The Day Of One Of The Church 's Greatest Saints

Keats ' ‘The Eve of St Agnes ' explores forbidden love, and the belief that has become encompassed in this. With Porphyro being prevented from seeing Madeline due to a previous feud, she must believe that their love will become somehow fulfilled – and this is why she appears to participate in this romantic superstition of St. Agnes. Stanza XXXIV, describing Porphyro as "the vision of her sleep", appears to confirm Keats ' belief in the romantic ideal of St. Agnes, yet this is quickly dashed – "There was a painful change, that nigh expell 'd/The blisses of her dream so pure and deep". Porphyro can never live up to the heightened expectations developed in the dreams of Madeline, since as the critical extract details, Madeline prefers "her

This shift from promoting an ideal 'Utopia ' in his work to openly and aggressively defending the Catholic Church is one of the first examples of the Reformations affect on changing political discourse from criticisms to open violent outbursts and pleas of aggression. Adding to this further is More 's response to Tyndale in 1531, where More states the Reformation is a genuine danger to all of Catholic society4. More was eventually executed but stated “I die the Kings faithful servant, but Gods First”5 revealing although More hated the Reformation, he had stood by his religious values, including his King, making his political writing still plausible in terms of how an authority, such as a monarch, could work hand in hand in a religious society. More 's response to Tyndale and final words shows how much his own way of political discourse had shifted through the years of the reformation, as he had called for violence in the early years 1517, aggressively insulted protestant philosophers such as Luther, but had now consorted to reason. Therefore it can be concluded that many of the philosophers actions during the early years of the Reformation were shock reactions to this shift in power and apparent attack on the perceived 'Catholic state ' rather than a true change in political discourse, as many of the underlying religious opinions in political writing has been retained.

The Eve of St Agnes is a poem, along with other great odes of Keats, demonstrates his highest poetry achievements. Written in February 1819, the Eve of St Agnes shows a completely original poetry plot and the poem remains unforgettable and unique one.

King Henry VIII’s reign was an awakening for many living in England during the sixteenth century. Thomas More was no exception. As a writer, More had the ability to publish his views about the change in politics, society, and religion. As religious views began to shift, and King Henry VIII separated from the Catholic church, Thomas More held firm to his belief in the Catholicism. His views on humanism thrived off of his standing in the Catholic church. He continued to defend humanism and catholicism relying in the knowledge that “...language is directed out to the social community in the effort to stimulate moral or political response” (Baker-smith 1). More hoped to convince the public eye of King Henry VIII’s misuse of power and moral judgement. This was a common idea he continually used throughout the remainder of the renaissance period.

Thomas More was born in Milk Street, London on February 7, 1478, son Sir John More, a prominent judge. He was educated at St Anthony's School in London. As a youth he served as a page in the household of Archbishop Morton, who predecited he would be a "marvellous man."1. More went on to study at Oxford under Thomas Linacre and William Grocyn. During this time, he wrote comedies and studied Greek and Latin literature. One of his first works was an English translation of a Latin biography of the Italian humanist Pico della Mirandola. It was printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1510.

“Cromwell: We’ll put something in the cupboard. Rich: What? Cromwell: Whatever’s necessary. The king wants either Sir Thomas More to bless his marriage or Sir Thomas More destroyed.” (Bolt, 79) This shows that Cromwell would have done anything to please King Henry VIII and fulfill his wishes, even if that meant having More killed, making this a great example of showing just how much power he had over the people he ruled. King Henry VIII also used his wealth to persuade people to abide by his commands. This can be shown when Rich enters the courtroom for Thomas More’s trial in extravagant clothing and the reader is informed that Rich was appointed attorney-general for Wales. ( Bolt, 154, 158)

More’s career was at its peak by 1523 and his friendship with the king was stronger than ever. More was elected speaker of the House of Commons thanks to his influence on Wolsey and Henry. As speaker in the House of Commons, More assisted in establishing the parliamentary privilege of freedom of speech. Not before asking the king for his blessing. “Our most benign and godly King, to give to all your Commons here assembled your most gracious licence and pardon, freely, without doubt of your dreadful displeasure, every man to discharge his conscience…” This had a tremendous influence on the government structure. As a result, Cardinal Wolsey was none too pleased about the new arrangement, debating his issue with More. Nonetheless More prevailed,

