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Renaissance is a French word that means rebirth.The word was first used by Italian scholars in the mid-16th century to express the rediscovery of ancient Roman and Greek culture.But modern scholars are more inclined to use the term to express the great variety of changes that Europe underwent politically，economically and culturally between 1450and 1600.

The Renaissance came to England much later than in Italy，its cradle，or Spain or France.It was only after the Wars of the Roses that the Renaissance was well on its way in England.Several distinctive features characterize the English Renaissance.The first is the lateness of its impact；Italian，French，German，Dutch and Spanish scholars had already worked hard on the ancient Greek and Latin writers，and had produced works of their own inspired by the classics；in consequence，English culture was revitalized not so much directly by the classics as by contemporary Europeans under the influence of the classics.Second，England as an insular country followed a course of social and political history that was to a great extent independent of the course of history elsewhere in Europe，and this assisted the country in preserving its cultural independence.Third，owing to the great genius of the 14th century poet Chaucer，the native literature was sufficiently vigorous and experienced in assimilating foreign influences without being subjected by them.A fourth characteristic of English Renaissance literature is that it is primarily artistic，rather than philosophical and scholarly.And a fifth is the coinciding of the Renaissance and the Reformation in England，in contrast to the rest of the Europe where the reformation succeeded the Renaissance as a consequence of the emancipated and critical spirit which was one of its characteristics.

The English Renaissance was largely literary and achieved its height during the Elizabethan period.The age was especially significant for three literary forms：the drama，poetry and prose.In drama，the most shining representatives were Christopher Marlowe⁹，Ben Jonsont¹⁰，and William Shakespeare¹¹.The poet who introduced the Elizabethan age proper was Edmund Spenser¹².His masterpiece The Faerie Queene was an ode to Queen Elizabeth.The important prose writers during the Elizabethan age were Sir Walter Raleigh¹³ and Francis Bacon¹⁴.Bacon’s Essays are especially popular still.Many best-known sayings come from the Essays.

Most of the writers in the era of the Renaissance were sometimes called humanists.In their literary works the progressive writers voiced the human aspirations for freedom and equality and against the tyranny of feudal rule and ecclesiastical domination.They sang the praises of life and social progress but attacked social evils and vice.Their works represented the progressive thought of the time and won wide spread welcome.The greatest of the English humanists of this time was Sir Thomas More，who was the author of Utopia（1516）.

The Tudor Monarchy was full of tremendous changes.All these changes were favourable to the development of capitalism，and through the changes the bourgeoisie was becoming mature politically.The day when the English bourgeoisie would take over political power was not far off.

1.Enclosures：turning the common land into private property.This practice was legalized in the 13th century in England，and became widespread in the 15th and 16th centuries.Enclosures caused much poverty.Another wave in the period of 1760-1820created a new class of landless labourers and factory workers.In 1876the enclosure of common land was limited by law.

2.Star Chamber（星室法庭）：a Privy Council institution in Tudor Monarchy.It was given the power to investigate political offences.

3.ClementⅦ（1478-1534）：the Pope from 1523to 1534.He was controlled by CharlesⅤas a result of an unwise alliance with France against Charles.This resulted in the sack of Rome（1527）and a lowering of papal prestige.Charles refused to allow him to give Henry Ⅷof England a divorce from Charles’aunt，Katherine of Aragon.Consequently，Henry Ⅷsevered ties with the Church of Rome and established the Church of England.

4.CharlesⅤ：the great Hapsburg Holy Roman Emperor（1519-1556），and also James Ⅰof Spain（1516-1556）.Under him，the Holy Roman Empire covered most of Europe.He withstood the last onslaught of Moslems，protecting Europe；but at the same time，he sacked Rome and kept the Pope in his control.

5.Thirty-nine Articles of Religion（三十九条信纲）：theological statement of doctrines accepted by the Church of England，approved by ElizabethⅠand passed by Convocation in 1574.

6.Book of Common Prayer（公祷书）：the once-official book of services for the Church of England，it is based largely on the Roman Catholic missal and breviary，but also shows the influence of the Reformation.It was first published in 1545.A revised version appeared in 1552.Further changes were made in 1559and again in 1660.

7.Transubstabtiation（化体论）：Roman Catholic doctrine that the sacramental elements of bread and wine，when consecrated in the Mass，are changed into the body and blood of the risen Christ.It is one of the mysteries of the Christian faith，and still a belief of the Catholic Church.

8.Sir Francis Drake（1540-1596）：a famous sailor.After several slave-trading expeditions to West Africa and the Spanish Main（1566-1573），he circumnavigated the globe in 1577-1580.He delayed the Spanish invasion fleet by raiding Cadiz（1587），where the great Armada was assembled，and helped to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588.

