History 1
Did the Renaissance happen earlier in Italy or England?
Italy
When did the Renaissance happen in Italy?
1340-1550
Who did Thomas Wyatt translate and be inspired by?
Petrarch
How many lines are in a sonnet?
14
Did both English Protestants and Catholics like the models of manners from Italy that came from books like "The Book of the Courtier"?
Yes!
What invention marked the Renaissance?
The printing press
What city fell in 1453 to the Ottomans, and who fled as a result?
Constantinople, intellectuals who have Greek texts with them
Which book was a manners book, featuring a conversation about how to be a good courtier? Who wrote it?
Il libro del cortegiano/The Book of the Courtier by Castiglione
In "The Lament of Eleanor Cobham," what lesson does Eleanor learn?
That being too greedy and ambitious condemns you. Also, her infamy will continue even after she dies thanks to the fact it was written down.
Who influenced who in the period of this course?
At first, Italy was a positive influence on England. Then, it became a negative influence. Finally, England/Scotland influenced Italy in return with their Enlightenment ideas.
Why was the Renaissance later in Scotland and England?
Because of the War of the Roses, which was so destructive that culture didn't have a chance to develop fully.
When was the Golden Age of English literature?
During Elizabeth I's reign, from 1558-1603.
Which book was inspired by Boccaccio's De Casibus, and what is the genre?
"A Mirror for Magistrates," it's a series of portraits of famous figures from history/contemporary life, about their mistakes and sins, and how they are punished.
Did English readers of this period have access to Machiavelli? Whose work did they read instead?
No - instead, they had access to "Anti Machiavel" by Innocent Gentillet, which had a lasting impact on how the English thought about Machiavelli's thought.
What followed the Renaissance? How is it different from the period we've worked on?
The Enlightenment; this was about rationality, scientific inquiry. It was more concerned with worldly concerns than spiritual ones.
Which two religions were important in this period?
Protestantism and Catholicism
Who is credited with Protestantism, and why did he do it?
Which poet was a former lover of this person's next wife?
Henry VIII, because he wanted to divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn.
Thomas Wyatt.
Is the "Machiavel" directly taken from Machiavelli? What's an example of this figure being used?
No - it was inspired by misunderstandings of Machiavelli from translated books about his work. Christopher Marlowe and Shakespeare both had Machiavel figures in their works.
What did Robert Ascham think of young men travelling to Italy?
He thought it was terrible and corrupting; that going to Italy was merely to be around vice, that you unlearn things and become morally worse, lazy, etc. The only good time to have visited Italy was in Ancient times.
Which of our texts were positively influenced from Italy? And negatively?
Positive: Wyatt, Shakespeare (from Petrarch); "A Mirror for Magistrates" (from Boccaccio); courtesy books
Negative: Machiavelli (bad reputation), "The Schoolmaster," "A History of Italy," "The White Devil"
Thanks to the influence of works by figures like Boccaccio, who could be the subject of critique for the first time? What is this called?
powerful figures, religious and aristocratic; this was called satire
By the end of the period, what had happened to Italy? Was it still influential?
Italy had declined in economic, political, and military power. It had also lost its status as the center of intellectual activity. Nonetheless, places like Florence, Venice, etc. provided inspiration for English authors
1. Petrarch had an octet, usually rhyming ABBA ABBA, followed by a sestet, usually rhyming either CDECDE or CDCDCD. He never ended in a couplet.
2. Wyatt followed Petrarch for the octet, usually also ABBA ABBA, but for the sestet (final six lines), he usually rhymed CDCD EE, ending in a final rhyming couplet.
3. Shakespeare split his sonnets into three quatrains (lines of four) with alternate rhymes (ABAB, CDCD, EFEF) followed by a rhyming couplet (GG) which usually followed a volta, or a change in tone.
Ascham combines references from which sources in "The Schoolmaster?" In "A History of Italy," is there a positive view of Venice?
1. the bible and examples from classical philosophy/myths
2. Not at all - Venice is full of penny pinching men who only want to spend money on prostitutes.
The Renaissance followed what period, organized by what name, and what were its innovations?
It followed the middle ages, which was organized principally in a feudal system. The Renaissance touched every aspect of life - art, politics, education, architecture. The ideas of classical antiquity became influential, and as the Renaissance ended, so did the absolutism of divine kings.