it includes introduction of elizabethan era with its background and prominent feactures. literature of this era and unversity wits are dominant fectures and most dominated genre is drama. globe theatre is also prominent
1. Elizabethan Era
Group 1
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3. Features
Age of Humanism
Nationalism
An age of material advancement
Experimentation
New discoveries
Printing & Education
Revival of interest in Greek & Latin literature
Literary creativity
4. Background
Elizabethan age is the period btw Gothic
and Renaissance.
It was an age of many developments.
Queen Elizabeth l was England best
monarch.
Many battles for power across Europe
occurred.
The era was relatively peaceful.
Battles btw monarchy and parliament had
also ceased.
England at that time was great place to
live.
Also called Renaissance of new idea and
thinking.
Music and English poetry were coming out.
Literature appreciated both by lower and
upper class.
At end Elizabethan age also ran into some
problems.
Spain persisted to start a war with England
btw 1585 and 1604.
War called The Anglo-Spanish war .
England economy drained.
Elizabethan settled the compromise btw
Catholicism and extreme Protestants.
Queen got ill from smallpox.
Queen died in
After queen death Treaty of London was
signed in favor of Spain.
5. Elizabethan Literature
Elizabethan literature refers reign of Queen Elizabeth I
One of the most splendid ages of English literature
Dominant literary form-Drama
Most important Elizabethan prose writers were John Lyly and Thomas
Nashe
Flowering of poetry
• the sonnet
• the Spenserian stanza
• dramatic blank verse
Major literary style lyric poetry
The Authorized Version of the Bible-Translation-Kings James’ Bible
Ben Johnson- Father of English literary criticism
6. University Wits
Late 16th century
Educated at the universities (Oxford or Cambridge)
Prominent members
– Christopher Marlowe
– Robert Greene
– John Lyly
– George Peele
Significant contribution to Elizabethan literature in various genres
7. Elizabethan Drama
Drama was the most important literary form in Elizabethan era.
3 forms of drama
1. The Tragedy
2. History Plays
3. Comedy
Playhouses
Dramas were performed at that time in the playhouses which were of three types:
1. Public Playhouses: for the common people
2. Private Playhouses: for the wealthier people
3. Famous Theatre: Globe Theatre
8. Globe Theatre
Built in 1599 by Cuthbert Burbage.
Shakespeare performed most of his plays there.
Capacity was between 2000-3000 spectators.
It was an open air theatre.
In 1642 the theatre was completely destroyed by fire.
9. Elizabethan Drama themes
1. Anti-Semitism:
Anti-Semitism is hostility and discrimination against Jews.
Christopher Marlowe’s “The Jew of Malta”
William Shakespeare's “The Merchant of Venice”
2. Revenge Tragedy:
The motive revenge became the main counter-motive in dramas,
especially tragedy e.g. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet
3. Super-natural Elements:
Society at that time was highly superstitious with people believing in
super-natural forces.
10. Conclusion
Intellectual thinking
Age of adventure and discovery
Time of;
Peace
prosperity
progress
Flowering of poetry
More wealthy nation
Nest of singing bird