9.Christopher Marlowe（1564-1593）：English dramatist and poet.He was one of the first English dramatists to use blank verse to great dramatic and poetic effect in his plays，the most famous of which are Tamburlaine the Great（1590）and his masterpiece，Doctor Faustus（1640）.Marlowe was involved in political intrigue，and got into trouble for his atheism.He was killed in a fight in a tavern.

10.Ben Jonson（1572-1637）：English dramatist，poet and critic.He was a leading writer of his time after Shakespeare’s death.He created the“comedy of humours”.He was appointed the first Poet of Laureate in 1616.

11.William Shakespeare（1564-1616）：English dramatist and poet，generally regarded as the greatest writer in the English language.He wrote 37plays and 154sonnets in his lifetime.His imagination，his richness of language and his deep understanding of human behaviour have made him universally known and loved.His influence on English literature and on the writers of other countries is immense.

12.Edmund Spenser（1552-1599）：English poet，noted particularly for his huge allegorical poemThe Faerie Queene.The Queene is actually an idealized version of ElizabethⅠ，who does not appear in the poem，however.Spenser’s language is rich and often deliberately antique.He creates a dream world of mystery and magic which has influenced many later poets，especially the Romatics.

13.Walter Raleigh（1552-1618）：English explorer and writer.He was a favourite of ElizabethⅠ，but James Ⅰimprisoned him in the Tower of London（1603-1618）.He introduced tobacco and the potato to Britain.

14.Francis Bacon（1561-1626）：an English Renaissance philosopher and statesman.He served both ElizabethⅠand James Ⅰin various public offices until his conviction and disgrace for bribery in 1621：He is known for his Essays，which contain maxims on men and affairs，on conduct，on pleasure and their uses，and on great theme affecting human destiny.

Ⅰ.Choose the correct answer.

1.Under Henry Ⅶ，the Justices of the Peace had all the following powers

A.trying cases　　　　　　B.the care of roads and bridges

C.training lawyers　　　　D.the control of guilds

2.John Cabot was sent to discover new way to the East by________.

A.the Pope　　　B.the King of Spain

C.Henry Ⅶ　　　D.Henry Ⅷ

3.Which is not proper to describe the Church of Middle Ages？

A.It was a religious body that had a political power.

B.It was a body that had a legal power.

C.It was a branch of national government controlled by king.

D.It was like an upper-state organization that was very powerful.

4.The external pretext for the Reformation in England was________’s divorce case.

A.Henry Ⅶ　　　B.Henry Ⅷ

C.ClementⅡ　　 D.CharlesⅤ

5.ElizabethⅠwas excommunicated by the Pope in________.

A.1558B.1571C.1586D.1603

6.Who was a Catholic among the following kings and queens？

A.Henry Ⅷ　　　　　　B.Edward Ⅵ

C.“Bloody Mary”　　 D.ElizabethⅠ

7.Spanish Armada was defeated in________.

A.1558　　　B.1588　　　C.1600　　　D.1603

8.In drama the most shining representatives of the Elizabethan Age were the following ones except________.

A.Christopher Marlowe　　　B.Edmund Spenser

C.William Shakespeare　　　D.Ben Jonson

Ⅱ.Fill in the blanks.

1.The Tudor Monarchy，being in the transitional stage from ________to________，witnessed many important political，economic and social changes.It reformed ________in England and tolerated________.It was during the Tudor Monarchythat ________was discovered and the________spread into England.

2.Under Henry Ⅶ，the Privy Council consisted of only king’s________.It advised the king on the important decisions of internal and________ policy.It also exercised ________and ________powers.

3.ElizabethⅠcame to the throne in________.In spite of her________ background，she tried to settle the religious problem by following a________course that satisfied all reasonable men.The intention was to be inclusive：Catholics were not to be driven out of the ________if she could help it，and she wanted to keepas ________of her protestant subjects within it as possible.

4.There are now two groups in the Church of England：the________Church that attaches much importance to the authorityof the________，the spiritual power of the________，and the observance of________；the________Church that attaches greater importance to the________interpretation of the Bible and to evangelism generallythan to ________or the value of the sacraments.

5.Renaissance means________.The word was first used by________ scholars in the mid-16th century to express the ________of ancient Roman and________culture.But modern scholars are more inclined to use the term to express the great variety of changes that ________underwent politically，economically and culturallybetween 1450 and________.

6.Most of the writers in the era of the Renaissance were sometimes called________.In their literary works they voiced the human aspirations for________and________and against the ________of feudal rule and ecclesiastical domination.They sang the praises of ________and social progress but attacked social ________and vice.The greatest of the English humanists of this time was________，who was the author of the book“________”.