The Bible in the Renaissance

1. Using the events on the time line in the Mirrors and Windows textbook, identify a period in British history when it might have been extremely risky to freely express one’s religious views? Explain your answer.

2. In what ways did Henry VIII and, later, James I advance the English Bible?

3. What characterized the English used by the translators of the King James Bible?

4. What was the significance of the King James Bible? What is one or more likely effects of the King James Bible on the English language?

5. Why did the Church resist pressure to translate the Bible into languages other than English?

6. Fill in the chart with the names and dates of the reigns of the six English kings and queens. Then write concise notes about their reigns.

King or Dates Notes on the Reign Queen

7. Both Martin Luther and King Henry VIII led revolts against the Catholic Church. How did their motivations differ?

8. What two Renaissance writers were influenced by the Bible? Why might a Renaissance writer who was writing about secular matters still have reason to appreciate the King James Bible? 9. Archaic or old-fashioned language is no longer used except in special situations. Several verb forms and pronouns are in the Bible. For example, verb forms ending in –eth is the archaic equivalent of the modern third-person present-tense –s ending (maketh/makes). The personal pronoun thou is the archaic form of the second-person singular pronoun you. Thy is the possessive form for your. Thee is the objective form for you. Look through the Bible and find examples of archaic words. Use the chart below to record each archaic word, its contemporary form, and the scripture of reference.

Scripture Reference Archaic Verb or Pronoun Contemporary Forms

10. Choose a famous biblical scripture and look it up in three different translations of the Bible. Compare and contrast the scripture in each of the three translations, considering variations in connotation, rhythm, and musicality.