PREP SOLUTIONS Module IV Unit I Drama [ Renaissance (Elizabethan Drama)]

 PREP SOLUTION Module IV -

 Unit I Drama

Topic: Renaissance Drama 

Development of British Drama

Ancient Drama

 Primitive drama - 6000 BCE - 2000 BCE

 Greek Classical Drama - 500 BC - 300 BC

 Roman Classical Drama - 100 BCE - 300 BCE

Medieval Drama

Liturgical Drama - 10th - 11th century

 Mystery Plays - 12th century

 Miracle Plays - 13th century

 Morality Plays - 15th century

Medieval Drama ended with the violation of Feudalism by peasants and laymen. Feudalism is a monopoly authoritative activity practised in the medieval age. This stands the king governed all the lands of people and authorized overall property especially land by flexibly use to his favour. Due to the frequent propagation of dramas, people became more interested in learning the classical language and ideas from Greek and other sources of languages. Guilds of medieval age were introduced who were responsible for the dramas played throughout the country. Guilds were tradesmen or commercial representatives of England. Later which theatres became more and more commercialized. Professional performers of drama were given much interest than budding actors.

 Reasons for commercialization of theatres: 

· Dramas became so vernacular in terms of using laymen’s language (The English) just by overthrowing Latin, the official language of Rome.

· More people interested in watching dramas.

· Due to the atrocities of heavy taxation on laymen by the clergies, people became outburst with revolutionary ideas by protest against nobles and kings.

· People became so reasonable, thoughtful and pragmatic. So longing to move something fresh that they never taste before.

Early Modern Drama

Renaissance Drama 15th to 16th century

Renaissance Theatrical Atmosphere

Before the scenes of 'Renaissance', everything was about classical and medieval times were people completely monotonous, less exploring, dependent and less self-motivated in terms of academic and intellectual advancements. 

Somewhere around 10th to 15th centuries of medieval age called Dark Ages.

    The earliest historical accounts of Greek and the Roman invasion of England caused many changes till medieval (middle) ages. 

     Constantinople, the hub of ancient Christian culture and capital of the eastern Roman empire was captured by Turks in the year 1453. Due to the harsh treatments of Turks, Greek and Latin literary and artistic exponents moved from Constantinople. Later they took shelter in many European countries like Italy, France, Germany and others.

    Therefore, naturally Greek and Latin scholars carried classics wherever they took shelter. This paved way to combined learning by promoting various other innovative ideas of the fusion of various other languages.

     Renaissance is the cultural movement started in Florence, a city of Italy. Gradually it spreads all over Europe. 

     Greek and Latin scholars were subjected to learn Arabic and other languages just for getting knowledge of scientific development.

Renaissance, the earliest Modern route to the world:

Just because of these many controversial migrations by invasions. Greek and Latin scholars were known for the worldwide reach.

Though it is said that the Renaissance started its new uplifting thoughts initially on the art of painting and sculptures, many scientific, literary, societal and religious development uprooted from this phase.

Greek & Italian Influence:

Many notable painters like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michael Angelo, Raphael and Titan are the by-products of Renaissance.

Many people from non-Greek and Latin roots started reading the classical Greek and Latin literature.

A Greek scholar named Manuel Chrysolaras from Constantinople started a Greek school at Florance who also translated the works of Homer and Plato's works into Latin. This was one of the reasons that classical literature of Greek and Latin getting the Sun and Moon to the world.

However, the following works of five Italian and Greek writers such as Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio, Homer & Virgil attaining the world level reach. 

Dante – ‘The Divine Comedy’

Boccaccio –‘Decameron’

Petrarch – ‘Sonnets’

Homer - 'Illiad and Odysessy'

Virgil - 'Aeneid'

And these works were influenced by 

Geoffrey Chaucer from 'Decameron'

William Shakespeare from 'Petrarchan Sonnets'

Milton - 'Homer and Virgil's works'

Niccolo Machiavelli:

Meanwhile, another Italian scholar named Niccolo Machiavelli was known for his popularized concept of angling the kings in different dimensions from the king adopting inhuman and unethical practices to establish himself. 

