The Elizabethan Age

British and American Literature

 Member Of The
Group:
Ni Luh Kadek Ayu Darmapatni (1901541200)

Erfina Maulani Putri (1901541202)

Ida Ayu Putri Laksmi Sharma Kuramas (1901541214)

Ida Ayu Dinita Dinda Dwija (1901541217)

 Overview
"Adventure": that is the word which sums up what so many people feel about the Elizabethan
period of English history. Physical adventures in discovering new worlds across the seas; intellectual
adventures in rediscovering the full glories of ancient Greek and Latin literature and in encountering new
ideas in religion, philosophy, astronomy, and language; literary adventures in discovering new ways of
writing and new worlds for the imagination to inhabit - we find all these going on in England in the late
sixteenth century.

In many ways it was a confused and changing period; but it was also an exciting period, a period
of growing national pride and national exuberance, a period of perpetual curiosity. The ideal of the good
life was seen by many writers and thinkers as a combination of action and contemplation. The properly
educated man was trained equally in swordsmanship and in philosophy, in horsemanship and in biblical
criticism, in dancing and in Latin and Greek.
 Characteristics of
01 The Elizabethan
Age/about the age 03 Elizabethan
Literature
The
02 The Elizabethan
view of History 04 Quintessential
Elizabethan
03. Characteristics of Elizabethan
Literature
1. Revival of Interest in
Greek Literature 2. Abundance of Output

The ardent revival in the The Elizabethan age was rich in literary
study of Greek literature productions of all kinds. Singing is impossible
brought a dazzling light into when one’s hearts undeclared & at any moment
many dark places of interest. one may be laid prostrate. Not till the accession
The new classical influences of Queen Elizabeth, did a better state of things
were a great benefit. They began to be. In the Elizabethan age, pamphlets
tempered & polished the & treatises were freely written. Sometimes
earlier rudeness of English writers indulged in scurrilous abuses which
Literature. were of personal character. But on the whole,
the output of the literature was very wide, &
after the lean years of the preceding epoch, the
prodigal issue of the Elizabethan age is almost
embarrassing.
3. The New Romanticism
The romantic quest is, for the remote, the wonderful & the beautiful. All
these desires were abundantly fed during the Elizabethan age, which are the first
& the greatest romantic epoch (period). According to Albert, “there was a daring
& resolute spirit of adventure in literary as well as the other regions, & most
important of these was an un-mistakable buoyancy & freshness in the strong
wind of the spirit. It was the ardent youth of English Literature & the
achievement was worthy of it.”
 4. Translations in
Elizabethan Age
The Elizabethan age witnessed translation into English of several
important foreign books. Many translations were as popular as the
original works. Sir Thomas North translated Plutarch’s Lives & John
Florio translated Montaigne’s Essais. No less popular were the
translations in poetry. E.g. Metamorphoses by Arthur Golding, Arisoto
Orlando Furioso by Sir John Harrington, Tasso’s Terusalom Liberata by
Richard Carew.
5. Spirit of Independence
In spite of borrowings from abroad, the authors of this age showed
a spirit of independence & creativeness. Shakespeare borrowed freely,
but by the alembic of his creative imaginations, he transformed the
dross into gold. Spenser introduced the ‘Spenserian Stanza’, & from his
works, we got the impression of inventiveness & intrepidity. On the
whole, the outlook of the writers during the age was broad &
independent.
 6. Development of
Drama
During the Elizabethan Age, drama made a swift & wonderful leap into maturity.
The drama reached the splendid perfection in the hands of Shakespeare & Ben Jonson,
though in the concluding part of the age, particularly in Jacobean Age, there was a decline
of drama standards.

Popularity of
Poetry enjoyed its hey-day during the Elizabethan age. The whole of the age lived in
Poetry
a state of poetic fervour. Songs, lyrics & sonnets were produced in plenty, & England
became nest of the singing birds. In versification, there was a marked improvement.
Melody & Pictorialism were introduced in poetry by Spenser.
7. Prose and Novel

For the first time, prose rose to the position of first rate importance.
“Even the development of poetical drama between 1579 A.D. -1629 A.D., is hardly more
extraordinary than the sudden expansion of English prose & its adaptation to every kind of
literary requirement.” The dead weight of the Latin & English prose acquired a tradition &
universal application. English Novel made its first proper appearance during this age
 Works of Literature in the Elizabethan
Period and Its Characters
1. Prose (Prose Fiction)
In the early period, Prose Fiction was a type of work that emerged in modern times. The first work, “Novella”,
was translated from Italian writers. While other works are still simple and only about history, then they
complement the work with Elizabethan plays including some of Shakespeare's works. The most important work
of 1556 was the Painter's Palace of Pleasure. It can be concluded that prose in this era has undergone changes. In
terms of the use of simple language and sentences to the use of different characters from before.

