THE ENGLISH RENAISSANCE (1500 – 1603 / 15TH-17TH CENTURIES)
I. WHAT IS MEANT BY RENAISSANCE?
The term Renaissance, meaning literally “rebirth” in French, refers to the “discovery of the world
and of man”. It was first used by Michelet (1780 - 1874), then Jakob Burckhardt (a great Swiss
historian) expanded on Michelet’s conception, characterizing the epoch of Renaissance as nothing
less than the birth of modern humanity and consciousness after a long period of ignorance and decay.
Frederick Engels regarded the Renaissance as the greatest progressive turning point that mankind
had so far experienced, a time which called for giants and produced giants, giants in power of
thought, passion and character, in universality and learning. Renaissance means not only “the revived
interest in ancient Greek and Roman cultures” but also “the discovery of the world and human
being”. More than that, it implies “the awakening of men’s mind, the awakening of individual spirit
and secularism”
The Renaissance was the transitional period from the Middle Ages to the modern contemporary
times. The Renaissance began in 14th century Italy and then spread to the rest of Europe in the 15th,
16th and 17th centuries. Throughout Europe, the fragmented feudal society of the Middle Ages, with
its agricultural economy and church dominated by central political institutions was replaced with an
urban, commercial economy and with lay patronage of education, music and the arts.
II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1. The Renaissance witnessed great political and social changes in England
Feudalism that had been a power in Norman times in evolving order and solidarity out of anarchy
and confusion, survived now only as a spent force. The consequences left by the Hundred Years War
(1337-1453) and the three epidemics (1348-49; 1361-62; 1368-69) were really serious. English was
said to be standing “between two worlds; one was dead – the other powerless to be born”. At the
same time, the development of handicrafts, of domestic and foreign trades resulted in the growth of
the towns population. Throughout the country, the consciousness of national life was being formed.
These former townspeople became the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie fought against feudalism
because it held back the development of capitalism.
The decay of feudalism and the development of capitalist relations was followed by a great rise in
the cultural life of Europe. There was an attempt at creating a new culture which would be free from
the limitations of the feudal ideology of the Middle Ages. The epoch was characterised by a thirst for
knowledge and discoveries by a powerful development of individuality.
2. The Renaissance was marked with geographic and scientific discoveries
The geographic discoveries by Magellan and Christopher Columbus revolutionized man’s thinking
about his ancient home, the earth, on the one hand and one the other, they started the age of global
colonialization. The discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus brought about the
establishment of the first permanent European colony on the America. The joining of the Old and
New World altered the history of both – a process sometimes called “Columbian Exchange”.
American silver, gold, corn, potatoes, and tobacco changed the economic and agricultural history of
Europe. Old World disease, especially smallpox, chickenpox and measles decimated the native
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American population. European conquerors became the masters of lands once held back by native
peoples.
Besides, there were at the same time astronomical discoveries by Copernicus, Bruno, Galilei which
helped to change the long-standing assumption of the earth as being fixed in the center of the
universe with the sun, the moon and stars moving around. The invention of the printing press (by
Caxton in England, Guttenberg in Germany) contributed to developing education and spreading
culture in all European countries. Books were no longer a rarity owned by a privileged few.
3. The Renaissance was also marked with advancements in human conception of the evolution
of history.
Before the Renaissance it was believed that the history of mankind began with the creation, followed
by the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the anticipated last judgment. Renaissance historians rejected
this medieval Christian division of history, replacing it by a new vision of history which also had
three parts. It began with antiquity, followed by the Middle Ages and then the golden age of rebirth
that had just begun.
The progressive ideology of the Renaissance was humanism. Human life, the happiness of people
and the belief in man’s abilities became the main subject of arts and literature. It was contrary to the
medieval ideology and especially to that of Catholic Church. The power of the church over men’s
minds was defeated. The Renaissance was considered as the greatest progressive revolution that
mankind had so far experienced.
In the 16th century capitalism began to develop in England. Wool production became the leading
manufacture in England. Landowners drove thousands of peasants off their lands into pastures.
There was no work for peasants and many of them became homeless. There was big gap between
the rich and the poor. This led to injustice. English humanist dreamed of social changes that would
do away with the vices of society and establish the equality of people.
III. LITERATURE FEATURES
The development of the Renaissance in England generally falls into three periods: Early
Renaissance, Renaissance Peak and Late Renaissance
1. Early Renaissance (15th Century)
Sir Thomas More (1480 – 1535) – A great humanist of the Early Renaissance
2. Renaissance Peak (16th Century)
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) - The greatest humanist and the idol of The Renaissance Age
No house in English-speaking world is properly furnished unless it contains a copy of a Holy Bible
and one of the works of William Shakespeare. It is not always thought necessary that these books
should be read in maturer years, but they must be present as symbols of religion and English
culture.
(Introducing Shakespeare – G.N Harrison)
3. Late Renaissance (17th Century)
John Milton (1608 – 1674) – The last word of the English Renaissance
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English Enlightenment (1689 – 1798)
I. Social situation
The 18th century saw Great Britain rapidly growing into a capitalist country. It was an age of
intensive industrial development. New mill and manufactures appeared one after another. Small
towns grew into large city. The industrial revolution began: new machinery was invented that turned
Britain into the first capitalist power of the world.
In spite of the progress of industry in England, the majority of the English people were still ignorant.
The 17th and 18th centuries are known in the history of European culture as the period of
Enlightenment. The Enlightenment defended the interests of common people – craftsmen, tradesmen,
peasants. The central problems of the Enlightenment ideology were that of man and his nature.
II. Literature features
• The Enlightenment epoch in English Literature may be divided into three periods:
1. Early Enlightenment (1688 – 1740): The flourishing of journalism
2. Mature Enlightenment (1740 – 1750): The social moralising novel; theory of the
novel worked out by Henry Feilding
3. Late Enlightenment (1750 – 1780) – Sentimentalism: While their predecessors
believed in the force of intellect, they considered feelings (or sentiments) most
important.
• Daniel Defoe (1659 -1731) – The father of the English novel
• Jonathan Swift (1667 – 1745) – The prince of the English satirists
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