This document provides an overview of a presentation on Elizabethan drama. It introduces the presenter, Monir Hossen, and the student presenting, Nusrat Zahan Mim. The presentation covers the development of drama during the Elizabethan era, including miracle plays, the contributions of early dramatists like Marlowe and the University Wits, and genres like tragedy and comedy. It also highlights William Shakespeare as the greatest English dramatist of the period and discusses some of his most famous works.

1. WELCOME TO
PRESENTATION CEREMONY

2. Presented For:
Monir Hossen
Lecturer
Department of English
CCN University of Science & Technology
Email:monir.eng.cou@gmail.com
Presented by:
Nusrat Zahan Mim
Department of English
ID: 421316004
Batch: Fall 2016
CCN University of Science & Technology
Email:

3. PRESENTATION
ON
ELIZABETHAN DRAMA

4. ELIZABETHAN DRAMA
The drama was the most popular literary from of the
Renaissance as it was also the most powerful and
spontaneous. It expressed as no other literary product could
have done, the manifold life of the Elizabethan age. The later
middle ages brought a repaid development in English drama.
It was in fact a preparation for the great age of Elizabeth. This
ages named after Queen Elizabeth I who reigned over
England from 1558 to 1603. This is called the “Golden Age” of
English literature. In England drama flourished during the
reign of Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603) who was a patron of
literature and the arts. Theatres were built in London and
people attended plays in large numbers. The Most important
dramatists were William Shakespeare and Christopher
Marlowe.

5. MIRACLE PLAYS:
It is in the church where we find the rebirth of drama. The dramatic possibilities of
Roman Catholic rituals gradually developed as a part of elaborate ceremonial of the
great religious feast like “Easter”. The Church authority appreciated the instructional
value of such presentation. Later on, writers turned to “The New Testament” and
“The Old Testament” for the stores of Noah and Daniel and other popular Biblical
stores. The lives of saints and other religious incidents were presented by the church
authority.

6.  Early Dramas:
 Early English drama began to appear about 1550. The classical drama gave English drama its
five acts, scenes and many other features. However the significant divisions of the early
dramas are as follows:-
 Tragedy: In the Greek sense, a play that ends with the death of at least one of the main
characters. In modern usage, it refers to a play that doesn’t have a happy ending.
 Comedy: In the Greek Sense, it is a play that doesn’t end in death. On modern usage, it
refers to a play that ends happily or that is humorous.
 Tragi-comedy: A play in which serious and comic elements are mixed.

7. CONTRIBUTION OF THE UNIVERSITY WITS TO DRAMA:
The Term ‘University Wits’ is Applied To a group of English men of letters who
flourished in the Elizabethan Age under the influence of the group was more or less
constituted of some young university scholars, highly cultivated literary men who took
writing as their profession. The University Wits contributed to the formation of the
English Comedy Which Blossomed forth in the hands of Shakespeare.
 John Lyly:
John Lyly the courties made notable contribution to the formation of the English
comedy. He Charming romantic plays are all comedies.
 George Peele:
George Peele was almost certainly a Successful player as well as play wright. His style is
violent to the point of absurdity.
 Robert Greene:
Robert Greene was probably encouraged to write for the stage by Marlowe’s success
with Tamburlaine.

8. CONTINUED
 Thomas Nashe: Thomas Nashe was the real successor Greene’s the realist and
satirist. He was an outstanding picaresque author of the period. He wrote against
The Puritans I general.
 Thomas Lodge: Thomas Lodge abandoned low of literature.
 Thomas kyd: Among the “University Wits” Thomas Kyd, violent and extravagant
youth as he was, did much to popularize Senecan tradition of blood and thunder.
 Christopher Marlowe: Christopher Marlowe, one of the most striking figures of
the English Renaissance is the true founder of the popular English drama. He is
really the greatest figure in pre Shakespearean drama. He has left behind
powerful tragedies: 1) Tamburlaine. 2) Doctor Faustus. 3) The Jew of Malta. 4)
Edward II.

9. Each of these tragedies reflects the Renaissance spirit and revolves round the central
personality who is consumed by lust for power. Marlowe represents the Renaissance
quest for beauty. He is lyrical and romantic in his dramatic presentation of life. He
shows a new dramatic scene in English historical drama. Marlowe gave life and
reality to his characters. Marlowe revolutionized the old conception of tragedy and
new urges of the Renaissance. Marlowe was the morning star of the Elizabethan
drama.
CONTINUED

10.  The greatest English Dramatist:
The greatest English dramatist William Shakespeare in Elizabethan
period. He famous for the objective presentation of his deep
knowledge about human psychology. He is often called the bard
of Avon. He wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets. He invention tragic-
comedy in English drama. Of the total 37 plays he wrote the
following 25 before the death Queen Elizabeth.

11. THE END