Question

Judkins says this in the essay: "In his plays, Shakespeare has little to say about religion, but this in itself is notable. Had he been writing 100 years earlier, it is barely conceivable that his work would not have strong traditional Christian overtones" (paragraph 2). Explain why this would be true.

A. The Renaissance was a time of religious freedom and exploration
B. Christianity was the dominant and powerful religion during that time
C. Shakespeare was a devout Christian
D. The Renaissance was a time of atheism and secularism

Answer 1

Shakespeare's works likely had fewer traditional Christian overtones because of the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation's effects on society, which shifted the focus from strictly religious narratives to a broader and more secular range of topics and ideologies. The correct option is A. The Renaissance was a time of religious freedom and exploration

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that had Shakespeare been writing 100 years earlier, his work would likely have included strong traditional Christian overtones, is likely due to the period's strong religious influence and its intertwining with the politics and social norms.

During the medieval period, secular leaders relied heavily on their connection to the Roman Catholic Church for legitimacy. By the time of the Renaissance, the church faced scrutiny and the Protestant Reformation had begun, challenging the church’s doctrines and authority.

The intellectual movement of the Renaissance encouraged a humanist philosophy which, while not rejecting Christianity, allowed for more secular perspectives in art and literature.

This humanist approach, coupled with the political ramifications of the Reformation, created an environment where the arts, including theatre, could flourish with increased thematic freedom, separating from strict religious narratives. Thus, Shakespeare's plays, while still set against a backdrop of Christian society, were not as dominantly religious as they might have been during the medieval period.

The correct option is A. The Renaissance was a time of religious freedom and exploration