Elizabethan Period

Queen Elizabeth I ruled England from 1558 to 1603. This period, named after her, became known as the Elizabethan period, also called the golden age of prosperity in power, commerce, art, and nationalism.

English drama reached its greatest height during this time. William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Ben Jonson emerged as the leading dramatists.

The age also flourished in poetry. Edmund Spenser, known as the poet of poets, composed his works during this period. Shakespeare contributed with his sonnets.

Francis Bacon pioneered the English essay and became a notable author of this era.

The Renaissance strongly influenced the Elizabethan age, broadening human outlook, fostering enlightenment, and encouraging humanism and liberal thinking.

As a result, literature from this period moved away from Greek and Roman literary traditions, marking the birth of English Romanticism.

Elizabethan literature reflected profundity of thought, idealism in philosophy, clarity in language, and excellence in poetry.

Elizabethan Period

The Elizabethan Period (1558–1603) was the time when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England. It was a period of great growth in literature, drama, and poetry. The English Renaissance flourished, and writers explored human nature, love, power, and religion. The theatre became popular, and the English language developed greatly.

Famous Writers

1. William Shakespeare – Playwright and poet
2. Christopher Marlowe – Playwright and poet
3. Ben Jonson – Playwright and poet
4. Edmund Spenser – Poet
5. Sir Philip Sidney – Poet and prose writer

Famous Writings and Brief Descriptions

1. Hamlet (William Shakespeare)
   • A tragedy about Prince Hamlet, who seeks revenge for his father’s murder. It explores madness, betrayal, and fate.
   • Famous lines: “To be or not to be, that is the question.”
2. Doctor Faustus (Christopher Marlowe)
   • A play about Dr. Faustus, who sells his soul to the devil for knowledge and power. It warns against greed and ambition.
   • Famous lines: “Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships?”
3. The Faerie Queene (Edmund Spenser)
   • A long epic poem celebrating Queen Elizabeth I. It uses allegory to represent virtues and moral lessons.
   • Famous lines: “A gentle knight was pricking on the plain.”
4. Astrophel and Stella (Sir Philip Sidney)
   • A sonnet sequence about love and beauty. It expresses deep emotions and personal feelings.
   • Famous lines: “With sad steps, O Moon, thou climb’st the skies.”
5. Every Man in His Humour (Ben Jonson)
   • A comedy that studies different human personalities (humours). It mocks society and human weaknesses.
   • Famous lines: “He that fears death, or poverty, is in a continual fear of misery.”