History of English Literature - Elizabethan Period

History of English Literature - Elizabethan Period (1550-1620)

Names for the Period

  • Elizabethan Period

  • Golden Period

  • Renaissance Period

  • Shakespearean Period

Why Called Elizabethan Period?

  • England and Ireland were ruled by Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603).

  • Significant interest in English literature under her reign.

  • Queen Elizabeth I:

    • Born in 1533, died in 1603.

    • Member of the Tudor Dynasty.

    • Known as The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess.

    • Crowned on January 15, 1558, at age 25.

Why Called Golden Period?

  • Rapid development of English literature.

  • Flourishing of various literary genres.

  • Standardization of the English language.

  • Emergence of great authors and artists:

    • William Shakespeare

    • Edmund Spenser

    • John Lyly

    • Francis Bacon

    • Ben Jonson

    • Thomas Kyd

Why Called Renaissance Period?

  • The Renaissance movement spread from Italy to England and Europe.

  • Shift from dogmas and traditions to logic, science, and technology.

  • Increase in importance of humanism over obsolete theology.

  • Authority of the church was challenged by scientific reasoning.

  • Transition from a passive attitude to self-examination in cultural beliefs.

Why Called Shakespearean Period?

  • William Shakespeare's overwhelming body of work influenced many authors.

  • Shakespeare was a multi-talented figure: poet, playwright, and actor.

General Characteristics

  • Traits: free, enthusiastic, individualistic, realistic, daring, persistent.

  • Renaissance spirit reflected in

  • A renewed interest in classical texts and humanism, emphasizing the value of individual experience and expression.

  • :

    • Patriotism

    • Religious toleration

    • Social harmony

    • Intellectual improvement

  • Transition from Middle English to Early Modern English.

  • Shift from synthetic grammar (word forms) to analytical grammar (word order, functional words).

Tudor England

  • The Tudor Dynasty (1485-1603):

    • Founded by Owen Tudor and Catherine of Valois.

    • Their son, Henry VII, initiated the Tudor monarchy after defeating Richard III.

    • Followed by Henry VIII and his children: Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.

    • The Tudors played a crucial role in uniting England and initiating the church's independence from the Pope.

    • The dynasty ended with the death of Elizabeth I in 1603.

Poetry Development

Great Poets

  1. Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)

    • Influenced by Chaucer.

    • Key works:

      • The Faerie Queene (1590)

      • Written in Spenserian Stanza.

      • Shepherd's Calendar (1579)

      • Comprises 12 stanzas representing each month and pastoral life.

    • Known for idealism and the use of ancient words, making his work complex.

  2. Quotations from The Faerie Queene:

    • “What though the sea with waves continuall…

    • For there is nothing lost, that may be found if sought.”

  3. William Shakespeare - notable poems include:

    • A Lover's Complaint

    • All the World's a Stage

    • Aubade

    • Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind

Prose Development

  • John Lyly (1554-1606):

    • Author of Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit (1578).

    • Introduced euphuism: characterized by long, ornate sentences and rich metaphors.

  • Key quotes from Lyly's works:

    • “The rules of fair play do not apply in love and war.”

    • “In misery it is great comfort to have a companion.”

  • Philip Sidney (1554-1586):

    • Significant for the genre of pastoral romance blending poetry and prose.

    • Notable works:

    • The Arcadia

    • Astrophel & Stella.

  • Thomas Nashe (1567-1601):

    • Distinguished for satirical prose and his picaresque narratives.

    • His notable work: The Unfortunate Traveler (1594).

Drama Development

  • Rapid growth of drama during the Elizabethan Period.

  • Previous focus on moral teachings was replaced by portraying human life and conflict.

  • Structure of drama:

    • Exposition → Complication → Climax → Denouement.

  • Influence of Aristotle, especially concerning the three unities (time, place, action).

William Shakespeare's Notable Works

  1. Comedies:

    • A Midsummer Night’s Dream

    • The Merchant of Venice

    • As You Like It

    • The Tempest

  2. Tragedies:

    • Romeo and Juliet

    • Julius Caesar

    • King Lear

    • Othello

    • Macbeth

    • Hamlet

  3. Histories:

    • Richard II

    • Henry IV

    • Henry V

Other Playwrights of the Period

  • Christopher Marlowe:

    • Notable works include The Tragic History of Dr. Faustus, Tamburlaine, and The Jew of Malta.

  • Ben Jonson:

    • Notable works include Every Man in His Humour, Volpone, and The Alchemist.

  • Thomas Kyd:

    • Notable works include The Spanish Tragedy and Arden of Faversham.

Conclusion & Further Readings