 What is Poetry?

- Poetry is a literary work in which the expression of feelings and ideas

by the use of distinctive style and rhythm.

- The objective of the course is to introduce students with selected

classical and Renaissance poetry covering Tudor period (1457-1509),
Elizabethan period (1533-1603), the Jacobean period (1603-1625), and
ending with the Caroline period (1625-1649). In this course, we will
focus on Tudor period (1457-1509), Elizabethan period (1533-1603) as
two remarkable literary periods in the 16th century poetry.
- What is the age of Renaissance? What are its major topics and
themes, famous poets and forms?
- "Renaissance" is a French word meaning "rebirth". It began in Florence
in Italy.
- The Renaissance was a period in European history between the Middle
Ages to modern age and covering the 14th to the 16th centuries.
- It was primarily a time of the revival of Classical European art and
literature (Greek &Roman) after a long period of cultural decline.
- The focus during the middle ages was on religion , while during the
Renaissance was a revival of human life experiences, which led to the
movement of humanism.
- This period saw the flowering of not only art and literature but also
science, discoveries of new continents, religion, education and politics .
- The Renaissance covers a span of three centuries and covers these four
historic periods:
 Tudor period (1457-1509)
 Elizabethan period (1533-1603)
 The Jacobean period (1603-1625)
 The Caroline period (1625-1649)

- Tudor period (1457-1509)

- the British royal family during the sixteenth century whose first
monarch was Henry VII (the seventh) (b.1457, r.1485–1509).
- The Tudor period was between (1457-1509) in England and Wales and
includes the Elizabethan period during the reign of Elizabeth I until
1603.
 - Historian John Guy (1988) argued that "England was economically
healthier, more expansive, and more optimistic under the Tudors" than
at any time in a hundred years.
- Who were the most famous English poets during the Tudor Period?
- Sir Thomas Wyatt Henry Howard, and Earl of Surrey . Wyatt was the
most successful sonneteer among early Tudor poets ,
-
- A common goal of these poets was to make English as flexible a poetic
instrument as Italian.

- The Elizabethan era

- It is the age in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of
Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). Historians often depict it as the golden age in
English history. The time period is named after Queen Elizabeth I who ruled
England during this time. During this era England experienced peace and
prosperity while the arts flourished.
- Who were the most famous English poets during the Elizabethan
Period(1533-1603). Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, William Shakespeare

- What are the General characteristics of Sixteenth century;

Geographical Discoveries, religion, science, literature and art?
The sixteenth century witnessed many inventions and developments in all aspects
of life:
I t was marked by a strong national spirit, patriotism, religious tolerance, by
social content, the wonderful development of the drama, the age of feelings,
thoughts, and human expression
1- Geographical Discoveries:
This century is marked by the search for new lands which led to discovering
America by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
2- The Invention of Printing:
It is the most prominent achievement throughout this century. It helped a lot in
spreading Knowledge over the whole of Europe. The printing machine helped a lot
in saving time, money and efforts compared with the handwritten books.
3- Scientific discoveries and new beliefs:
It was throughout this century that scientists corrected the belief of considering the
earth the center of the universe; ensuring that the earth and other planets move
round the sun.
4- The Reformation:
The corruption in the churches led to the reformation which called for restoring
Christianity to its early purity as a simple religion based on the Bible. Many
divisions were resulted because of the reformation: the Roman Catholic Church
and the New Protestant Church.
5- Rise of Renaissance:
The Renaissance as a movement originated in Italy and Southern Europe moved
then to Britain during the 15th, 16th and early 17th century. Renaissance, that
means "rebirth", is the most remarkable feature of this century which called for:
a- Humanism which means a system of thoughts focused on the human rather than
divine or supernatural matters.
b- Showing big interest in the Classical Latin and Greek literature.
The emphasis on logic and reason rather than the sensation.
c- It also calls for man's ability to increase through wisdom and virtue, his power
and knowledge with which to control the non-human supernatural spirits.