These new and reformed characterizations of Machiavelli was influenced by William Shakespeare. Authoritative characterization of Shakespeare's characters is the direct influence of this Machiavellian Philosophy.

Outcomes of Renaissance:

Renaissance spirit started in Italy, then spread all over Europe through France, Spain and England. Though England was subjected as late by Renaissance spirit made the remarkable changes in political, economical, societal, literary and scientific development.

Many English scholars moved to Italy to learn the classics of Greek and Latin. The revolutionary changes happened in printing which replaced the manuscripts. Many Greek, Latin classics available in print form which minimize the effort to search reference for too while for the writers. In Germany, John Gutenburg introduced printing in 1454. Same way, somewhere in England William Caxton started a printing press in1476.

William Caxton's Printing Press

By the upbringing of Mystery and Morality plays, Renaissance started walking its own path. However, Mystery and Morality plays of Catholic interest whereas Renaissance plays were for sheer Entertainment. Playwrights such as Shakespeare and Marlowe were intent, to sum up, their plays in theme-based conclusion.  

Renaissance also paved the way for Elizabethan age. Tudor dynasty was in their full force. King Henry, Mary Tudor and Queen Elizabethan were the notable replacement of the king and queenship in England. Expressing to greater extend Queen Elizabeth ascended her throne in 1558 and which lasts up to the year 1603. These years are considered as the age of the nest of singing birds for writers. Literary genres of maximum genres like poetry, satire, drama were flourished in this period. Queen Elizabeth gave full freedom to the budding writers of this era. The Best playwrights got rewarded by Queen Elizabeth.

Features of Renaissance Drama

            Unlike Medieval age, Renaissance drama was a door to all people. People of any classes from clergy to laymen were welcoming to watch and get fulfilled by the dramas played by the professional actors of Renaissance. Whereas Medieval plays were played and performed only by clergy and guilds of that time (Tradesmen). Ultimately this age completely off the traditional pattern of drama rather it was welcoming every man in the society starting from statesman to popper. 

            Renaissance also witnessed the growth of Tudor Monarchs most particular in order such as

        * Henry VII

        * Henry VIII

        * Mary Tudor

        * Queen Elizabeth.

            

            The general nature of Tudor Monarchs especially had their artistic sense in terms of welcoming artistic talents all over the country from their citizens. The period between 1558 to 1603 comprised the "Golden age of English Literature". The reign of Queen Elizabeth promised the extraordinary flow of writers success most notably, the dramatists. This age is also called "the nest of singing birds". Writers who always at the Queen's blessings and financial help were Shakespeare, Spenser and Sidney. 

Queen Elizabeth's Court - Amidst at literary scholars

              Elizabethan Drama:

           Two factors determined the reason for the flamboyant state of Elizabethan age. 

           1. Credits to Caxton's Printing Press

           2. Upheaval of the Tudor Dynasty

            William Caxton's Printing Press:

            

            William Caxton was the first merchant who started a printing press in England at Westminister Cathedral in 1476. Over 15 years he produced 100 books in print. By the invention of this printing press, William Caxton elaborated the frequent use of books including the classical books of Greek and Latin and also the Medieval English Collections. This made it easy for the Renaissance writers including the Elizabethan writers to refer to more classical texts from the bygone days. 

            Influence in Drama:

            Availability of Greek, Roman classics texts by Caxton's Printing was the doorstep to many writers such as William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Webster and so on. The classical reference of them are,

                    

                   * Holinshed's Chronicles (Roman Classic)

                   * Plutarch "Lives" (Roman Classic)

                   * Machiavellian "The Prince" (Italian Classic)

                   * Works of Seneca and Euripides (Roman and Greek)

                Shakespeare derived influence for his tragic plays are completely Roman influence. Because Roman classics are tragically and horrible narrations in nature. So Shakespeare's indeed tragic and supernatural narratives are having influential materials from Roman Background.

