Social Context

Reformation
 What was the Reformation?
● Was a religious reform that occurred during the
1500s in Europe.

● It resulted in a branch of Christianity called

Protestantism.

● Protestant reform in England began with Henry

VIII in 1534 because the Pope would not grant
him a marriage annulment.
● King Henry rejected the Pope's authority, creating
and assuming authority over the Church of
England, a church that combined some Catholic
doctrine and Protestant ideals.

● It started in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31,

1517 by Martin Luther who was a teacher and a
monk.
Additionally, the religious tensions between Catholics and
Protestants stemming from the Reformation of the Catholic
Church during Henry VIII’s reign continually brought about
theological uncertainty bringing further political ramifications and
consequences.
Role of the church in politics
● The Reformation (1517)
○ Began in 1534 by Henry VIII because the Pope would not grant him a marriage annulment
■ Creation of Protestantism
○ During the 16th century, guided by the bishops in the House of Lords, took a hard line against
the Church's opponents, and passed many laws denying basic rights to Catholics and
nonconformists
■ Anyone who did not swear to the Act of Supremacy was executed (including More)
○ Henry VIII oversaw the dissolution of the English monasteries → sold off the land to the highest
bidder
Humanism
 Humanism
● Humanists believed in the importance of education
of classical literature and civic virtue, they
promoted the study of ancient history, public and
private virtue, moral philosophy, and the Latin
language (grammar, techniques of rhetoric, and
conventions in literature and poetry)

● Significant in 1400 - 1600 Europe

● Although it was to be included in people’s

education, it did not contradict religion

● Science also had great improvements as

Humanism was also about observing, analysing
and categorising the world they lived in
Influences on Literature
● Revived cultural and historical aspects
in literature

● People’s values and morals were

reflected in their writing

● Focused on grammar and rhetoric

techniques, literature enhanced logical
thinking and reasoning.

8
02

The Renaissance and

its impact on literature
The Renaissance (1300s - 1600s followed the Middle Ages and
was a period of
“cultural, artistic, political and economic” shift.
It marked the age of renewed interest in Classical philosophy
and learning from Ancient Rome and Greece. It brought ideas
of:
- humanism
- free agency of individuals,
it resulted in the effort to balance religious faith with these new
ideas.
Where do we see a “rebirth”
of Greek elements in
Shakespeare’s works? Think
pair Share
 Effect of Renaissance on Literature
Literature Poetry
- An increased willingness to satirise
existing work. Authors created their own structure often
- More emphasis on reflecting with a new sense of grace.
inwardly to discover their emotions

Thomas More’s Utopia is a typical example of Renaissance literature in its

application of classical ideology such as humanism to his contemporary society.

13
What was inequality like in Shakespeare’s
society? Think pair share.
● Most crucially,
Shakespeare’s context
strongly upheld the Great
Chain of Being, in which
society was strongly classed
within its rigid classes,
where the King occupied the
top of the hierarchy on
Earth (as the representative
of God). This doctrine of the
Divine Right of Kings had
significant ramifications for
social order, as any
usurpation of this power
would manifest in upheaval
in the natural order and
stability.
Access to education
● Only a small amount of children went to school
● At the age of six children learnt from their parents
● Schooling was mostly for boys
● Girls were only taught to read so that they could
read the bible
● There were a small amount of preparatory schools
● Writing could be learnt separately by paying a
private copyist
● In late Elizabethan times 30% of men knew how to
read and 10% of women
● Only a third of teachers at preparatory schools went
to university
● Boys who did well in preparatory school and had rich
parents might be sent to private grammar schools
● The Renaissance further gave rise to
renewed focus on classical study,
bringing worldly pleasure, scepticism
and secularisation that also
threatened to destabilise the Church’s
moral hold over an increasing
population. The flourishing of
education and knowledge, which was
further embraced by James I, who
substantially valued theatre, gave rise
to anthropocentric Renaissance
Humanism, promoting the ideas of
individualism, self-determination and
reason.
social mobility

Literally
impossible
● Huge class disparity
● Incredibly strict social rules
● Slavery existed in the utopia KING
LIZZY
● The Age of Discovery and Age of
Enlightenment brought about
unprecedented scientific and
geographic discoveries as well as
economic prosperity and expansion,
particularly through the newly
established trade routes and
connections. The Eurocentric attitudes
towards colonisation regarded the
European world as inherently superior
and relegated the native populations of
Africa as inferior classes.
Please research the following dramatic
techniques. As a class we will then
discuss our findings.

Mis en abyme
Five Par