Michael Drayton

Which one is Michael Drayton?

Michael Drayton

When faith is kneeling by his bed of death, and innocence is closing up his eyes, now if thou wouldst, when all have given him over, from death to life thou might’st him yet recover.

Why Michael ??? ??? ???

About Michael Drayton Michael Drayton, 1563–1631, English poet. He came to prominence in the Elizabethan era as a poet. Like other poets of his era, Drayton was active in writing for the theater.

He is the son of a prosperous tradesman.

He received his educational training in the house of Sir Henry Goodere, where he served as page.

His birth, move and deathBorn at Hartshill, near Atherstone,

Warwickshire.

In 1590 he seems to have settled in London.

He died in London in 1631 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Drayton fell in love with Goodere's youngest daughter, and this may have inspired some of his love poetry.

His work reflects the many poetic fashions of the day. He wrote poems on English history and topography

Friendship He corresponded

familiarly with Drummond, Ben Jonson, William Browne and George Wither.

He was a friend of Shakespeare.

Drayton was also a contemporary of John Donne.

Some of his most famous works

The Harmonie of the Church Idea, The shepherd’s Garland England's Heroical Epistles The Owl The Battle of Agincourt Mortimeriados

Drayton's first publication:The Harmony of the Church

Idea, the Shepherd's Garland (1593) is a collection of nine pastoral poems, in which he celebrated his own love-sorrows under the poetic name of Rowland.

Idea's Mirror (1594) a sonnet sequence, also portrays the

poet's beloved (probably Anne Goodere, the daughter of his patron), under the Platonic name of "Idea."

England's Heroical Epistles The most popular of Drayton's early

works, was published in 1597.

Some of his most famous shorter works were published in Poems Lyric and Pastoral (1606), including the patriotic "Battle of Agincourt" and the "Ode to the Virginian Voyage," which celebrates English discoveries in America.

Poly-Olbion (1612-1622) In 1613, the first part of vast

work was published, eighteen books being produced.

Not until 1622 did Drayton succeed in finding a publisher willing to undertake the risk of bringing out twelve more books in a second part.

Nymphidia (1627) The most important of the poems of

Drayton's later years.

It is a delicate mock-heroic tale of the fairy kingdom, peopled with characters like those that appear in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.

Critical legacy

The works of Drayton are bulky, and, in spite of the high place that he holds in critical esteem, it cannot be pretended that he is much read. For this, according to literary scholars, his ponderous style is much to blame.

Some scholars think…… The Poly-Olbion,

the most famous but far from the most successful of his writings, is difficult and barren. It was, he tells us, a "Herculean toil" to him to compose it, and we are conscious of the effort. the readers often forget the learning and ingenuity of the poet in labouring through the harsh and overgrown lines.

And……………….. His historical

poems, which he was constantly rewriting and improving, are believed by many to be much more interesting, and often rise to a true poetic eloquence.

Most literary scholars believe that ……………………………

his pastorals are brilliant, but overladen with colour and sweet to insipidity. He is, with the one magnificent exception of "Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part," which was first printed in 1619, an indifferent sonneteer.

Oh……………….. Although Drayton

often lacks dramatic power and intellectual depth, he has been rightly praised for his versatility, narrative skill, and insight into character.

Farewell to love