Chapter 3&4 Chapter 3&4 Elizabethan Poetry, Prose and Elizabethan Poetry, Prose and

DramaDrama

From From An Outline of English LitAn Outline of English Literatureerature by Thornley and Robert by Thornley and Robert

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SonnetSonnet The Great Elizabethan literary age is not conThe Great Elizabethan literary age is not con

sidered as beginning until 1579. (p.23)sidered as beginning until 1579. (p.23) Queen Elizabeth ruled from 1558 to 1603.Queen Elizabeth ruled from 1558 to 1603. Before 1579, Before 1579, Sir Thomas WyattSir Thomas Wyatt and and the Earl the Earl

of Surreyof Surrey who wrote sonnets, which they lea who wrote sonnets, which they learned to do from the Italiansrned to do from the Italians

Surrey’s work is important because he wroSurrey’s work is important because he wrote the first blank verse in Englishte the first blank verse in English

Wyatt mainly followed the Italian poet PetraWyatt mainly followed the Italian poet Petrarchrch The 14 lines rhyme abbaabba+2 or 3 rhymThe 14 lines rhyme abbaabba+2 or 3 rhym

es in the last six lines (Shakespeare sonnetes in the last six lines (Shakespeare sonnets rhyme ababcdcdefefgg).s rhyme ababcdcdefefgg).

Sonnets of ShakespeareSonnets of Shakespeare

Written between 1593-1600, printeWritten between 1593-1600, printed in 1609d in 1609

For whom or to whom did he write For whom or to whom did he write them?them? Addressed to William Herbert (the EaAddressed to William Herbert (the Ea

rl of Pembroke), the Earl of Southamrl of Pembroke), the Earl of Southamptonpton

A girl, a rival poet, a dark-eyes beauty A girl, a rival poet, a dark-eyes beauty (p.24)(p.24)

Example on p.25 “Who will believe Example on p.25 “Who will believe my verse in time to come”my verse in time to come”

Edmund SpenserEdmund Spenser

The Shepherd’s CalendarThe Shepherd’s Calendar (1579) – p.25 (1579) – p.25 A poem in 12 books, one for each month of A poem in 12 books, one for each month of

the yearthe year Spenser experiments in meter and formSpenser experiments in meter and form The best pastorals written in English The best pastorals written in English Pastoral: concerning the life of shepherds Pastoral: concerning the life of shepherds

(usually shepherds in an imaginary Golden (usually shepherds in an imaginary Golden Age living a simple and contended life in Age living a simple and contended life in the open air)the open air)

Other subjects: praise of Queen Elizabeth, Other subjects: praise of Queen Elizabeth, discussion about religion, the sad death of discussion about religion, the sad death of a girla girl

The Shepherd’s Calendar The Shepherd’s Calendar (1579)(1579)

Edmund Edmund SpenserSpenser

The Faerie QueeneThe Faerie Queene (1 (1589-96)589-96)

““Queene” is either Queene” is either Queen Elizabeth or GQueen Elizabeth or Glory as a person; 12 klory as a person; 12 knights represent diffnights represent different virtueserent virtues

““Epithalamion” (15Epithalamion” (1595) – a marriage song95) – a marriage song

Sir Philip Sir Philip SidneySidney

Astrophel and StellaAstrophel and Stella (1591) (1591) A true Elizabethan gentlemA true Elizabethan gentlem

an of many activities– courtan of many activities– courtier, statesman, poet, soldier ier, statesman, poet, soldier (p.27)(p.27)

John DonneJohn Donne

Metaphysical Poets (p.28)Metaphysical Poets (p.28) Wrote verse less beautiful and less Wrote verse less beautiful and less

musicalmusical Contained tricks of style and unusual Contained tricks of style and unusual

imagesimages Mixed strong feeling with reasonMixed strong feeling with reason

Francis BaconFrancis Bacon

First appeared in 1597, then with First appeared in 1597, then with additions in 1612 and 1625 (p.31)additions in 1612 and 1625 (p.31)

Earlier essays are short, sharp, Earlier essays are short, sharp, effectiveeffective

Some of the best known saying in Some of the best known saying in English come from his book English come from his book EssaysEssays

