1. Write a short essay on the contribution of the University Wits to English drama.

/ Elizabethan
drama.

The University Wits were a group of talented playwrights in the late 16th century who made significant
contributions to the development of Elizabethan drama. These writers were highly educated at England’s
prestigious universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge. They played a crucial role in shaping the transition of
English theatre from its medieval, religious roots to the more complex and sophisticated style seen in
Elizabethan plays. Their works laid the foundation for future playwrights like William Shakespeare and
contributed to the golden age of English drama.

Before the University Wits, English drama was largely focused on religious plays, mystery plays, and
moralities. These were simple, didactic plays that were often performed in churchyards or town squares. They
usually involved clear moral lessons about good versus evil. However, with the rise of the Elizabethan era,
there was a growing demand for more diverse, complex, and human-centered drama. The University Wits
helped to fulfill this need and made drama more exciting, meaningful, and reflective of human emotions.

Among the most famous members of the University Wits were Christopher Marlowe, Robert Greene,
Thomas Nashe, George Peele, and John Lyly. Each of these writers brought something unique to the stage
that would influence English drama for generations. Christopher Marlowe is perhaps the most influential of
the group. His plays, such as Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine the Great, introduced a new style of drama with
blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter), which allowed for a more fluid and expressive form of speech.
Marlowe’s characters were complex, often driven by strong desires or ambitions, such as the tragic figure of
Doctor Faustus. This focus on intense, flawed characters was a major development in Elizabethan drama and
had a deep influence on later playwrights, including Shakespeare.

Robert Greene, another key figure in the University Wits, made important contributions to comedy. His plays
like Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay and The Scottish History were known for their romantic and magical
themes, as well as for the introduction of subplots. These subplots, often involving secondary characters or
stories, added depth and variety to the plays. Greene’s work was an important step in making plays more
entertaining and layered.

Thomas Nashe was known for his satirical and often humorous approach to drama. His play The Unfortunate
Traveller mixed drama with prose and is considered an early form of tragicomedy, blending serious and comic
elements. Nashe’s ability to balance humor with deeper, more serious themes showed the growing flexibility of
Elizabethan drama. His works helped pave the way for later playwrights to explore a wider range of emotions
and situations.

George Peele contributed to Elizabethan drama by introducing classical mythology and historical themes into
his works. His play The Arraignment of Paris was one of the first to use Greek and Roman myths in an English
play. This helped establish a tradition of referring to classical history and mythology in later English drama.
Peele’s works often dealt with themes like power, betrayal, and human nature, which were central to the
development of later Elizabethan drama.

John Lyly, best known for his court comedies like Endimion and Sapho and Phao, introduced elegant
language and witty dialogue into English theatre. Lyly’s plays were often filled with allegories and
mythological references, and they appealed to the educated court audience. His work laid the groundwork for a
more refined and sophisticated style of comedy that influenced later dramatists.
The University Wits were key to the development of blank verse, which became the standard form for serious
dramatic writing in Elizabethan theatre. They also helped shift the focus of drama from simple moral lessons to
more complex explorations of human nature, emotions, and ambition. Through their innovative character
development, use of subplots, and experimentation with mythological and historical themes, they made
English drama more engaging and multifaceted.

In conclusion, the University Wits played a crucial role in the development of Elizabethan drama. Their
introduction of blank verse, the focus on complex characters, and their use of diverse themes transformed
English theatre. Their contributions were instrumental in creating the vibrant and sophisticated theatrical world
that later flourished with the works of Shakespeare and other playwrights. The University Wits remain an
essential part of the history of English drama.(700 words)

1. Write a short essay on the contribution of the University Wits to English drama./ Elizabethan
drama.

The University Wits were a group of highly educated playwrights in the late 16th century who played a crucial
role in the development of Elizabethan drama. These writers, educated at Oxford and Cambridge, helped
transform English theatre from its medieval, religious roots to the more sophisticated and expressive form seen
in the works of William Shakespeare and others. The University Wits introduced significant innovations in
language, structure, and character development, which greatly impacted the course of English drama.

Before the rise of the University Wits, English drama primarily consisted of mystery plays, moralities, and
religious dramas. These plays were simple, with clear moral messages, and often focused on depicting good
versus evil. However, with the changing social and political landscape of Elizabethan England, there was a
growing demand for more complex, human-centered drama. The University Wits played a significant role in
meeting this demand, creating plays that were richer in plot, character, and language.

