105 - The Renaissance of English Drama in the Elizabethan age

Assignment 105 : The Renaissance of English Drama in the Elizabethan Age


This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 105A - History of English Literature – From 1350 to 1900, Sem - 1, 2023.

Table of Contents:-

Personal Information
Assignment Details
Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
The Renaissance of English Drama in the Elizabethan Age
Elizabethan Age,
William Shakespeare,
Drama,
Classical influence
Conclusion
References

Personal Information:-

Personal Information:-
Name:-Chavada Nanda
Batch:- M.A. Sem 1 (2023-2024)
Enrollment Number:-5108230012
E-mailAddress:-nandachavada@gmail.com
Roll Number:- 23

Assignment Details:

Topic:- The Renaissance of English Drama in the Elizabethan Age
Paper & subject code:- 105A - History of English Literature – From 1350 to
1900 & 22396
Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU,Bhavnagar
Date of Submission:- 01 December,2023

Abstract : 

Here, explores the Elizabethan Age, a period intricately connected to the development of English literature. Focusing on the literary characteristics of the era, it delves into religious toleration, social contentment, and the prevailing enthusiasm that shaped the cultural landscape. The primary emphasis, however, is on the dramatic arts, considering the religious origins of drama and the subsequent evolution of Miracle, Mystery, Morality, and Interlude plays. The narrative extends to the influential figures of the time, particularly William Shakespeare, and his significant contributions to English literature. The four distinct periods of Shakespeare's career are outlined, showcasing the evolution of his writing style. Finally, a list of major dramatists of the Elizabethan Age is presented, highlighting their collective impact on shaping the artistic period.

Keywords:

Elizabethan Age, Renaissance, William Shakespeare, Drama, Miracle plays, Mystery plays, Morality plays, Interludes, English literature, Dramatic unities, University wits, Playwrights, Literary characteristics, Classical influence

Introduction:

The Elizabethan age can be viewed as a period in which the progress of national life is closely entwined with the evolution of national literature.

"The first creative period of English Literature"

The Elizabethan age is also known as the age of William Shakespeare. Because he was the dominant figure of the Elizabethan age in literary terms, it is called the period of Renaissance. The term ‘Renaissance’ means rebirth or revival of Greek and Italian culture, literature, art, learning etc. 

it was an age of drama therefore, it is necessary to discuss the development of drama in Elizabethan age

Origin of Drama:

During the renaissance, many types of literature has produced, like, The New Classicism, The New Romanticism, translations, spirit of independence, the development of drama, the popularity of poetry and prose and novel.

As per W. J. Long,

"Drama is but an old story retold to the eye, a story put into action by living performers, who for the movement "make believe" or imagine themselves to be the old heroes"

 Different kinds of poetries were produced like, dramatic poetry, lyrical poetry, descriptive and narrative poetry religious and satirical poetry.

Literary characteristics:

1. Religious Toleration:

2. Social contentment:

3. Enthusiasm:

4. The Drama:

1. Religious Toleration:

Elizabethan found that the England is divided is in two parts, North was of Catholics and southern countries were of Protestants. Elizabethan has favoured both religious parties and for the first time Catholics and Protestants were acting together as trusted counsellors of a great self-governing nation. This environment has united all the Englishmen. For the first time the question of religious tolerance seems to be settled, and the mind of man, freed from the religious fears and turned into other forms of activity.

With religion tolerance and freedom of thinking, Englishmen were ready to have the taste of literature. Great writers emerge from this freedom and inspiration.

2. Social contentment:

This was a time of satisfaction, because people were getting employments. The development of towns and in manufacturing, gave employment to those who was unemployed and discontented. Incensement in trading business brought wealth in England. Rich people were in support to help poor and were providing them employment. This new attitude of living life and wealth has also helped in new literary activities.

3. Enthusiasm:

People were getting rich and were getting employments. They were happy and this happiness has filled them with the joy of living life.  Bacon has said,

"I have taken all knowledge of my province"

There was a flow of imagination and thinking in a positive manner. Poets of this age were creating poems which became young forever. Cabot, Drake, Frobisher, Gilbert, Raleigh, Willoughby and Hawkins explored new earth to men's eyes. Dreams and deed were going parallel in the age of Elizabethan. People were dreaming bigger and also working on the dreams. (W. J. Long)

4. The Drama:

The Age of Elizabethan can be considered as the age of Drama. There were also poets life Edmund Spenser and Shakespeare, but the plays of Christopher Marlow and Shakespeare were more famous. There was a dominant position of the drama and play on the mind of people. Neither poetry, nor the story can express the whole man but drama can. By the writing of Shakespeare, drama is still alive after 400 years of his writing. (Long)

Development of drama

The drama had a religious origin in Greece. Then it started to rise in England. The object of the first play was to emphasize moral lesson by showing the reward of the good and the punishment of the evil doer. In England the religious plays where more famous, and started to perform on the stage in the sixteenth century. The theme of the drama was religious, that’s why the existence of miracle and mystery plays can be observed

Now, elaborate these plays in detail.

Miracle plays:

Miracle plays are basically religious stories about the lives of saints and the amazing things they did. These plays focus on the experiences and sacrifices of saints. The name "Miracle" was used for all plays based on stories from the Bible. In England, these plays became more and more popular over four centuries after the first recorded one. The Normans probably brought these religious plays to England, but it's likely they started here even before the Normans arrived.

