The Renaissance and its impact on English Literature

The Renaissance and its impact on English Literature

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain the Renaissance in relation to English literature and notable writers such as Marlowe, Bacon, and Shakespeare. You will also be familiar with the impact of Gutenberg and the changes that occurred in the Catholic Church during the Enlightenment.

Introduce the learning objective and explain the importance of understanding the Renaissance and its impact on English literature.

What do you already know about the Renaissance and its influence on English literature?

What is the Renaissance?

The Renaissance was a period of great cultural and intellectual growth in Europe that lasted from the 14th to the 17th century. It was characterized by a renewed interest in classical learning and a focus on humanism, which emphasized the importance of individual achievement and the potential of human beings.

Explain what the Renaissance was and its significance for European culture.

Renaissance in England

The Renaissance had a significant impact on English literature, particularly during the Elizabethan era. This was a time of great artistic and literary achievement, with writers such as Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Bacon producing works that are still studied and performed today.

Discuss the impact of the Renaissance on English literature and highlight some notable writers.

Christopher Marlowe

Marlowe was a playwright and poet who lived during the Renaissance. He was known for his powerful and controversial plays, such as 'Doctor Faustus' and 'Tamburlaine'. His works often dealt with themes of ambition, power, and betrayal.

Introduce Marlowe and his notable works. Encourage students to research and analyze his plays in more depth.

Francis Bacon

Bacon was a philosopher, scientist, and writer who lived during the Renaissance. He is known for his essays, which covered a wide range of topics from politics to science. Bacon's works helped to popularize the scientific method and promote the idea of empirical observation.

Introduce Bacon and his notable works. Encourage students to research and analyze his essays in more depth.

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare is arguably the most famous playwright in history. He lived during the Renaissance and was known for his plays and sonnets. Some of his most notable works include 'Hamlet', 'Macbeth', and 'Romeo and Juliet'. Shakespeare's works continue to be studied and performed today.

Introduce Shakespeare and his notable works. Encourage students to research and analyze his plays and sonnets in more depth.

The Impact of Gutenberg

Johannes Gutenberg was a German inventor who is credited with inventing the printing press. This invention had a profound impact on European culture and helped to spread knowledge and ideas more quickly and easily. It also made books more affordable and accessible to the general public.

Discuss the impact of Gutenberg's invention on European culture and the spread of knowledge.

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was a period of intellectual and cultural growth that occurred in Europe during the 18th century. It was characterized by a focus on reason, science, and individual freedom. The Enlightenment had a significant impact on the Catholic Church, which saw a decline in its influence as people began to question traditional religious beliefs and values.

Introduce the Enlightenment and its significance for European culture. Discuss the impact of the Enlightenment on the Catholic Church.

Changes in the Catholic Church

During the Enlightenment, the Catholic Church saw a decline in its power and influence. Many people began to question traditional religious beliefs and values, and some even rejected the authority of the Church altogether. This led to the rise of new religious and philosophical movements, such as Deism and Atheism.

Discuss the changes that occurred in the Catholic Church during the Enlightenment and their impact on European society.

Summary

In this lesson, we learned about the Renaissance and its impact on English literature, as well as notable writers such as Marlowe, Bacon, and Shakespeare. We also discussed the impact of Gutenberg's printing press and the changes that occurred in the Catholic Church during the Enlightenment.

Summarize the key points of the lesson and encourage students to reflect on what they have learned.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.