The cult of Elizabeth- Rachel

I have been researching how some people believe that Queen Elizabeth basically took the place of Mary/Catholicism and that she became an idol for her subjects. She is called "the Virgin Queen"- similar to the Virgin Mary, eh? I agree that there were some idolatrous activities going on centered around Elizabeth, but what I'm trying to decide is whether or not this extreme increase in her popularity was a result of genuine love from her subjects, a result of the Reformation (they lost Catholicism and subconsciously needed something/someone to take its place), or a result of political propaganda set up by the government to gain England's approval of their new ruler, which actually serves these individual peoples' (the people who set up the propaganda) personal interests as well.

This is a great source! It uses a specific portrait to explain the different ways in which Elizabeth was idolized- for example, her sleeves make it look like she has angel wings. I wonder what the painter was trying to convey? :) Hint, hint.

JSTOR -----Painting and Poetry of the Cult of Elizabeth I: The Ditchley Portrait and Donne's "Elegie: Going to Bed" Author(s): Albert C. Labriola Source: Studies in Philology, Vol. 93, No. 1 (Winter, 1996), pp. 42-63

Published by: University of North Carolina Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4174537

The Subject of Elizabeth by Louis Montrose is also great because it explores multiple sides to this debate. It explains the ways in which Elizabeth was idolized and it gives insight into the people who may have set up propaganda to increase her popularity for their own benefit.

The 1:33a.m. Muse

Hi, Classmates!

This might honestly be my brain going haywire at 1:30 in the morning, but I'm working on my paper and came across some really interesting thoughts. In my paper, I will discuss the dysfunctional relationship between humanism and Protestantism in their respective approaches to learning. The Protestants did not agree with a return to classical texts (in general), and looked down on the humanist mindset that man is the measure of all things. Rather, Protestants looked to Scripture as the ultimate authority, and the pursuit of the classicism was pointless. Again, not all Protestants thought this way; bear that in mind. What struck me as interesting though was that humanist education valued the teaching of Latin as very important. My question then, was why would the Protestants take issue with that, when it could be learned by the laypeople and thus diminishing the importance of an almost omniscient Catholic priest? It seems to me that they would laud the effort to educate the people, since that is what men like William Tyndale were seeking to accomplish. Was that only because he was translating Scripture, not Cicero? These are the thoughts of someone who should probably be in bed, and should have been awhile ago. Nevertheless, I think it is an interesting question to ponder.

Happy Essay-ing!

I wanted to take some time to share one of the books that has been invaluable in my understanding not only of queen Elizabeth but in helping me with quotations about the world before her and the world she shaped. If you’re looking for anything about the court this might be the best text to look at

Weir, Alison. The life of Elizabeth I. New York Ballantine Books 1998

The life of Elizabeth I is just what its title says, it looks at the life of Elizabeth. I mostly focused on the first section of the book which deals with her childhood but the story does all the way up to the day she died. The book traces the intrigue and turmoil that accrued at court. It tries to answer questions like: why did she never marry? Did she really remain a virgin? And who where her love interests? It also has iconic imagery of many of the court and important officials at the time.

Discoveries Thus Far!

Hi All,

I hope that all of your research for the upcoming paper is going well! In beginning to sort through my material, I came across an unintentional blessing which has serviced me well. Phyllis Rackin's "Shakespeare and Women" was reviewed in an issue of Shakespeare Quarterly in which Rebecca Laroche in the author. She makes quite a few interesting comments which focus less about the actual content of the text and more about thes tyle in which Rackin chose to expose women during Shakespeare's time. Partway through her criticism, she says "Phyliss Rackin had provided us with a deftly defined casebook for the reconsdieration of feminist criticism in the twenty-first century that looks to the future through a clear articulation of the criticism's past" (221). In this sense, I began thinking about what my personal perception of women in history is and now, was. I am beginning to reevaluate what differences in gender are important to focus on and where women truly shine in comparison to the men of their time. They are spoken of greatly in being the sole important group for Shakespeare's plays because without their attendance, the shows would have never been a success. The men were the all of the actors if you can recall! This blog entry is more to serve as an initiation for greater thinking about what you prestablished thoughts are going into your paper, and maybe entering research with an open mind worth molding through the process.

Wrote this a while back and wanted to post it and get your thoughts.

Though the reading from the collected works of Elizabeth was difficult to understand it gave us an interesting glimpse into not only her personal life but the relationship she had with those around her. Reading through the letter we can ascertain that she had a deep love for her brother and was often very concerned for his health. But it is not her letter to her brother that intrigued me as much as it was the letter to the people whom I would consider her enemies. When she was writing to the Queen her letters seem kind though in essence she is bagging for her life. This ability, which was probably invaluable in court in the Elizabethan era, leaves me wondering if there are beeper feelings and implications behind all of her writings. Do you think Elizabeth is trying to say more than just the words she writes in her letters? If so what do you think she is trying to say to the people she is writing to and why?

Welcome to the EL 371 Ren Lit Blog!

Post your research discoveries here for the class to see.  Write about 1/2 page a week.  Use this blog to share w/ your research group and w/ the rest of the class.  Share articles, book titles, Web sites, e-resources, and other resources that will help all of us with our research.  In your posts, refer to our readings and connect them with your research topics.  Use this blog as a place to help our research projects along with helpful hints, bibliographic ideas, and search strategies.