Elizabethan poetry, prose Elizabethan poetry, prose and dramaand drama

Elizabethan literatureElizabethan literature

▪▪ Also called Renaissance poetryAlso called Renaissance poetry

▪▪ During Queen Elizabeth´s reign the poetry flourishedDuring Queen Elizabeth´s reign the poetry flourished

▪▪ Most popular themes: relationship between men and women Most popular themes: relationship between men and women

treachery and hypocrisy of courtly lifetreachery and hypocrisy of courtly life

▪▪ TThe era of her reign is called the he era of her reign is called the Elizabethan Age Elizabethan Age

▪ ▪ Lyric poetry was strongly influenced by Italian poets, in particular by Lyric poetry was strongly influenced by Italian poets, in particular by Francesco PetrarchFrancesco Petrarch

Elizabethan poetryElizabethan poetry

THOMAS WYATT and the EARL OF SURREY are often mentioned together THOMAS WYATT and the EARL OF SURREY are often mentioned together but there are many differences in their work. Both wrote but there are many differences in their work. Both wrote sonnets.sonnets.

THOMAS WYATTTHOMAS WYATT- he brought the sonnet to English literaturehe brought the sonnet to English literature - was influenced by Italian verse formswas influenced by Italian verse forms- work: work: They flee from meThey flee from me (the narrator is in prison)(the narrator is in prison)

EARL OF SURREYEARL OF SURREY- wrote the first - wrote the first blank verse blank verse in Englishin English

Wyatt´s and Surrey´s works are published in compilation work called Wyatt´s and Surrey´s works are published in compilation work called Songs Songs and Sonnetsand Sonnets..

EDMUND SPENSEREDMUND SPENSER- he started to write he started to write pastoral poetry pastoral poetry (main characters are shepherds)(main characters are shepherds)- works: works: The Shepherd´s calendarThe Shepherd´s calendar – – poem consisting of 12 bookspoem consisting of 12 books - written in the form of discussions - written in the form of discussions between shepherds and praise of between shepherds and praise of Queen ElizabethQueen Elizabeth - discussions about religion, ponder of - discussions about religion, ponder of death... death... The Faerie QueenThe Faerie Queen – – unfinished, author´s greatest workunfinished, author´s greatest work - introduces king Arthur who is an - introduces king Arthur who is an embodimentembodiment of nobility; Queen is personification of fameof nobility; Queen is personification of fame - king Arthur starts to look for the queen and - king Arthur starts to look for the queen and comes across several adventures and meets comes across several adventures and meets moral virtuesmoral virtues - in each book another virtue is described- in each book another virtue is describedIt was in this work that Spenser invented the It was in this work that Spenser invented the Spenserian Stanza.Spenserian Stanza.

SIR PHILLIP SIDNEYSIR PHILLIP SIDNEY- works: - works: Astrophel and StellaAstrophel and Stella – – sonnet; about a young man who falls in love sonnet; about a young man who falls in love with a lady Stella who is already marriedwith a lady Stella who is already married An Apology for Poetry/ The Deffence of PoesieAn Apology for Poetry/ The Deffence of Poesie (or(oriiginally ginally Apologie for PoetrieApologie for Poetrie) – critical essay; he defends poetry as the ) – critical essay; he defends poetry as the work of man is supposed to remain longer work of man is supposed to remain longer than the creation of naturethan the creation of nature

The Elizabethan Age produced a surprising flow of lyrics.The Elizabethan Age produced a surprising flow of lyrics.Lyric poetry gives expression to the poet´s own thoughts and feelings, and for Lyric poetry gives expression to the poet´s own thoughts and feelings, and for

this reason we tend to picture the lyric poet as a rather dreamy unpractical this reason we tend to picture the lyric poet as a rather dreamy unpractical person with his thoughts turned inwards.person with his thoughts turned inwards.

The age that followed, the The age that followed, the Jacobean Age – Jacobean Age – was less fresh – more interested was less fresh – more interested in the mind than in heart or eyein the mind than in heart or eye

A group of poets, known as the A group of poets, known as the Metaphysical PoetsMetaphysical Poets (showing clever tricks of (showing clever tricks of style and unlikely comparisons) wrote verse which was generally less style and unlikely comparisons) wrote verse which was generally less beautiful and less musical.beautiful and less musical.

