Exercises pages 112-113 from It's Literature

1. Read the passage about the 'Great Chain of Being' and fill in the gaps with the words provided.

doctrine • human • life • lions • plants • minerals • superior • divine • sub-categories • rank • order • chaos

The Great Chain of Being

In Elizabethan times there was a peculiar way of looking at life known as "The Great Chain of Being'. The name itself is quite revealing, since this conception of the universe essentially based on the idea that everything - divine spirits, human beings, animals, even plants and inanimate objects - was connected ('chained together') according to a specific hierarchical order God sits at the top of this 'ladder of being' (scala naturae) and immediately beneath him sit the angels. These are spiritual entities which are unchanging and permanent and, therefore, they are considered as superior to the mortal and constantly changing condition of humankind and of all the elements below Man. Moreover, each link in the chain may be divided into sub-categories; for example, among human beings the king is at the top, followed by the aristocratic lords, with the peasants below them. The king's position at the top of human social order embodies the so-called ‘doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings' and it permeates the concept of family, where the father is seen as a head of the household. Below him, his wife; below her, their children. The same hierarchical structure is mirrored in the conception of the animal kingdom. At the top of the animals are wild beasts (such as lions), seen as superior since they defy training and domestication. Below them there are domestic animals, further sub-divided into useful animals (such as dogs and horses) and docile creatures (such as sheep).
Below animals come plants, with useful trees such as oaks at the top. At the very bottom of the chain are minerals, with gold at the top and lead at the bottom, followed by rocks, sand, dust, and dirt at the very bottom of the entire great chain.

To sum up, the core idea of 'the Great Chain of Being' is that everything imaginable has its specific place and rank, which gives order and meaning to the entire universe. Therefore, this order must be carefully preserved; if this order is broken, chaos and catastrophes will follow, as we can see, for example, in many Shakespearian tragedies.

2. What is the core idea behind the vision known as "the Great Chain of Being"?
Provide examples to support your answer.

Renaissance is the period when people start to interest about nature, for example merchants discover new way of commerce and scientists try to study the universe. During Renaissance, the nature becomes object of discussion and such that Middle Ages just ended, people felt the need to classify the natural word just discovered according to the previous religious imaginary.

3. What interests and activities characterized the most notable Renaissance men?

a. üfalconry
b. ○ search for social accomplishment
c. ○ jousting tournaments
d.ü development of creativity
e. ü attainment of knowledge in different fields
f. ○ going to church

1. Watch the trailer of Elizabeth, The Golden Age (http://tiny.cc/q2grsy).

a. Name at least two problems that Elizabeth faces in the movie.

Queen Elizabeth, firstly, must lead his country in a difficult war against Spain, and, secondly, she must face many sentimental troubles.

b. Which countries are involved?

Spain and England.

c. Why was Mary, Queen of Scots, executed?

Because she was involved in a plot against the queen and Elizabeth’s helpers discovered it.

d. Who wanted to punish Elizabeth for killing Mary? How did he plan to do it?

2. Focus on the portraits.

a. How is Elizabeth represented?

He is represented as a perfect political leader, but also as a valorous warrior. He has a stiff position which alludes to his power.

b. How do the symbols of power change over time?

Once, symbols for power were richness, territory, and the feeling of fear the dominators were able to establish, however, now, the power is based on politics, on richness and, obviously, on leader’s skills.

3. Focus on the Tilbury Speech.

a. How does Elizabeth initially describe herself?

She presents herself as someone who as been tricked and as a weak commander.

b. How does Elizabeth reassure her people?

She says that, even if she appears as a feeble woman, she has a great willpower: she wants to save her people and to win the war.

1. Focus on the portrait.

a. Fill in the title with the man's name.

William Shakespeare.

b. What do his accessories reveal about his lifestyle?

He is well positioned into society.

c. What do his clothes reveal about his social class?

He is probably aristocratical, his clothes reveal he is a rich gentleman.

d. What can you guess about the identity and the lite of the subject of this portrait?

He probably could do what he wanted, he became one of the greatest writers therefore I guess he dedicated to literature and culture.

1. Watch the trailer of Elizabeth, The Golden Age (http://tiny.cc/q2grsy).

a. Name at least two problems that Elizabeth faces in the movie.

Queen Elizabeth, firstly, must lead his country in a difficult war against Spain, and, secondly, she must face many sentimental troubles.
b. Which countries are involved?

Spain and England.
c. Why was Mary, Queen of Scots, executed?

Because she was involved in a plot against the queen and Elizabeth’s helpers discovered it.

d. Who wanted to punish Elizabeth for killing Mary? How did he plan to do it?

2. Focus on the portraits.
a. How is Elizabeth represented?

He is represented as a perfect political leader, but also as a valorous warrior. He has a stiff position which alludes to his power.
b. How do the symbols of power change over time?

Once, symbols for power were richness, territory and the feeling of fear the dominators were able to establish, however, now, the power is based on politics, on richness and, obviously, on leader’s skills.

3. Focus on the Tilbury Speech.
a. How does Elizabeth initially describe herself?

She presents herself as someone who as been tricked and as a weak commander.
b. How does Elizabeth reassure her people?
She says that, even if she appears as a feeble woman, she has a great willpower: she wants to save her people and to win the war.

1. Focus on the portrait.

a. Fill in the title with the man's name.

William Shakespeare.
b. What do his accessories reveal about his lifestyle?

He is well positioned into society.
c. What do his clothes reveal about his social class?

He is probably aristocratical, his clothes reveal he is a rich gentleman.
d. What can you guess about the identity and the lite of the subject of this portrait?

He probably could do what he wanted, he became one of the greatest writers therefore I guess he dedicated to literature and culture.