Summary
Summary The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Sixteenth Century
- Course
- Institution
- Book
A summary of the chapter The Sixteenth Century of The Norton Anthology of English Literature
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
More summaries for
-
In-depth guide to critical analysis of poetry
-
Oefenexamen met antwoorden
Seller
Follow
DeBijlesprinses
Reviews received
Content preview
Summary Norton Anthology: The Sixteenth Century 1485-16031485: Accession of Henry VII inaugurates the Tudor dynasty
1509: Accession of Henry VIII
1517: Martin Luther’s Wittenberg Theses; beginning of the Reformation
1534: Henry VIII declares himself head of the English church
1557: Publication of Tottel’s Songs and Sonnets, containing poems by Sir Thomas Wyatt;
Henry Howard, earl of Surrey; and others
1558: Accession of Elizabeth I
1576: Building of The Theatre, the first permanent structure in England for the presentation
of plays
1588: Defeat of the Spanish Armada
1603: Death of Elizabeth I and accession of James I, the first of the Stuart kings
Virgil: Britain is wild, remote place, set apart from the world > Continentals crossed the
Channel, visited cities > saw markets, universities, nobles, royal court. Flood of wealthy
young Englishmen: obliged to learn French, Italian, Spanish, wear foreign fashions, foreign
phrases (English language had no prestige abroad: Thomas More’s Utopia written in Latin >
writing for international intellectual community > famous throughout Europe > translated
into English in 1550: linguistic self-confidence). 1600: England peripheral to the Continent >
immensely powerful expressive medium: Marlowe, Shakespeare, translators Bible > thrill
readers. By the century’s end, so many remarkable poems, plays and prose works were
written in English: spectacular creativity of succession of brilliant writers > literary culture is
product of complex process.
The Court and the City
Consolidation and strengthening English state > development English language. 15th century:
English had limited time and inclination to cultivate rhetorical skills, social/economic health
nation damaged by Wars of the Roses: vicious, decades-long struggle for royal power
between noble houses of York and Lancaster > resolved by establishment Tudor dynasty
1485-1603. Owen Tudor: married Catherine of Valois (widow Lancastrian Henry V) >
grandson earl of Richmond became first Tudor monarch (won crown by leading army that
defeated and killed Yorkist king Richard III at battle of Bosworth Field) > crowned by Henry
VII in 1485 > married Elizabeth of the house of York > uniting two rival factions. English
barons: could not oppose new power of Crown; leaders Church supported by royal power.
Henry VII: counter multiple and competing power structures characteristic of feudal society,
impose stronger central authority and order on nation > consolidation progressed
throughout 16th century by Elizabeth I > rules needs consent of Parliament on crucial matters
> royal court had concentrated in itself much of nation’s power. Court was centre of culture
and power: court entertainments, fashions, tastes > shaped taste and imaginations country
as whole. Tudor England: culture and power not separable. Society: no freedom of speech,
limited means of mass communication > important public issues aired through
entertainment (lyrics: manifestations of rhetorical agility by aspiring courtiers). Middle Ages
noblemen: distance from London and king, ruling over semi-independent fiefdoms > route to
power lay to the royal body. Monarch’s chief ministers and favourites: primary channels
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller DeBijlesprinses. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R59,53. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
52355 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy summaries for 14 years now