By all arguments, one of the greatest playwright of the world is William Shakespeare, who emerged from what is known as the Elizabethan Age. While we have read plenty of Shakespeare's works and researched his life, it is also crucial to understand the times he lived in - what were the social, political and economic conditions during the Elizabethan Age? Did they feature in literary works emerging from the time? Let's find out!
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By all arguments, one of the greatest playwright of the world is William Shakespeare, who emerged from what is known as the Elizabethan Age. While we have read plenty of Shakespeare's works and researched his life, it is also crucial to understand the times he lived in - what were the social, political and economic conditions during the Elizabethan Age? Did they feature in literary works emerging from the time? Let's find out!
Elizabethan Age: summary
The Elizabethan Age is named after the reigning monarch of England at the time, Queen Elizabeth I. The epoch began in 1558 when Queen Elizabeth I ascended the throne and ended with her death in 1603. Queen Elizabeth was a great patron of the arts, extending her patronage to remarkable artists and performers, thus leading to a surge in works of art produced. This is why the period is also referred to as the Golden Age, i.e., because of the flourishing of arts and artists during this time.
During the Elizabethan Age, England was experiencing the effects of the Renaissance, which began as a movement in Italy and then swept the rest of Europe in the 16th century.
The Renaissance, which means 'rebirth,' is seen as a reaction to Classicism. It inspired creators of the time to focus on the human condition and individualism, and also led to the pioneering of various forms of arts and literary styles, such as the development of the history play or the historical drama.
The Renaissance spurred artists to create great works of art and had a significant influence on the ideologies and products of painting, sculpture, music, theatre and literature. Figures representing the English Renaissance include Thomas Kyd, Francis Bacon, William Shakespeare and Edmund Spenser among others.
With the growing wealth and status of the English population as a result of the flourishing Golden Age and the English Renaissance, Queen Elizabeth I was regarded highly by her subjects. She also painted her public image as one devoted to England and its people, especially by calling herself 'The Virgin Queen,' who was married solely to England.
Characteristics of the Elizabethan Age
The Elizabethan Age is marked by numerous religious, social, political and economic shifts, some of which we will explore in the sections below.
The religious background of the Elizabethan Age
Queen Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church and separated the Church of England from Papal authority in 1534 to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon. This led to religious unrest in England. After King Henry VIII's reign, i.e., during Edward VI's and Mary I's succession, the religious unrest only increased. Queen Elizabeth I's religious tolerance led to a time of peace between religious factions. This is the reason people celebrate her reign.
The social background of the Elizabethan Age
The social aspects of life during the Elizabethan Age had their merits and demerits. While there were no famines, and harvest was bountiful during this period, people also lived in extreme poverty due to a wide wealth gap among the different social groups.
Families that could afford to, sent their sons to school, while daughters were either sent to work and earn money for the household or be trained to manage a household, do domestic chores and take care of children in the hopes of them marrying well.
The population of England increased. This increase led to inflation, as labour was available for cheap. Those who were able-bodied were expected to work and earn a living. Due to an increase in population, major cities, especially London, were overcrowded. This led to rat infestation, filthy environments and the rapid spread of diseases. There were multiple outbreaks of plague during the Elizabethan Age, during which outdoor gatherings were banned, including theatre performances.
The political background of the Elizabethan Age
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the Parliament was not yet strong enough to pit itself against Royal authority. This changed after the succession of James I of the crown. An elaborate spy network and a strong military foiled numerous assassination attempts on the Queen. Furthermore, Queen Elizabeth I's army and naval fleet also prevented the invasion of England by the Spanish Armada in 1588, thus establishing England's and consequently Queen Elizabeth I's supremacy in Europe. The period was also marked by political expansion and exploration. The trade of goods thrived, leading to a period of commercial progress.
Literature of the Elizabethan Age
Some of the most significant contributions to the English literary canon emerged from the Elizabethan Age. This section explores some of the popular playwrights and poets of the Elizabethan Age.
Writers and Poets of the Elizabethan Age
The most important playwrights and poets of the Elizabethan Age include William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe and Edmund Spenser.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was known as the 'Bard of Stratford' as he hailed from a place called Stratford-Upon-Avon in England. He is credited with having written 39 plays, 154 sonnets and other literary works. A prolific writer, much of the vocabulary we use today in our everyday lives was coined by William Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare often performed a supporting character in the theatrical iterations of the plays he wrote. He was a part-owner of a theatre company that came to be known as the King's Men as it received great favour and patronage from King James I. Even during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Shakespeare received patronage from the monarch and often performed for her.
Because of the universal themes that characterise his works, such as jealousy, ambition, power struggle, love etc., William Shakespeare's plays continue to be widely read and analysed today. Some of his most famous plays include Hamlet (c. 1599-1601), Othello (1603), Macbeth (1606), As You Like It (1599) and Romeo and Juliet (c. 1595).
Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson had a significant influence on English theatre and poetry. His work popularised the genre of comedy of humours, such as Every Man in His Humour (1598).
Comedy of humours typically focuses on one or more characters, particularly highlighting their 'humours' or shifts in temperaments.
Jonson is identified by some as the first poet Laureate as he received patronage from aristocrats as well as a yearly pension. Ben Jonson's work was influenced by his social, cultural and political engagements. Jonson was well acquainted with Shakespeare and the latter's theatre company often produced Jonson's plays. While during his lifetime, Jonson was often critical of Shakespeare's works, he also credited Shakespeare as a genius in the preface to the First Folio.
The First Folio is the first consolidated publication of Shakespeare's plays. It was published by John Heminges and Henry Condell.
Some works authored by Ben Jonson include The Alchemist (1610), Volpone, or The Fox (c. 1606) and Mortimer His Fall (1641).
Christopher Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe was a contemporary of Jonson and Shakespeare and a prolific poet and playwright. He is best known for his translation of Goethe's tale of Dr. Faust, which Marlowe titled The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus (c. 1592).
Marlowe employed the blank verse to compose his works, popularising the form in the Elizabethan Age. His works include Tamburlaine the Great (c. 1587), The Jew of Malta (c. 1589) and Dido, Queen of Carthage (c. 1585). Marlowe's untimely death at the age of 29 is a matter of debate among scholars, some of whom think that Marlowe was killed by a spy in the Privy Council.
An iambis a metrical foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. When an iamb is repeated five times, it is said to be a line written in the iambic pentameter.
Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser is most famous for his epic poem The Fearie Queene (c. 1590), which includes pastoral themes and whose titular character is inspired by Queen Elizabeth I. The poem celebrates the Tudor dynasty and was widely read at the time of publication, and continues to be an important part of the English literary canon emerging from the period.
Edmund Spenser is also the pioneer of the Spenserian stanza and the Spenserian sonnet, both of which are named after him.
The Spenserian stanza is composed of lines written in the iambic pentameter with the final line of the stanza written in the iambic hexameter (the iambic foot occurring 6 times). The rhyme scheme of the Spensarian stanza is ababbcbcc. The poem The Faerie Queene is written in Spensarian stanzas.
The Spenserian sonnet is 14 lines long, wherein the final line of each quatrain is linked to the first line of the quatrain. A quatrain is a stanza composed of 4 lines. The rhyme scheme of a Spensarian sonnet is ababbcbccdcdee.
The Elizabethan Age today
The effects of the Elizabethan Age can be felt in contemporary works of literature. This is because of the many literary forms, devices and genres that were developed during the time and remained popular through the centuries. Literary works emerging from the Elizabethan Age are widely read and studied till the present day, particularly those of William Shakespeare.
Elizabethan Age - Key takeaways
The Elizabethan Age is named after the reigning monarch of England, Queen Elizabeth I.
The Elizabethan Age lasted from 1558 to 1603.
The Elizabethan Age is also known as the Golden Age as works of art flourished during this period.
The popular writers and poets of the Elizabethan Age include William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe and Edmund Spenser.
Works emerging from the Elizabethan Age are read and studied to this day.
Frequently Asked Questions about Elizabethan Age
Queen Elizabeth was a great patron of the arts, extending her patronage to remarkable artists and performers, thus leading to a surge in works of art produced. This is why the period is also referred to as the Golden Age.
The Elizabethan Age is named after the reigning monarch of England at the time, Queen Elizabeth I. The epoch began in 1558 when Queen Elizabeth I ascended the throne and ended with her death in 1603.
During the Elizabethan Age, England was experiencing the effects of the Renaissance, which began as a movement in Italy and then swept the rest of Europe in the 16th century.
The Renaissance spurred artists to create great works of art and had a significant influence on the ideologies and products of painting, sculpture, music, theatre and literature. Figures representing the English Renaissance include Thomas Kyd, Francis Bacon, William Shakespeare and Edmund Spenser among others.
The Elizabethan Age lasted from 1558 to 1603.
The Elizabethan Age is marked by numerous religious, social, political and economic shifts. Queen Elizabeth I's religious tolerance led to a time of peace between religious factions. Families sent sons to schools while daughters were educated in domestic responsibilities. During bouts of plague, outdoor gatherings were not permitted. Queen Elizabeth I's military and navy managed to consolidate her power and prevent the Spanish invasion by defeating the Spanish Armada.
The effects of the Elizabethan Age can be felt in contemporary works of literature. This is because of the many literary forms, devices and genres that were developed during the time and remained popular through the centuries. Literary works emerging from the Elizabethan Age are widely read and studied to the present day.
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