                Eg: Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus

                Troilus and Cressida - has Greek characters 

                Eg: Cressida, Cressandra, Agamomnon, Nectar, Achilles ...

               Shakespeare's villains were the influence of Machiavellian "The Prince". 

                Eg: Octavius Caesar, Iago

              Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Merchant of Venice" had Italian Influence.                

         Christopher Marlowe who was nearly a contemporary to Shakespeare. His "Tamburlaine" and "Doctor Faustus" has Renaissance spirit (Lust for power)

Elizabethan Theatre

Globe Theatre - England

3 Different stages of Elizabethan age

In order to simplify the entire concept of Elizabethan age, this insight may further be identified in three stages,

   *Pre-Shakespearean age
   *Shakespearean age 
   *Post-Shakespearean age

Pre-Shakespearean age welcomes the list of University wits. Just recap the history, before the years of Shakespeare due to the commercialization of England with Europe caused many foreign currencies to get into England. History mentions that King Henry VII also made the Wool export to other countries. This made England got the change to establish many educational institutions like Cambridge, Oxford. Many foreign scholars came and educate themselves in such universities. England scholars those who got education from Oxford and Cambridge called "The University Wits". Before the days of Shakespeare, they commercialized the play in their own narration. They are seven in number, everyone is responsible for introducing "Romantic Comedy" in English Literature.

    * John Lyly

    * Thomas Kyd

    * George Peele

    * Robert Greene

    * Thomas Nash

    * Thomas Lodge

    * Christopher Marlowe

Shakespearean Age:

William Shakespeare a never-ending topic who is influential all over the world. The time comprises between 1564-1616. Throughout these number of years, he produced 38 Plays (Some counts as 39) which are officially recorded by one of the Shakespearean scholars named E.K.Chamber in his chronology in 1930. Shakespeare's works are under four phases according to the nature and style of narration.  Especially when it comes to the chronological order of Shakespeare's plays there will be a space for confusion and ambiguity. The common sketch of chronology as follows,

* Early Plays

            

            -The Comedy of Errors

            -King John

            -Henry VI Part I, II & III

            -Love's Labour's Lost

            -Richard II & III

            -Romeo and Juliet

            -The Taming of the Shrew

            -Titus Andronicus

            -The Two Gentleman of Verona

            -The Merchant of Venice

* Developmental Stage Plays

            -All's Well That End's Well

            -As You Like It

            -Hamlet

            -Henry IV Part I & II

            -Henry V

            -Julius Caesar

            -Measure for Measure

            -Twelfth Night

            -Much Ado About Nothing

            -Othello

            -Troilus and Cressida

            -The Merry Wives of Windsor

        

* Matured Plays

            -King Lear

            -Macbeth

            -Antony and Cleopatra

            -Coriolanus

            -Times of Athens

         

* Final Plays

            -Cymbeline

            -Henry VIII

            -Pericles

            -The Tempest

            -The Winter's Tale

And his 154 Sonnets are complete of classical ideas but with a deviated pattern of arrangement. Though Wyatt and Surrey popularized the sonnet form from Petrarch by using his Petrarchan sonnet form (OCTET - SESTET RULE) Shakespeare made use of it with his own style (THREE QUATRAINE & A COUPLET). This details will deeply be discussed in POETRY MODULE.

Other Shakespeare's Contemporaries for deep study:

-Ben Jonson

-John Marston

-John Fletcher

-George Chapman

-Christoper Marlow 

-Thomas Kyd

Post-Shakespearean Drama:

This section completely for Poetry where Metaphysical Poets and their poetry at its top-notch. Metaphysical nature of writing poetry constituent its time at the end of Elizabethan age and the beginning of Jacobean age. So there is no place for Metaphysical school of Drama here. The reign of James I (1603-1625) was the fullfledged Jacobean period. 

With is we wind up by concluding the Renaissance drama. The next will continue further by initiating Jacobean Drama to contemporary. And comment on your suggestions and topic of discussions below...

Thank You

Best Regards,

PREP SOLUTIONS

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