These poets mixed strong feelings with reasonThese poets mixed strong feelings with reason

JOHN DONNEJOHN DONNE- greatest greatest metaphysicalmetaphysical poet poet- his works are songs and sonnetshis works are songs and sonnets

BEN JONSONBEN JONSON- father of literary criticismfather of literary criticism- was the leading figure of the Jacobean Erawas the leading figure of the Jacobean Era- wrote comedies of wrote comedies of humourhumour- his medical theory: behavioral differences result from a prevalence of one his medical theory: behavioral differences result from a prevalence of one

of the body´s four of the body´s four humourshumours (blood, phlegm, bile, black bile) (blood, phlegm, bile, black bile)- works: works: To CeliaTo Celia – – one of his best lyricsone of his best lyrics Every Man in his Every Man in his HumourHumour Every Man Out of his Every Man Out of his HumourHumour comedies: comedies: The AlchemistThe Alchemist VolponeVolpone

Elizabethan proseElizabethan prose

THOMAS NORTHTHOMAS NORTH

- one of the best translatorsone of the best translators

- had wide influence on Elizabethan prosehad wide influence on Elizabethan prose

RICHARD HAKLUYTRICHARD HAKLUYT

- collected and published - collected and published The Principal Navigations, Voyages and The Principal Navigations, Voyages and Discoveries of the English NationDiscoveries of the English Nation

-at this time there was a great deal of travel and adventure on the sea-at this time there was a great deal of travel and adventure on the sea

SAMUEL PURCHASSAMUEL PURCHAS

- Published the Hakluyt´s papers under the title - Published the Hakluyt´s papers under the title Purchas his PilgrimsPurchas his Pilgrims containing containing A History of the World in Sea Voyages and Land TravelA History of the World in Sea Voyages and Land Travel

A kind of NOVEL ( a book – length single story whose characters are usually A kind of NOVEL ( a book – length single story whose characters are usually imaginary) began in Elizabethan Age: imaginary) began in Elizabethan Age:

JOHN LYLYJOHN LYLY- works: works: Eupheus or the Analogy of WitEupheus or the Analogy of Wit – – about a young man living in about a young man living in Neapol which is in fact Neapol which is in fact London; author criticizes London; author criticizes sickness of London societysickness of London society Eupheus and his LondonEupheus and his London – – prices London; the style is filled with prices London; the style is filled with tricks and alliterationtricks and alliteration

ROBERT GREENEROBERT GREENE- novelist- novelist- his story his story PandosoPandoso gave Shakespeare the plot of his play gave Shakespeare the plot of his play The Winter´s The Winter´s

TaleTale

THOMAS NASHTHOMAS NASH- book: - book: The Life of Jacke Wilton – The Life of Jacke Wilton – picaresque novel; a novel of the picaresque novel; a novel of the

adventure about a man of bad character. The interest of the adventure is adventure about a man of bad character. The interest of the adventure is sometimes spoilt by long speeches. sometimes spoilt by long speeches.

THOMAS MORETHOMAS MORE

- a lord chancellora lord chancellor

- work: work: UtopiaUtopia – describes an ideal society based on the idea of – describes an ideal society based on the idea of communismcommunism

FRANCIS BACONFRANCIS BACON

- His prose is important - His prose is important

- His His EssaysEssays are still popular, some of the best-known sayings come from are still popular, some of the best-known sayings come from herehere

- Other books: Other books: A History of Henry VIIA History of Henry VII

The Advancement of LearningThe Advancement of Learning – considers the different – considers the different

ways of advancing ways of advancing

knowledgeknowledge

The New AtlantisThe New Atlantis – contains social ideas in the form of a – contains social ideas in the form of a

story; is a journey to an imaginary story; is a journey to an imaginary

island, Benasalemisland, Benasalem

Elizabethan (Renaissance) dramaElizabethan (Renaissance) drama

- was the most popular genre in English literaturewas the most popular genre in English literature- Queen Elizabeth: the patron of drama writersQueen Elizabeth: the patron of drama writers- contrast:contrast: - in in medieval dramamedieval drama were miracles and mystery plays were miracles and mystery plays- renaissance dramarenaissance drama – undidactical, it has secular theme and conflicts – undidactical, it has secular theme and conflicts

between characters, nonbetween characters, non--allegorical, played in streets, squares and allegorical, played in streets, squares and houseshouses