• Famous prose figures of the Elizabethan period

1) John Lyly

The first work that was made was English Prose Fiction which contained morals and attitudes in the form of stories. In
1578, John Lyly at the age of 25 came from Oxford to London to study about the Renaissance and he began to focus on
defining himself as someone who was new to studying literature or someone who was already an expert in the field of
literature. He has had success since publishing books entitled Euphues The Anatomy of Wit (1579) and Euphues and
His England (1580). 'Euphues' itself has the meaning of 'the well-bred man' (a man of good character) which discusses
morals in the aspects of love, religion, attitude. Euphues The Anatomy tells the story of a love triangle, namely two
friends who love the same girl.
 2) Thomas Nashe (1567-1600)

He is a journalist as well as an expert in satirical writing. Some of his works satirize many high-ranking or church
authorities, scandals committed by elite society. His famous works are The Unfortunate Traveler, The Life of Jack
Wilton.

3) Sir Philip Sydney (1554-1586)

He was born into a wealthy family in a town in England. He studied at Schrewbury School and went on to Oxford
University. His most famous work is The Arcadia (1590). Arcadia is in the form of a pastoral romance which is a
collection of songs and sonnets addressed to Lady Penelope Devereux and Lady Rich. There are several followers of
Sydney, namely Robert Greene and Thomas Lodge. Lodge's Rosalynde' was also heavily influenced by Lyly.

2. Elizabethan Lyric Poetry

1.) Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)

Edmund Spencer, he was born in London in 1552. He is known as an idealist, critical and dynamic. Spenser was an
influential figure in the Elizabethan period and became one of the main figures in English poetry. As early as 1579,
Spenser published a collection of his poems which marked the beginning of the Elizabethan period. The collection of
poems is called 'The Shepherd's Calendar'. This is a series of stories about the priest (Spenser called it the classic name,
the eclogue. This collection of poems contains a story about the priest, with various topics in it such as praise for Queen
Elizabeth, religious debates, romance, and others.
 2) Thomas Sackville (1536-1608)

Famous for his work entitled The Mirror of Magistrates, which describes the life of the rulers of that era.
Several other famous poets, Earl of Essex (a poet from the kingdom) with his work entitled To Plead My Faith. Next Sir
Walter Raleigh with a work that is intended directly for Queen Elizabeth, entitled To Queen Elizabeth. And what is
surprising is the work of Queen Elizabeth herself, entitled When I was Fair and Young. This poem tells the story of
Queen Elizabeth's life when she was young full of fear of her world.

3. The Sonnet

The beginning of the sonata dates back to the 13th century in Italy. In the 14th century in Pettrach brought by Laura
(Conzoniere), he proved that the sonnet was the first form of poetry about fidelity to a woman that was usually
unattainable, usually 14 lines. In early 16, sonnets were brought to England by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard
Earl of Surrey, they adapted the sonnets into English.

4. The Influenced of Classical Comedy and Tragedy

The progress of comedy in this period was influenced by classical literature. The first British comedian was Ralph
Roister Doister. The first famous tragedy in classical times was Gorboduc or Forrex or Porrey by Thomas Norton and
Thomas Sackville.
5. The Chronical-history Play

The chronical-history play contains about the main events in part or all of Elizabeth's reign and as a result of the desire of
the British public to know the history of the British state. The drama method is almost the same as university drama
which is also related to the king of classical history.

6. Drama (An Elizabethan Stage)

Drama was a literary work that flourished during this period and was written in London. Where drama not only teaches
religion and morals but also shows human life. In the middle of Elizabeth's reign, there was no place for theatrical
performances. If you want to stage a drama, the players first look for an available place. For example, open space, hall,
quadrangle, the globe. On the inside of this building there is a stage that faces directly towards the audience. In addition,
there is also a tiring house. There are four levels of venues for spectators who come to the globe. The top level is the seat
for kings, queens and nobles. The second tier from the top is a seat for people who are in the upper middle class, such as
businessmen and wealthy ordinary citizens. The next level, for lowly officers and farmers who are in the middle class.
And the last level is called the standing room only, this space is intended for working class people, they watch drama
performances directly facing the stage while standing.
Famous playwrights are:
1) Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)

He is the son of a shoemaker. Born a few months before Shakespeare in Canterbury. He was educated at The Town
Grammar School and at Cambridge University. Marlowe's life was free and wild like other poets, due to his freedom he
got into a fight in a nightclub which resulted in his death. Some of Marlowe's works are placed in important positions in
the history of English literature, such as The Tragic History of dr. Faustus tells the story of the ambition of a doctor who
wants to dominate science around the world, until he gives himself up to sell his life to the devil. Next up was
Tamburlaine, who inspired England to rule the world.

2) William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

He was the greatest poet and playwright in England. And also great poets throughout the masses whose work is still
appreciated today. Some examples of his works are Romeo and Juliet, The Comedy of Error, A midsummer Nights
Dream, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, and others. Shakespeare's career as a playwright is divided into four periods, namely, the
experimental period (1588-1596), this period is characterized by the characteristics of his youth or youth. The period of
development (1596-1602), the period in which Shakespeare has shown accuracy and knowledge of human nature. The
period of depression (1602-1608), at this time, Shakespeare showed maturity of the soul and the peak of artistic
development. And the last is the period of calm (1608-1613), in this period is the end of Shakespeare's productive period.
 04.
The
Elizabethan
Quintessential
The quintessential Elizabethan is perhaps Spenser,
who in his great unfinished romantic epic, The
Faeric Queene, drew together all the elements
available to the imagination of an educated
Englishman of the periode.