6.1.3

Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism

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The Renaissance and the Emergence of Humanism

The medieval idea of a ‘Great Chain of Being’ was challenged by the emergence of new ideas, originating in Italy in the 14th century and becoming increasingly influential in England during the 16th century.

The birth of the Renaissance

The birth of the Renaissance

  • This new age of learning and discovery was inspired by the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman culture and by the advances made by Islamic societies in sciences such as medicine and astronomy.
  • We describe this new age of enlightenment as the Renaissance – literally, a ‘rebirth’.
Copernicus

Copernicus

  • This new spirit of learning and discovery led to profound changes in the way humanity saw its place in the universe.
  • The astronomical discoveries of Copernicus (who discovered that the Earth orbited the Sun) cast doubt on the idea, held for centuries in Christian Europe, that the Earth, and therefore Mankind, was at the centre of the Universe.
The rise of humanism

The rise of humanism

  • As a consequence, belief in a ‘Great Chain of Being’ was weakened and the idea of fixed hierarchies began to be challenged.
  • The relationships between God and Man, and between a King and his subjects, were subject to debate.
  • A new spirit of what scholars refer to as humanism emerged – a belief that the relationship between an individual and society was not ‘fixed’ in a rigid hierarchy and that mankind had the potential to learn the secrets of the universe.
Hamlet's speech (A2S2) & humanism

Hamlet's speech (A2S2) & humanism

  • Hamlet’s famous speech in Act 2 Scene 2, “What piece of work is a man…”, is often interpreted as expressing this new spirit of humanism.
  • Mankind is described in hyperbolic terms as being “noble in reason… infinite in faculties… how like an angel in apprehension; how like a god”.
  • However, despite all of these glories, Hamlet can only see a “quintessence of dust”.
Hamlet's rejection of hierarchy

Hamlet's rejection of hierarchy

  • Hamlet himself comes to reject notions of hierarchy.
  • In Act 4, Scene 2, he tells Rosencrantz that “The King is a thing / Of nothing”. This foreshadows his reflection on the cycle of life and death during the graveyard scene in which he imagines the dead body of Alexander the Great decomposing into “dust” which may “stop a beer-barrel”.
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1

Introduction

1.1

Introduction & Background to Hamlet

1.1.1Introduction to Hamlet1.1.2The Literary Tradition of the Hamlet Story1.1.3Introduction to the Settings in Hamlet1.1.4Introduction to Social Issues Raised
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Act 1: Key Events & Ideas

2.1.1Act 1, Scene 12.1.2Act 1, Scene 22.1.3Act 1, Scene 32.1.4Act 1, Scenes 4-5
2.2

Act 2: Key Events & Ideas

2.2.1Act 2, Scene 12.2.2Act 2, Scene 2
2.3

Act 3: Key Events & Ideas

2.3.1Act 3, Scene 1: Key Events2.3.2Act 3, Scene 1: Key Ideas2.3.3Act 3, Scene 22.3.4Act 3, Scene 32.3.5Act 3, Scene 4
2.4

Act 4: Key Events & Ideas

2.4.1Act 4, Scene 12.4.2Act 4, Scenes 2-32.4.3Act 4, Scene 42.4.4Act 4, Scene 5: Key Events2.4.5Act 4, Scene 5: Key Ideas2.4.6Act 4, Scene 62.4.7Act 4, Scene 7
2.5

Act 5: Key Events & Ideas

2.5.1Act 5, Scene 1: Key Events2.5.2Act 5, Scene 2: Key Events2.5.3Act 5, Scene 2: Key Ideas
3

Character Profiles

3.1

Hamlet

3.1.1Hamlet's Speech & Mind3.1.2Hamlet's Heroic Status3.1.3Hamlet's State of Mind3.1.4Hamlet's Indecision/Action Taking
3.2

Claudius

3.2.1Claudius' Crime3.2.2Changing Impressions of Claudius
3.3

Gertrude

3.3.1Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude3.3.2Gertrude's Character3.3.3Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet
3.4

Ophelia

3.4.1Ophelia
3.5

Polonius

3.5.1Portrayal of Polonius & Treatment of Ophelia3.5.2Polonius' Spying & Death
3.6

Laertes

3.6.1Laertes' Popularity & Relationship with Ophelia3.6.2Laertes' Character Traits
4

Key Themes

4.1

Regicide in Hamlet

4.1.1Regicide in Hamlet
4.2

Madness in Hamlet

4.2.1Madness in Hamlet
4.3

Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet

4.3.1Guilt in Hamlet4.3.2Punishment in Hamlet
4.4

Settings in Hamlet

4.4.1Physical Settings & Historical Setting of Hamlet
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.1.1Structure of Hamlet5.1.2'Play Within a Play' Structure5.1.3Play-Acting Motif
5.2

Form

5.2.1Soliloquy5.2.2Comedy
5.3

Imagery

5.3.1Imagery of Corruption & Decay5.3.2Imagery: Healing, Performance & Costume
5.4

Language

5.4.1Word Usage & Hendiadys5.4.2Questions & Classical Allusions
6

Context

6.1

Social & Historical Context

6.1.1Elizabeth I & Succession6.1.2Cosmic & Social Hierarchy6.1.3Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism6.1.4Regicide6.1.5The Reformation
6.2

Literary Context

6.2.1Seneca Tragedy6.2.2The Revenge Tragedy
6.3

Performance & Textual History

6.3.1Performance History of Hamlet6.3.2Textual History of Hamlet
7

Critical Debates

7.1

18-19th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.1.1Introduction to Critical Debates7.1.218th Century Commentary on Hamlet7.1.3Romantic Commentary on Hamlet
7.2

20th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.2.1Freudian Response to Hamlet7.2.2Other Early 20th Century Responses to Hamlet
7.3

Feminist Readings of Hamlet

7.3.1Introduction to Feminist Criticism7.3.2Feminist Readings of Hamlet7.3.3Presentation of Ophelia
7.4

Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet

7.4.1Introduction to Marxist Criticisms7.4.2Marxist Readings of Hamlet

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    What does Renaissance literally mean?Multiple choice
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Cosmic & Social Hierarchy

Regicide