Among the most famous members of the University Wits were Christopher Marlowe, Robert Greene,
Thomas Nashe, George Peele, and John Lyly. Each of these writers made unique contributions to the
development of Elizabethan drama.

Christopher Marlowe is widely regarded as the most influential member of the University Wits. His major
works include Tamburlaine the Great, Doctor Faustus, The Jew of Malta, and Edward II. Marlowe’s
Tamburlaine was one of the first plays to use blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter), a revolutionary
style that would become the foundation of Elizabethan drama. This form allowed for more natural and flowing
speech, making the dialogue more powerful and expressive. In plays like Doctor Faustus, Marlowe explored the
theme of ambition and the human desire for power, fame, and immortality. His portrayal of complex
characters, particularly the tragic hero Doctor Faustus, was groundbreaking. Faustus’s internal struggle between
desire and morality, and his ultimate downfall, helped to establish the tragic hero as a central figure in
Elizabethan theatre. Marlowe’s use of tragic themes and complex characterisation was a major influence on
later playwrights, including William Shakespeare.

Robert Greene was another important figure in the University Wits. His plays, such as Friar Bacon and Friar
Bungay, The Scottish History, and The Looking Glass for London and England, made significant contributions
to the development of comedy and romance. Greene’s work is noted for its introduction of subplots, which
added complexity to the plays and allowed for a richer storytelling experience. In Friar Bacon and Friar
Bungay, for example, Greene blended magic, romance, and comedy, creating a vibrant narrative that engaged
both the intellectual and popular audiences of the time. His plays often featured moral lessons, but they also
explored themes of human nature, love, and social dynamics. Greene's focus on romantic themes, combined
with his complex plots, contributed to the growing popularity of romantic comedy in Elizabethan theatre.

Thomas Nashe, known for his satirical wit, was another key figure. His notable works include The Unfortunate
Traveller and Summer’s Last Will and Testament. Nashe was an early pioneer of tragicomedy, a genre that
blends both serious and comedic elements. The Unfortunate Traveller is an early example of a satirical work
that also touches on social criticism and the darker aspects of human life. Nashe’s ability to mix humor with
darker themes demonstrated the growing versatility of Elizabethan drama, paving the way for later playwrights
to experiment with tone and structure.

George Peele, known for his use of classical themes, contributed significantly to the development of historical
and mythological drama. His best-known works include The Arraignment of Paris and Edward I. In The
Arraignment of Paris, Peele drew heavily from classical mythology, introducing gods and mythological figures
into English drama. This use of classical references would later become a hallmark of many Elizabethan plays.
Peele’s work often explored themes of political power, betrayal, and revenge, which were also explored in
later tragedies by playwrights such as Shakespeare.

John Lyly is best known for his courtly comedies, including Endimion and Sapho and Phao. Lyly’s plays were
filled with wit and elegant language, and they often incorporated mythological and allegorical elements.
Endimion, for example, is a romantic comedy that uses the story of the mythological figure Endymion to
explore themes of love and desire. Lyly’s work influenced the development of court drama, as his plays
appealed to the educated and intellectual audience at the Elizabethan court. His emphasis on language and wit
became a model for later dramatists who sought to refine the dialogue and structure of their works.

The University Wits made several key contributions to Elizabethan drama. They introduced the use of blank
verse, which became the standard for serious drama, and they helped establish the tragic hero as a central
character type. Their plays were characterized by complex characters and rich plots that often explored
human nature, ambition, love, and revenge. They also experimented with the use of subplots, making their
plays more intricate and engaging. Additionally, they brought classical mythology and historical themes into
the theatre, enriching the cultural and intellectual content of English drama.

In conclusion, the University Wits were instrumental in shaping the direction of Elizabethan drama. Through
their innovative use of language, complex characters, and exploration of new themes, they laid the groundwork
for the later success of Shakespeare and other playwrights. Their work not only transformed the structure and
style of English drama but also opened the door for future generations of dramatists to explore the full range of
human experience on the stage. The contributions of the University Wits remain a cornerstone in the history of
English literature and theatre. (900 words)