The elizabethan age 15581625 is generally regarded as the greatest in thehistory of english literature. Elizabethan age synonyms, elizabethan age pronunciation, elizabethan age translation, english dictionary definition of elizabethan age. Historical contexthistorical context the second half of the 15the second half of the 15thth century and the 16century and the 16thth centurycentury were a turbulent age in english history. For these reasons elizabethan period is rightly called the first romantic age in english literature. Elizabethan age definition of elizabethan age by the free. In the beginning, these dramas were not so well written, though the comedies were better than the tragedies. It was the age of queen elizabethan 1 st 15581603 comprising the half of 16 th century. In this period the english humanistic literature was mainly of theoretical character, thomas. Elizabethan poets used strict rhyming schemes and crafted poetry that was as much architecture as literature. Jonson is a controversial figure of elizabethan age and english literature in common. From about the beginning of the 17th century a sudden darkening of tone became noticeable in most forms of literary expression, especially in drama. A brief history of english literature literary theory and.
The elizabethan age of english literature coincides with the reign of. England had a strong tradition of literature in the english vernacular, which gradually increased as english use of the printing press became common by the mid 16th century. This age is one of the most important in the history of english literature. Christianity and renaissance spirit in the elizabethan age.
Elizabethan literature refers to bodies of work produced during the reign of queen elizabeth i 15581603, and is one of the most splendid ages of english. Elizabethan era literature during elizabethan age by swati. The elizabethan era is the period of english history associated with the reign of queen elizabeth i 15581603. The arts, including literature, and nationalism thrived during the elizabethan age. The beginning of the tudor dynasty coincided with the first dissemination of printed matter. However, all of these could not mask the fact that he remains one of the greatest playwrights of all time. Before, drama consisted of simple morality plays and interludes, which were skits performed at the banquets of the queens father henry viii or at public schools at eton. Jul 18, 2018 the old english language or anglosaxon is the earliest form of english. The period is a long one and it is generally considered that old english was spoken from about a.
Use them to help you become familiar with the language, as a reference while reading, and as a resource for writing in your journal. The elizabethan age is the time period associated with the reign of queen elizabeth i 15581603 and is often considered to be a golden age in english history. Poets and dramatists drew inspiration from italian forms and genres such as the love sonnet, the pastoral, and the allegorical epic musicality, verbal sophistication, and romantic exuberance dominated the era s ve. However, many critics expand the term to include the changes that started to take. This portable document file aims to provide a general manual of englis literature for students in colleges and universities and others beyond the high. The humanism of the renaissance and the discovery of the american continent together with the new heliocentric world view put the medieval order into question.
Two poets of the old english period who wrote on biblical and. Jul 20, 2017 elizabethan era in this lesson, swati has discussed the elizabethan era. Elizabethan literature, body of works written during the reign of elizabeth i of england 15581603, probably the most splendid age in the history of english. There are several factors for the coming of renassaince literature in england. The concise history of english literature, the elizabethan period. The period revolutionized many aspects of english life, most significantly literature. English poetry and prose burst into sudden glory in the late 1570s. Elizabethan era literature during elizabethan age by. It was an age in which the mind of the people was set free from the trammels of medievalism from free of religious persecuation from fear of poverty and starvation and.
Click on the hyperlink to get more information about the authorwork. During this period in history, sonnets and poetry became popular forms of writing. The greatest english poem, beowulf is the first english epic. The elizabethan age, generally considered one of golden ages in english literature, was thus appropriately named. Elizabethan era in this lesson, swati has discussed the elizabethan era.
The elizabethan age was considered the golden age because of the number of great writers who worked during that period, including shakespeare, marlowe, spenser, kyd and jonson. During this time the writing of poetry was the part of education among the educated people. The first primary factor is the introduction of the printing press. May 24, 2014 major writers of the elizabethan period. Elizabethan literature the elizabethan era saw a great flourishing of literature, especially in the field of drama. It was a kind of farce in rough verse written by nicholas udall. Historically, wenote in this age the tremendous impetus received from the renaissance, reformation, and from the exploration of the newworld. Oct 06, 20 elizabethan literatureelizabethan literature the english literary renaissance consists ofthe english literary renaissance consists of four subsets. Historical background and literary features of the. Elizabethan age, the jacobean age, the caroline age, and the commonwealth period which is also known as the puritan interregnum. England during this period had a centralized, wellorganized, and effective government. Elizabethan literature refers to bodies of work produced during the reign of queen elizabeth i 15581603, and is one of the most splendid ages of english literature elizabeth i presided over a vigorous culture that saw notable accomplishments in the arts, voyages of discovery, the elizabethan settlement that created the church of england, and the defeat of military threats from spain.
