Class Description
At first glance, early modern England can seem stiflingly hierarchical, conservative, and homogeneous. Despite advances in astronomy, the notion of an Earth-centered universe ruled by the Great Chain of Being still persisted. Men were men, women were women, nobles were nobles, and peasants were peasants, or so the story goes.
But the early modern era was also a time of dynamic change—in trade, exploration, the economy, and the nascent rise of capitalism. It’s easy to find examples of individuals who colored outside the lines, forging self-determined versions of identity that broke with earlier notions of selfhood.
This course will examine six examples of such “Renaissance renegades”—people who bucked tradition of class, gender, and sexual orientation to create a sense of self. We’ll explore the traditions and trends within which they arose, as well as the artifacts (writings, historical documents) that serve as witness to their refusal to conform.
All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.
Dr. Kay Daly is a writer, teacher, and scholar living in Chicago. She specializes in the literature and culture of early modern England and holds a PhD from Northwestern University. Her debut novel, Wilton House, comes out in Spring 2027.
Come see a preview of this class at our Open House on May 17!
What to Expect
Format: Virtual
Class Capacity: 24
Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged
Materials List
Required
- Digital Course Packet for the first reading
- Other Instructor-Distributed materials
First Reading
- Selections from Barnfield’s poems
- Selections from Shakespeare’s sonnets
A Brief Syllabus
- The Early Modern World View
- Proto-Feminist Writer Mary Wroth
- Gender Outlaws: Moll Frith and T. Hall
- The Aspiring Underclass: John Taylor and Ben Jonson
Cost and Registration
4 Sessions, $220 ($198 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($220), Community Supported ($205), and Sponsor ($235). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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