English IV B (YAN) DNC CAL_TF_C12 S1

The Elizabethan Era

FOCUS: As you read, think about the way events that took place during the Elizabethan era impacted literature.

When Queen Elizabeth I took the throne in England in 1558, there was a great deal of religious tension and conflict. This was sparked by her father, King Henry VII, who separated from the Catholic church and created his own Church of England to avoid religious persecution. Queen Elizabeth’s half-sister, Mary Tudor, who ruled before Elizabeth, fought a Counter-Reformation aligned with the chaos over Catholicism versus Protestantism. Regardless of the conflict that was ensuing as Queen Elizabeth I took the throne, she was able to move England into the Golden Age, a time of great economic growth, social improvements, and a greater sense of nationalism. The Golden Age also saw an increase in literature that depicted the growing prosperity in England. Many writers of the time, including budding playwright William Shakespeare, enjoyed social improvements, including developing the stage and theater setting for entertainment. Queen Elizabeth I, credited with creating the social environment for writers to thrive, was a frequent reference in works.