undergone a series of difficulties: a plague, a famine, and a series of wars that left the government and society weakened. With the brokenness of government and society, feudalism faded, the code of chivalry ceased to be an institution, and the church became more of a guide than a focal point in life. Society became less ignorant and focused more on the self and acted based on individual thoughts and desires. The shift from the focus and trust in the community and church to the focus on the individual marked the beginning of the Renaissance, or rebirth.

The Renaissance in England, which means rebirth, marks a time period when individuals moved from the rigidity of the Middle Ages to a society embracing the influences of the classical time period by becoming more open to new art, culture, science, and thought processes. The Renaissance in England was a time of scientific and geographical discoveries along with a focus on the potential of the individual and the secular life over the religious life.

Various dates regarding the end of the Middle Ages appear from different scholars, but the generally accepted date noted as the start of the English Renaissance is 1500 A.D. However, the ideas of the Renaissance slowly entered England, so the height of the English Renaissance occurred in the mid to late 1500's around the time Queen Elizabeth took the throne. Within the Renaissance, the time period of Queen Elizabeth's reign was called the Elizabethan Age and also known as The Golden Age—a time when exploration and creativity in art and literature flourished along with political stability. Other eras occurred during the Renaissance, as well:

Early Tudor Period (1486-1558)
Elizabethan Period (1558-1603)
Jacobean Period (1603-1625)
Caroline Age (1625-1649)
Commonwealth Period (1649-1660)

Societal Changes During Renaissance

During the various eras, changes in society influenced the language, literature, and culture of the time. Review the various societal changes throughout the time periods of the Renaissance:

Language and Literature During the Renaissance

Language

A desire to read and understand classic literature led to the incorporation of new words in the English language
The Great Vowel Shift occurred, which dramatically changed the pronunciation of various English words and created the language of the time period: Early Modern English
Early Modern English still reveals aesthetic differences, but the words are much more recognizable and readable and bring readers closer to the English language read and spoken today.

Literature

Theatre and poetry were popular forms of literature during the Renaissance
Theatre became popular during the Renaissance and increased in popularity during the Elizabethan Era
Queen Elizabeth adored Shakespeare and theatres, and she commissioned the construction of the first theatre: The Globe Theatre
During the Caroline Era, the obsession with theatre subsided, and poetry became more of a focus

The Sonnet

A poem revealing a specific structure: 14 lines, certain rhyme scheme, and set structure
Various types of Sonnets, but the three main Sonnet forms are: Shakespearean, Petrarchan, and Spenserian

Art

Portraits were a popular type of visual art during the Renaissance

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