Mystery plays:

The word mystery refers to the plays, which represents the life scenes from the life of Christ. In England Mystery plays used for distinguishing different class of plays, which were not religious.

Among these both kinds of plays, Miracle was famous and the first Miracle play was "Ludus de Sancta Katharina" in Dunstable. Four centuries after the Miracle plays got fame and popularity. From the starting plays were allowed to perform in church because of religious purpose but after that people have started enjoying it and then it was for the purpose of entertainment and then it was replaced by the Elizabethan Drama.

The Miracle plays started taking popularity and then divided into two parts,

1. At Christmas: plays on birth of Christ

2. At Easter: plays on death and triumph of Christ

This cycle of drama represents human life from birth to death. The authors of Miracles were priests and their chosen assistants and they were carefully selected and trained. There were movable theatres, each of these theatres consisted of a two-story platform, set on wheels. The lower story was the dressing room for actors and the upper story was the stage proper.

The plays were written according to general outline of the Bible stories, no change was tolerated, the only variety was in new songs and jokes, and in the pranks of devil.

Morality Plays:

Morality plays are allegorical performances where virtues and vices take on human-like forms on stage. The central character, such as Everyman, represents the protagonist, while Satan personifies vice, and God or Christ embodies virtue, with death serving as the consequence of wrongdoing. The increasing popularity of morality plays illustrates their moral messages. The characters in these plays are allegorical figures like Life, Death, repentance, Goodness, Love, Greed, and various virtues and vices. Morality plays can be seen as a dramatic equivalent to the allegorical poetry seen in works like the Romance of the Rose. Many of these old morality plays have unknown origins and dates, but notable authors include John Skelton, who wrote "Magnificence," and Sir David Lindsay, both known for their high-quality contributions to this genre.

Interludes Plays:

Interludes were brief entertainments typically inserted within longer plays or amid other festivities. Primarily aimed at entertaining through humor or farce, these interludes originated from a sense of humor, with John Heywood elevating them to a distinct comedic form.

The growth of drama also saw the emergence of the first tragedy, "Gorboduc," a collaborative effort by Thomas Sackville and Thomas Norton. Though written in 1561, it premiered on stage in 1562.

Classical influence, stemming from Mystery and Miracle plays, significantly contributed to the development of English drama.

William Shakespeare, a prominent figure in English dramatists during the Elizabethan Age, was born on April 26, 1564. Although traditionally baptized on the third day after birth, April 23 is considered his actual birth date. In 1582, he married Anne Hathway and later moved to London around 1587 to pursue a career as an actor, which didn't work out. Instead, he became a renowned playwright, creating dramas in four distinct periods.

First Period (1590-1595): This phase was characterized by youthful experimentation and imagination, featuring rhymed couplets in addition to blank verse. Some plays from this period include "Henry VI," "Richard II," "King John," "Comedy of Errors," "Love’s Labor’s Lost," and "Two Gentlemen of Verona."

Second Period (1595-1600): Marked by rapid growth and artistic development, this period showcased improved plots and a deeper understanding of human nature. Notable plays from this era include "Romeo and Juliet," "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," "The Merchant of Venice," "Henry IV," "As You Like It," "Much Ado About Nothing," and "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

Third Period (1600-1607): This period was characterized by gloom and depression but saw the full maturity of Shakespeare's powers. Some of his greatest tragedies, including "Hamlet," "Othello," "Macbeth," "King Lear," "Julius Caesar," "Twelfth Night," and "Antony and Cleopatra," were produced during this time.

Fourth Period: This period marked the restoration of serenity and calm after the storm, representing the last years of his artistic work. Plays from this period include "Coriolanus," "Cymbeline," "The Winter’s Tale," and "The Tempest."

Shakespeare's contributions to English literature are immense, with his works continuing to be celebrated for their depth, insight into human nature, and enduring relevance.

Here see major dramatists of this Age

Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Marlowe ,John Lyly ,George Peele, Robert Greene, Thomas kyd, Thomas Nashe, Thomas Lodge, Beaumont, Fletcher. etc..

So, in simple terms, the Artistic Period is when they focused on showing real life, with funny and serious plays.

Classical Unities :

In the past, plays followed strict rules called "dramatic unities," where everything had to happen in one place, within a short time, and with a single storyline. No violence was allowed on stage, and a clear distinction existed between funny and serious plays.

English drama changed this. Instead of sticking to these rules, they started showing whole lives in a single play. They introduced different characters, places, and timelines. There were two groups in English drama: the university wits and popular playwrights. They wanted to present real-life experiences, so they ignored the old rules.

The first English plays were romantic, and the first theater, called "The Theatre," was built in 1576 in London. Before Shakespeare, there were many playwrights like Kyd, Nash, Lyly, Peele, and Marlowe. They built the foundation for English drama, and then Shakespeare became a famous playwright.

words :  1983

Image :2

work cited : 

“Jacobean Literature.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.,  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Elizabethan-Age Accessed 25 Nov. 2023. 

https://owlcation.com/humanities/Origin-of-Drama-in-English-Literature

Whipple, E. P. “E. P. Whipple.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, www.theatlantic.com/author/e-p-whipple/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2023. 

By. “Notes on Origin of Drama in English Literature .” All About English Literature, 14 Feb. 2022, www.eng-literature.com/2021/01/origin-drama-english-literature.html.

“Francis Bacon Quote.” https://libquotes.com/francis-bacon/quote/lbs8b7u.Accessed 25 Nov. 2023.