The Age of Elizabethan (1558-1603)
History of the Period:-
It is the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). Her reign is one of the most important periods which have a great impact on the Renaissance. However, when she was crowned as queen the whole country was divided into two groups i.e. catholic(northern side) and protestant(southern counties). They always fought for their religious cause and religious persecution. They even tortured each other in court to gain royal favour. But the queen treats them equally and they become united under one umbrella. For the first time, their mind turns toward literature and other activity. Her reign was just like a dawn for England. and Her love for England awakened tremendous patriotism among the English people. English national life progressed by huge leaps, and literature reached the very highest point of its development. Here, Milton says- "a noble and puissant nation, rousing herself, like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks".
Characteristics of The Elizabethan Age:-
(1) It was the reign of religious tolerance.
(2) It was an age of social satisfaction.
(3) This age is known as an age of dreams, adventure, limitless enthusiasm, and expansion of mental and geographical horizontal.
The great voyagers brought knowledge from the East and their exploits were recorded in "Hakluyt".
Literary Feature of the Age:-
(1) The New Romanticism- It is the first romantic era. The romantic quest is for the remote, the wonderful, and the beautiful.
(2) Drama - This is the greatest period of drama because the bold and critical attitude of drama appeared and it made a swift and wonderful leap into maturity. William Shakespeare is the greatest dramatist.
(3) Poetry- Poetry production is not equal to drama.
(4) Prose- First time, prose raised to a position of first-rate importance. The dead weight of Latin was getting away and English prose was acquiring its position.
Poets of the Age:-
(1) Edmund Spencer (1552-99)
(2) John Donne(1573-1631)
(3) Sir Thomas Wyatt (1530(?)-1542)
(4) Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1516(?)-1547)
(5) Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586)
(6) Michal Drayton (1563-1631)
(8) Samuel Daniel (1562-1619)
(9) Thomas Campion (1567-1620)
Playwrights of the Age:-
(1) George Peele (1558-98)
(2) Robert Greene (1558-92)
(3) Thomas Nash (1567-1601)
(4) Thomas Lodge(1558-1625)
(5) Thomas Kyd(1558-1594)
(6) Christopher Marlowe(1564-1593)
(The above playwrights are University Wits.)
Post- Shakespearian Dramatist:-
(1) Ben Jonson(1573(?)- 1637)
(2) Francis Beaumont (c. 1584-1616) and John Fletcher (1579-1625)
(3) John Marston (1575-1634)
(4) Thomas Dekker (1572-1632)
(5) Thomas Middelton (1570-1627)
(6) Thomas Heywood (1575-1650)
(7) George Chapman (c. 1559-1634)
Source-
History of English Literature
Edward Albert.
William J Long.