More’s relationship with the great King Henry VIII began when Henry was just 8-9 years of age, under the service of Henry VII. Tudor historian Neville Williams suggests that More introduced Erasmus, a fellow Renaissance humanist, to the young Prince Henry in 1499. More clearly had an influence over the young Prince from an early age, considering he was a young man himself. It is notable that More and Henry became closer as Henry took the throne in 1509, David Starkey states More thought of Henry during his coronation as “a new messiah and his reign a second coming.” Starkey also goes onto suggest that More was no fool, and was intelligent enough to see Henry’s glowing qualities as a young man. More and Henry would continue to almost grow

Saint Thomas More (1478-1535), the patron saint of statesmen, lawyers and politicians, acted as a beacon of pious courage during the Middle Ages. His courage stands out because he was willing to stand up to the government, at ultimately be beheaded in defense of his beliefs. Though only a layman in the Church, having only briefly considered priesthood, More was nonetheless adept at balancing a healthy prayer life with a career as a statesman and being a husband and father of four children. Even while he served as the Lord Chancellor of England and as a member of Parliament, he would often regularly fast. Thomas More fell out of grace with the English government following the outbreak of the Protestant Reformation in England.

Henry VIII was the King that would change England’s religious system and make it his legacy. The religious system would carry on after his reign and become the predominant religion of England. The question is: How did events connected to key historical figures during Henry VIII’s reign cause for a permanent shift in the religious system of England? This question will be answered by analyzing events related to key historical figures during Henry VIII’s reign. These events will not be a biographical representation of any one historical figure, but relayed in connection to the topic of this paper in order to provide an answer for the essay question. This method is being utilized because it provides an analytical perspective, while also providing a personal appeal by tying the facts in with historical figures. History is not just facts, it is a story, and like any good story it should pull a reader in and make them interested. The historical figures utilized will be Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Thomas Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer due to their direct correlation to the change in the religious system of England. The sources utilized were chosen and implemented in relation to how they encompassed concepts related to historical

Sir Thomas More was born in London to Agnes and John More a lawyer in 1477. Tomas after being a page in the Morton Household was sent to Oxford University and became a successful lawyer. After becoming an MP for the Under-Sheriff of London he started writing the book Utopia and finishing it 1516. After writing the book he was appointed as the privy councilor to King Henry VIII in 1518. He was latter executed in 1535 for refusing King Henry VIII to be the head of the church. Utopia is a fictional book about Mores talk with Raphael Nonsenso and his travels to Utopia.

Utopia is Sir Thomas More’s seminal work, depicting a fictitious island and its religious, social, and political customs. Working as an advisor to King Henry VIII, More was aware of the issues of his time such as ridiculous inflation, corruption, wars for little or no purpose, courtly ostentation, the abuse of power by the absolute monarchs, and the maltreatment of the poor. Consequently, More used Utopia to contrast some unique and refreshing political ideas with the chaotic politics of his own country. It is important to note that More did not intend to provide an exact blueprint for a perfect society, rather he merely presents his ideas in the form of a political satire, revealing the evils of his time.

Throughout Thomas More's Utopia, he is able to successfully criticize many of the political, social, and economic ways of the time. His critique of feudalism and capitalism would eventually come back to haunt him, but would remain etched in stone forever. On July 6, 1535, by demand of King Henry VIII, More was beheaded for treason. His last words stood as his ultimate feeling about royalty in the 15th and 16th centuries, "The King's good servant, but God's first." Throughout his life, More spoke his beliefs about feudalism, capitalism, and his ideals of Utopia; More was a thinker, good friend of Erasmus, and although many critics take Utopia as a blueprint for society, in many instances he encourages thought, a critical part of the

Thomas More writes Utopia, the comedic, fictional travel log about a “no place” society to discuss the various religious, political, and social ideals influenced by humanism. A medieval classically trained humanist, Thomas More is also influenced by the late medieval social, political, and religious movements developing from the Plague and the Hundred Years’ War. In Utopia, More illustrates a humanist society by discussing agriculture in the economy, religion and happiness, and the structure of the government which was ultimately influenced by the late medieval ideals.

In Sir Thomas More’s Utopia, Thomas More is a man with earnest respect for his fluidity with his flaunts of the public, he lived in the Renaissance era and was a renowned humanist, lawyer and a personal friend of Henry VIII. In the beginning of the book, a letter is sent by More to his friend Peter Giles inquiring about editing and publication of his masterpiece “Utopia”. The first book “Utopia” summarizes a conversation between More and Giles conversing with Hythloday, the man who was enshrouded by the lands of Utopia.