- Elizabethan theatres:Elizabethan theatres:Two kinds: Two kinds: • • Outdoor or „public“Outdoor or „public“• • Indoor or „private“Indoor or „private“

The three most important in London: The three most important in London: The Globe – The Globe – was a roofless theatre and was a roofless theatre and so plays were played by the daylight, there was communication between so plays were played by the daylight, there was communication between the audience and the actors. Actors were only men and played also the audience and the actors. Actors were only men and played also women roles. women roles.

The FortuneThe Fortune The Swan The Swan

Outdoor or Public playhousesOutdoor or Public playhouses

- - Varying shapesVarying shapes

- Had a „Had a „yard“ yard“ where the „where the „groundlings“groundlings“ were – un-roofed space, were – un-roofed space, surrounding the stage on three sides, enclosed by three tiers of roofed surrounding the stage on three sides, enclosed by three tiers of roofed „„galleries“.galleries“.

- A A „tiring house“ „tiring house“ at the rear of the raised platform – where the actors at the rear of the raised platform – where the actors would wait and change.would wait and change.

- The stage was roofed – called The stage was roofed – called „the heavens“„the heavens“ – supported by columns – supported by columns

- Traps in the floor, for fire, smoke and other effectsTraps in the floor, for fire, smoke and other effects

- Two playing levels – upper and lower - audience may sat on 2Two playing levels – upper and lower - audience may sat on 2nd nd levellevel

Indoor or Private TheatresIndoor or Private Theatres

- smaller, roofedsmaller, roofed

- Performances were also shown in winterPerformances were also shown in winter

- 1576 – Blackfriar´s – a former monastery – was the first one1576 – Blackfriar´s – a former monastery – was the first one

- By 1642, there were six private theatres in LondonBy 1642, there were six private theatres in London

- Private theatre rose in popularity from 1610 to 1642 and were used only Private theatre rose in popularity from 1610 to 1642 and were used only during the five warm monthsduring the five warm months

Renaissance drama was written in blank verse or prose.Renaissance drama was written in blank verse or prose.There were some There were some interludesinterludes (short nonallegorical plays) – had secular (short nonallegorical plays) – had secular

character/themes; some think that were played during breaks.character/themes; some think that were played during breaks.

THOMAS KYDTHOMAS KYD- aa creator of Elizabethan blood tragedy, tragedy of revenge creator of Elizabethan blood tragedy, tragedy of revenge- wwork: ork: The Spanish TragedyThe Spanish Tragedy – – tragedy of blood; it´s like Shakespeare´s tragedy of blood; it´s like Shakespeare´s

Hamlet ; a ghost appears, demanding revenge; but it appears to the father Hamlet ; a ghost appears, demanding revenge; but it appears to the father of a murdered sonof a murdered son

CHRISTOPHER MARLOWECHRISTOPHER MARLOWE- tthe famous dramatist, also a lyric authorhe famous dramatist, also a lyric author- hhis characters go to their aim at any priceis characters go to their aim at any price- works: 1works: 1st st tragedy – tragedy – Tamburlaine the GreatTamburlaine the Great- hhis violent use of the languageis violent use of the language was greatly criticisedwas greatly criticised The Jew of Malta – The Jew of Malta – was well received owing to its was well received owing to its

beauty of sound and rhythm; the hero goes towards his aim in each casebeauty of sound and rhythm; the hero goes towards his aim in each case Dr. Faust – based on German story about the man Dr. Faust – based on German story about the man

who dedicated his soul to a devil because he wanted to own knowledge of who dedicated his soul to a devil because he wanted to own knowledge of the whole worldthe whole world

Edward the Second – Edward the Second – deals with English historydeals with English history