Elizabethan Age - Thinking activity

Comparison of Elizabethan age with

Other Ages

The elizabethan period was the age of "Renaissance" or revival of new ideas and new thinking.The introduction of "Gutenberg's printing press"(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printing_press) played a very vital role in increasing knowledge and learning.

This is the era of peace and prosperity and time of progress, that's why the age is known as "The Golden period" in the history of England or in English literature.

Puritan Age vs Elizabethan Age

Puritan age marked with a high religious interest. During the Elizabethan age the prime interest of kings or Queens to work for the welfare of society or nation. While in Puritan age kings were the open enemies of the people. The country divided religiously in Roman Catholic and Protestant and politically Whig and Tory. 

By the end of the century Elizabeth's England began to decline. Religious tolerance and enthusiasm replaced by dissatisfaction and disappointment. Elizabethan literature is full of youth, inspiration and vitality. We can see gloom even in pessimism. Literature is full of romance and springs from the heart of youth. Contradictory Puritan literature saddens rather than inspire and become critical and intellectual, it makes us think rather than feel deeply.

Restoration Age vs ElizabethanAge

The Elizabethan period is best in expression of feelings and thoughts. There mystery, miracle and morality plays which presents the characters of Saints and Gods while puritan portrayed coarse and evil characters and scenes. Restoration  writers replaced romance by realism; they follow head rather than heart. During Elizabethan age because of renaissance we can see Italian influence but during Restoration age France influence on writers because of King Charles 2 who is from France. They learned to repress the emotion. Restoration writers write in clear, concise, precise and formal style. They are interested to picturize the reality, the study of facts and man as they are. This is shown in the works of Dryden like...Hobbes and locke and Diaries of Evelyn and pepys.

Romantic Age vs Elizabethan Age

Romantic age is very similar to Elizabethan age. There were so many similarities and very hard to find differences. Romantic age marked with revolt against classicism known as The Romantic Revival or age of Enlightenment and also known as The Second creative period in the History of English literature. There was extreme simplicity and naturalness in its diction like Elizabethan poetry.Poetry is written from inner emotions.Wordsworth used to say…

   "Romantic poetry is  the Spontaneous overflow of Powerful Feeling."

There is one major difference we can find in this both ages is during Elizabethan age we didn't find any woman novelist while during Romantic era we have woman novelist like Ann Radcliffe and Jane Austen etc..Like Elizabethan era we can also see patriotic enthusiasm in Romantic poetry of Samuel Coleridge…

      ●The Kubla Khan

      ● The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Victorian Age vs Elizabethan Age

During the Elizabethan era it was only rich people who could afford books. Literature also centered to the Upper class people, while in the Victorian era growing power of the middle class and market for the middle class readers.

"The Novel in this age fills a place w

the Drama held in the day

of Elizabeth."

During the Elizabethan era it was only rich people who could afford books. Literature also centered to the Upper class people, while in the Victorian era growing power of the middle class and market for the middle class readers.

"The Novel in this age fills a place which the

Drama held in the day  

of Elizabeth."

• Novels dealt with very middle class concerns, income or status. Charles Dickens's novel dealt with working class issues of poverty.
• Victorian believed that literature had to "instruct" society. Writer's purpose to teach through stories. On the other hand Elizabethan drama or poetry presents a  pretty clear message. e.g. for ( all women should be married) There are two distinct examples of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare and Emma by Jane Austen.
• Victorians are far away from supernatural elements. Victorians arestrong believers that literature should be a clear reflection of the real world. Elizabethan literature is enriched with mystery, magic and fantasy. For Example Doctor Faustus by Chtistopher Marlowe. Dr. Faustus is a magician who plays such tricks with his newfound power.

Thomas Middleton

       

 ● Birth:1570/1580

   ● Death: 4th july 1627

   ● Birth place: London, United Kingdom

   ● Genre: English playwright

Early life and Education

Thomas Middleton was an English Jacobean playwright and poet. He stands with John Fletcher and Ben Jonson among the most successful and prolific of playwrights at work during the Jacobean period. He was among the few who got equal success in comedy and tragedy and prolific writer of masques and pageants.

Middleton attended Queen's College, Oxford in 1598, but he did not graduate. His early career was marked by controversy.

His book of satire was banned by anglican church and was burned.

During Early 17th century, Middleton also writing topical pamphlets including one -Penniless parliament of threadbare poets-

His friendship with Thomas Dekkar brought him into conflict with Ben Jonson and George Chapman in the War of theatre

His Notable Works

• The Changeling
• Women beware woman
• A Chaste Maid in Cheapside
• The Revenger's Tragedy
• The Roaring Girl

          

He started writing poetry at a very young age and published three volumes of his work during his teenage years. His plays are written in satirical tone mostly targeted on the Middle class ( visible in A chaste Maid in cheapside. There is also political satire like A Game at Chess. A Revenger's Tragedy and Women beware women are twisted love stories with themes of revenge. Both stories contain similar descriptions of violence.