English Renaissance Literature Questions
Bring on the tough stuff. There's not just one right answer.
- If the English Renaissance was really so bright, shiny, and new, what differentiates the writing of this time period from the middle ages? An epic is an epic no matter when it was written… right? And, what's the deal with those sonnet dealies, anyway? (It's okay, you can ask your English teacher if you want. You're allowed.)
- Religion seemed to be under fire from all sides during this era. And yet, it was still the defining feature of an individual's life. How did Renaissance writers deal with this tension? How can the dude who writes about convincing ladies to go for a romp in the hay be the same guy who writes about Anglicanism like it's the best thing since sliced bread?
- In 1592, Robert Greene called Shakespeare an "upstart crow." This has gone down in history as one of the most famous literary disses of all time. What was up with that? Well, Greene basically discounted Shakespeare's writing on the basis of his upbringing. As the son of a merchant, Shakespeare, in Greene's eyes, came from too humble a background to be any good. Conversely, in France, Molière (who was often dubbed the French Shakespeare) caused quite a stir when he gave up his place at court to be a lowly actor. See, actors didn't get much respect back in the day. But anyway, we're getting to our point—and our questions—we promise. So, here goes: besides basic snobbery, what drives the mixed-up feelings people have about popular theater? Popular film and literature? What's wrong with words that move us deeply, and make us laugh at the spectacle of performance, all at the same time? Can something be both profound and popular at once?
- Innovations in science and math revolutionized the art world during the English Renaissance. Painters and sculptors now applied techniques dealing with perspective, patterns, and even Fibonacci's spirals to their work. But how were the writers of the period incorporating these new artistic techniques—including perspective and chiaroscuro—into their work? (Yep, the English Renaissance sure was a cross-pollinating artistic bonanza.)
- Allegory was kind of a big deal during the Renaissance. How else was one to poke fun at one's government or question an unfair social practice—without getting sent to the Tower of London? How successful were these allegorical cover-ups of the political messages of that era? Can you name some famous allegorical poems or stories that came out of the Renaissance? How does the allegory protect authors from reprobation, exactly?