Elizabethan DramaElizabethan Drama

Comedies are better than tragedies (p.35)Comedies are better than tragedies (p.35) First English comedy: First English comedy: Ralph Roister DoistRalph Roister Doist

erer (1553) by Nicholas Udall (1553) by Nicholas Udall Rough verseRough verse Humor that can be found among country peoHumor that can be found among country peo

pleple First English tragedy: First English tragedy: GorboducGorboduc, in blank , in blank

verse, performed in 1564 (p.36)verse, performed in 1564 (p.36) The Spanish TragedyThe Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd, an by Thomas Kyd, an

example of the tragedy of blood and deathexample of the tragedy of blood and death

Christopher Christopher MarloweMarlowe

The first great The first great dramatistdramatist

Dr. Faustus Dr. Faustus (p.39)(p.39)

1.1. Acted in 1588Acted in 1588

2.2. A man named A man named Faustus who sold his Faustus who sold his soul to the devil so soul to the devil so as to have power as to have power and riches in this lifeand riches in this life

1620 edition of Marlowe's The Tragical History of Dr Faustus

Dr. Faustus in his study Dr. Faustus in his study room. Sketching by room. Sketching by Rembrandt Rembrandt

1974 Sketched at Edinburgh Festival. Ian McKellen (Dr. Faustus with Bad and Good Angels

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Born and educated at Stratford-on-Born and educated at Stratford-on-Avon (p.40-49)Avon (p.40-49)

Worked in a theatre in LondonWorked in a theatre in London An actor and dramatist by 1592An actor and dramatist by 1592 Early works: historical playsEarly works: historical plays Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet (1594-5) – the (1594-5) – the

Shakespeare’s first great tragedyShakespeare’s first great tragedy

Shakespeare’s ComediesShakespeare’s Comedies

A Comedy of Errors (1592-3?)A Comedy of Errors (1592-3?) The Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the Shrew The Two Gentlemen of VeronaThe Two Gentlemen of Verona Love’s Labour’s LostLove’s Labour’s Lost A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-6) – shows ShaA Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-6) – shows Sha

kespeare’s growing power in comedykespeare’s growing power in comedy The Merchant of Venice (1596-7) – Shylock The Merchant of Venice (1596-7) – Shylock As you Like It (1599?)As you Like It (1599?) Much Ado About Nothing (1598-9)Much Ado About Nothing (1598-9) Twelfth Nights (1600?) – the perfection of English coTwelfth Nights (1600?) – the perfection of English co

medymedy

Shakespeare’s TragediesShakespeare’s Tragedies

Hamlet (1600-1)Hamlet (1600-1) King Lear (1606)King Lear (1606) Macbeth (1605-6)Macbeth (1605-6) Othello (1604-5)Othello (1604-5) The Tempest (1611-12) – last The Tempest (1611-12) – last

complete playcomplete play

Ben JohnsonBen Johnson

Every Man in His HumorEvery Man in His Humor (1598) – his best k (1598) – his best known play, “humor” means a quality manown play, “humor” means a quality made into a person, a speciall foolishness or a de into a person, a speciall foolishness or a strong feeling in a man (p.49)strong feeling in a man (p.49)

His characters are walking humors and not His characters are walking humors and not really humanreally human

SejanusSejanus – a tragedy, played at the Globe Th – a tragedy, played at the Globe Theatre in 1603 by Shakespeare’s companyeatre in 1603 by Shakespeare’s company

Volpone the FoxVolpone the Fox – a comedy, also played at – a comedy, also played at the Globe (p.50)the Globe (p.50)

Ben JohnsonBen Johnson

Believed in the unities of place, time and actioBelieved in the unities of place, time and action (p.50)n (p.50)

The scenes of a play need to be in one placeThe scenes of a play need to be in one place The events of a play shouldn’t spread over mThe events of a play shouldn’t spread over m

ore than 24 hoursore than 24 hours Nothing outside the main story should be alloNothing outside the main story should be allo

wed into the playwed into the play

His other plays:His other plays:1.1. Everyman Out of His Humor (1599)Everyman Out of His Humor (1599)2.2. Epicoene, The Silent Woman (1609)Epicoene, The Silent Woman (1609)3.3. The Alchemist (1610)The Alchemist (1610)4.4. Bartholomew Fair (1614)Bartholomew Fair (1614)