You will also know about the style of writing of the poets and authors that prevailed back then. Old english literature, or anglosaxon literature, encompasses the surviving literature written in old english in anglosaxon england, in the period after the settlement of the saxons and other germanic tribes in england jutes and the angles c. Elizabethan literature refers to bodies of work produced during the reign of queen elizabeth i 15581603, and is one of the most splendid ages of english literature. That is why many books of poetry by different writers appeared during this age. This table lists important writers and their works of the elizabethan period of english literature. This research paper is mainly concerned with the evolution of drama. In england the first scholars and humanists appeared, they studied and investigated the antique philosophy. Such an age of thought, feeling and vigorous action, finds its best expression in the development. Elizabethan age the period coinciding with the reign of englands queen elizabeth i 15581603, considered to be the literary height of the english renaissance. Some distinguishing characteristics of elizabethan literature are the writers use of blank verse and satire.
The elizabethan era is the epoch in the tudor period of the history of england during the reign of queen elizabeth i 15581603. During this time, medieval tradition was blended with renaissance optimism. And it was sometime after 1585 that his successful literary career took off. This was the time of queen elizabeth i of england, and of shakespeare. The term english renaissance theatre encompasses the period between 1562following a performance of gorboduc, the first english play using blank verse, at the inner temple during the christmas season of 1561and the ban on theatrical plays enacted by the english parliament in 1642 the phrase elizabethan theatre is sometimes used, improperly, to mean english renaissance. Why was the elizabethan age called the golden age of.
The elizabethan age 15581625 is generally regarded as the greatest in the history of english literature. His best poetry is contained in the sonnet sequence astrophel and stella 1591 and his defence of poesie is among the most important works of literary criticism in the tradition. The elizabethan age the reign of elizabeth i 15581603 was a time of great change, affecting the sciences as well as technology, trade, and the view of society and religion. The sonnet was first practiced in the english language by sir thomas wyatt the elder 15031542, an english poet who also worked in the royal court under king henry viii.
Named after the monarch, the elizabethan age, produced some of the biggest marvels of english literature in history. It was an age considered to be the height of the english renaissance, and saw the full flowering of english literature and english poetry. English literature english literature the renaissance period. Historically, we note in this age the tremendous impetus received from the renaissance, reformation, and from the exploration of the newworld. Lyric poetry, prose, and drama were the major styles of literature that flowered during the elizabethan age. Elizabethan literature important writers and works of the. Notable writers during this era include william shakespeare, edmund spenser, christopher marlowe and sir philip sidney. The age is considered as the golden age in the history of english literature. Elizabethan literature, body of works written during the reign of elizabeth i of england 15581603, probably the most splendid age in the history of english literature, during which such writers as sir philip sydney, edmund spenser, richard hooker, christopher marlowe, and william shakespeare flourished. For literature from specific english speaking regions, see the see also section at the bottom of the page. The concise history of english literature, the elizabethan. Gifted english i the time and what it stood for this period is associated with queen elizabeth is reign 15581603. Elizabethan age a period in british history during the reign of elizabeth i in the 16th century.
The elizabethan age, the jacobean age, the caroline age and thejacobean age, the caroline age and the commonwealth period. In contrast, the english renaissance can only be said to begin, shakily, in the 1520s, and continued until perhaps 1620. It is as if the whole nation became a nest of birds. Detailed literary periods of british literature english literature. They were also greatly profiting from trade with the colonies. The jacobean age is named for the reign of james i. It has been said more than once that english elizabethan literature may, and not merely in virtue of shakespere, claim the first place even among the first class. So, at around 1500 they brought the renassaince literature in england. Ralph roister doister is taken as the first regular english comedy. English literature elizabethan poetry and prose britannica. English language were creating some of the most famous works of written art we have today. Elizabethan poetry characteristics english summary. The elizabethan era, which is generally considered one of the golden ages in english literature, was a great boom in literature, particularly in the area of the tragedy. Sep 14, 2014 the age is considered as the golden age in the history of english literature.
The reign of elizabeth i began in 1558 and ended with her death in 1603. A decisive shift of taste toward a fluent artistry selfconsciously displaying its own grace and sophistication was announced in the works of spenser and sidney. Commonly used before a noun that begins with vowelvowel sound like the article, an. There are dedicated posts for some of the listed authorsworks.
Ye you plural plural form of you when addressing a group of people. Coincidentally, this was also the time of shakespeare. The symbol of britannia a female personification of great britain was first used in 1572, and often thereafter, to mark the elizabethan age as a. In a tradition of literature remarkable for its exacting and brilliant achievements, the elizabethan and early stuart periods have been said to represent the most brilliant century of all. Contents hide 1 old english 2 renaissance literature 3 early modern period 3. We can distinguish three periods of literature of english renaissance. The phenomenon of the sonnet sequence the phrase elizabethan sonnet sequences refers to the series of english sonnets written by various prominent practitioners in the elizabethan era, such as william shakespeare, sir philip sidney, and edmund spenser. Also used when indicating that something is absolute and understood. This period is also known as the elizabethan era or the age of shakespeare in english literature. Both the elizabethan and jacobean periods in the history of. The elizabethan age was the golden age of english drama.
