If you consider the world picture to be a system of viewing the world (and the universe), there is, in fact, a common Elizabethan world picture. It is a general model of the world, and serves the Elizabethans as a frame of order and a system of communication. As a frame of order it can be invested with details of his/her own personal knowledge by every individual. This universal order being all-embracing is generally accepted. All material and spiritual entities are embedded in it, and therefore all fields of human thought root in it.
Table of Contents
1. The Elizabethan World Picture
1.1 Aspects of the World Picture
1.2 Sublunar World and Macrocosm
1.3 Hierarchy and Analogy
1.4 Man as Microcosm
1.5 King and Society
1.6 The Concept of Order and Fall of Man
1.7 Elizabethan Politics and Drama
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the intellectual framework of the Elizabethan era, specifically focusing on the universal "world picture" that defined the period's understanding of order, hierarchy, and correspondence between the cosmos and human society.
- The theological and hierarchical structure of the Elizabethan universe.
- The relationship between the macrocosm and the human microcosm.
- The role of analogies, mirrors, and metaphors in Elizabethan thought.
- The political implications of order and the societal perception of the monarchy.
- The portrayal of order and chaos in Elizabethan drama.
Excerpt from the Book
The Elizabethan World Picture
If you consider the world picture to be a system of viewing the world (and the universe), there is, in fact, a common Elizabethan world picture. It is a general model of the world, and serves the Elizabethans as a frame of order and a system of communication. As a frame of order it can be invested with details of his/her own personal knowledge by every individual. This universal order being all-embracing is generally accepted. All material and spiritual entities are embedded in it, and therefore all fields of human thought root in it.
The main source and instrument of transmission of this world picture is the language, conceptional and metaphorical. For instance, Shakespeare’s language can hardly be understood unless being familiar with the generally accepted concepts in Elizabethan times.
There are three aspects which are all-important in understanding the Elizabethan world picture. First of all it is universal, every phenomenon past or present is comprised in it. Secondly, it is founded on theology. God is the source of the unity of the universe, and it is the task of all human beings to recognize and enjoy the divine order.
Summary of Chapters
The Elizabethan World Picture: An introduction to the foundational concept of a universal, divinely ordered world model that governed Elizabethan thought.
Aspects of the World Picture: Details the universal, theological, and hierarchical nature of the Elizabethan worldview.
Sublunar World and Macrocosm: Explains the distinction between the decaying elemental world and the eternal, planetary spheres.
Hierarchy and Analogy: Describes how every creature is linked through a system of correspondences and mirrored characteristics.
Man as Microcosm: Analyzes the central position of humans, serving as a bridge between physical creation and spiritual beings.
King and Society: Discusses the structure of the state (body politic) and the monarch's role as God's deputy.
The Concept of Order and Fall of Man: Examines how the Fall introduced uncertainty and shifted the perception of a formerly intact cosmic order.
Elizabethan Politics and Drama: Explores how political stability was maintained through social hierarchy and how dramatists used the theme of disorder to reflect on the restoration of peace.
Keywords
Elizabethan Era, World Picture, Hierarchy, Macrocosm, Microcosm, Analogy, Correspondence, Theology, Chain of Being, Monarchy, Body Politic, Order, Disorder, Metaphor, Shakespeare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the Elizabethan world picture, a complex intellectual system that structured the 16th-century understanding of the universe, society, and the divine.
What are the primary thematic fields?
The central themes include cosmic hierarchy, the relationship between man and the cosmos, political order, theological foundations, and the symbolic use of language in literature.
What is the fundamental research goal?
The goal is to elucidate how the Elizabethan belief in a rigid, hierarchical, and analogous universe influenced their societal structures, politics, and artistic output.
Which methodology is applied?
The work utilizes a historical-analytical approach, interpreting primary concepts and metaphors of the era through the lens of secondary academic sources like Suerbaum.
What does the main body cover?
It covers the structure of the cosmos, the "Chain of Being," the concept of the "Body Politic," and how these abstract theories manifested in political life and dramatic literature.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Elizabethan Era, Hierarchy, Macrocosm, Microcosm, Analogy, Chain of Being, and Body Politic.
How is the "Chain of Being" depicted in this text?
It is described as a hierarchical ladder where every creature, from minerals to angels, has a designated place and level of authority.
What role does "mirroring" play in the Elizabethan worldview?
Mirroring represents the system of correspondences, where different levels of existence reflect each other's characteristics, reinforcing the idea of a connected, symbolic universe.
Why is the "Fall of Man" significant here?
The Fall is significant because it introduced mutability and uncertainty, meaning the Elizabethan world was no longer viewed as entirely "intact" or perfect.
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- Kathrin Ehlen (Autor:in), 2005, The Elizabethan World Picture, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/173799
