Renaissance & Elizabethan Age (1500–1660)
Overview:
The Renaissance was a time of rebirth in art, learning, and culture that began in Italy and spread
across Europe. In England, it reached its peak during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603).
Writers began exploring humanism, beauty, individualism, and new forms of artistic expression. 1.
The Renaissance Spirit:
• Revival of classical Greek and Roman literature.
• Growth of humanism — focus on human experience, reason, and creativity.
• Expansion of science, exploration, and printing technology.
• Shift from religious themes to worldly subjects in literature.
2. The Elizabethan Age (1558–1603):
This period is called the “Golden Age of English Literature.” Under Elizabeth I’s stable rule, art and
drama flourished. Writers had royal support, and English became the national language of
expression. Main Features:
• Development of the English drama and theatre.
• Rich and musical language full of imagery and emotion.
• Rise of sonnets, lyrical poetry, and blank verse.
• Spirit of adventure and nationalism inspired by voyages and discoveries.
3. Major Prose Writers:
• Sir Thomas More – wrote Utopia (1516), describing an ideal society.
• Francis Bacon – founder of modern scientific thought; wrote Essays and The Advancement of
Learning.
• Richard Hakluyt – collected travel writings, encouraging exploration.
4. Major Poets:
• Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard (Earl of Surrey) – introduced the sonnet form into English.
• Edmund Spenser – called the “Poet’s Poet.” His The Faerie Queene (1590) glorifies virtue and the
Elizabethan court.
• Sir Philip Sidney – Astrophel and Stella (sonnet sequence), Defence of Poesy (critical work).
5. Elizabethan Drama:
Drama became the most popular form of art in this age. Public theatres were built, and acting
became a profession. Major Dramatists:
• William Shakespeare – the greatest English writer; wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets. His plays are
divided into:
- Tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear
- Comedies: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night
- Histories: Henry IV, Richard III
• Christopher Marlowe – known for his powerful blank verse; wrote Doctor Faustus, Tamburlaine,
The Jew of Malta.
• Ben Jonson – wrote satirical comedies like Volpone and The Alchemist.
• Thomas Kyd – wrote The Spanish Tragedy, the first revenge play.
6. Jacobean and Caroline Age (1603–1660):
After Elizabeth, James I and Charles I ruled. The tone of literature became darker and more
intellectual. Writers explored corruption, death, and moral decay. Major Writers:
• John Donne – leader of the Metaphysical poets; wrote The Flea, Death Be Not Proud.
• George Herbert – religious metaphysical poet.
• Francis Bacon – continued to influence prose and philosophy.
• John Webster – wrote dark tragedies like The Duchess of Malfi.
7. Literature of the Commonwealth (1649–1660):
During Puritan rule under Oliver Cromwell, theatres were closed, and literature focused on religion
and politics. Important Writer:
• John Milton – wrote Areopagitica (a defense of freedom of speech) and the great epic Paradise
Lost (published later in 1667).
Conclusion:
The Renaissance and Elizabethan age gave English literature a new identity. Writers celebrated
human life, creativity, and the English spirit. Shakespeare and his contemporaries transformed
English into a rich and expressive literary language, laying the foundation for modern literature.