Many of the poems of the period are pagan, in particular widsith and beowulf. History of english literature pdf included periods of. English novel as such owes its origin to richardsons pamela which appeared in 1740, having the requisites of plot, characters and dialogue of high merit, the elizabethan age witnessed the. The symbol of britannia a female personification of great britain was first used in 1572, and often thereafter, to mark the elizabethan age as a renaissance that inspired national pride through. The elizabethan age 1558 1603 refers to the period of elizabeth 1s reign and is characterized by vigorous intellectual thinking, an age of adventure and discovery, a time in which new ideas and new experiences were sought after. Elizabethan theatre elizabethan drama was the dominant art form that flourished during and a little after the reign of elizabeth i, who was queen of england from 1558 to 1603. Drama was the chief literary glory of the elizabethan age. Victorian age 18371901 edwardian age english literature since 1901 modernism 19011939 post modernism 194021st century in this post, all the major ages are focused on. The first great age of the english language was during the reign of queen elizabeth i 15581603 in england.
The elizabethan age is called the first and greatest epoch in english literature, the romantic quest of this age is for the remote, the wonderful and the beautiful. In the 15in the 15thth century the wars of the roses, th. The elizabethan age saw the flowering of poetry the sonnet, the spenserian stanza, dramatic blank verse, was a golden age of drama especially for the plays of shakespeare, and inspired a wide variety of splendid prose from historical chronicles, versions of the holy scriptures, pamphlets, and literary criticism to the first english novels. The elizabethan age of english literature coincides with the reign of elizabeth i, 1558 1603. He is known to slay an actor, quarrels with other dramatists and rivalry with shakespeare. Elizabethan literature definition, characteristics. Before and during elizabethan age, the writing of poetry was part of. Why was the elizabethan age called the golden age of english. Major writers of the elizabethan period ugc net english. Renassaince was initially started at italy in the late 14th century. Elizabethan poetry english honours ru english literature. History of english literature timeline knowledge merger. Renaissance drama unit i 1 background the elizabethan and.
The ideal english renaissance man was sir philip sidney scholar, poet, critic, courtier, diplomat, and soldierwho died in battle at the age of 32. The european scholars and writers found that renassaince was doing good at italy. Elizabethan period is generally regarded as the greatest in the history of english literature. Thus, elizabethan age was a golden age in the history of english. In the elizabethan age, england challenged the modern and ancient writers in various fields of literature drama, epic, pastoral, lyric, romance, allegory, history and philosophy. From about the beginning of the 17th century a sudden darkening. The first period covers the end of the 15th and the first half of the 16th centuries. Historians often depict it as the golden age in english history. English literature are also known as the age of shakespeare. Elizabethan literature definition, characteristics, authors.
Youll know about the main characteristics of the age of history of english literature. It was marked by a strong national spirit, by patriotism, by religious tolerance. The features of the elizabethan age linkedin slideshare. What are some characteristics of elizabethan literature. Elizabethan poetry the elizabethan age blended with renaissance spirit of optimism and freedom. Some of its noteworthy figures include christopher marlowe, francis bacon, edmund spenser, sir walter raleigh, and, of course, william shakespeare.
The elizabethan era is the epoch in english history marked by the reign of queen elizabeth i. The period of english literature loosely called elizabethan, related as it is to the medirevalism which preceded it, and leading to the classic or augustan age. Largest city in europe center of trade and social life because of the thames so many migrants, jobs were scarce 3. Elizabethan literature characteristics english summary. The elizabethan sonnet sequence british literature wiki. Literature in english english literature, 20th cent. Elizabethan poetry elizabethan age was a great age of english literature. This was the age of shakespeare, and the golden age of english drama. The main practitioners of the elizabethan sonnet sequence were william shakespeare, edmund spenser, and sir philip sidney. The features of the elizabethan age golden age in english history queen elizabeth 1 15581603 production of great poetry and drama the age of shakespeare feeling of patriotism and nationalism most glorious age in the history of england 4. If you are searching for history of english literature pdf, please scroll down. During the elizabethan era, the renaissance had made a massive contribution to art, culture and literature.
Nov 28, 2017 in this article on the history of english literature, youll be getting a glimpse of almost every age of english literature. Much of those works are poetry, and not the freeform beatnik poetry weve come so familiar with in smoky coffee shops. A scrutiny of selected works of william shakespeare. Many of the most important dramatists of the period were also excellent poets.