Tamsa's Blog: July 2019

Historical context

QUEEN ELIZABETH is reign. 1558-1603 that era is a exploration of the new world, national spirit and patriotism, religion tolerance and intellectual progress. There was half century between 1625 and 1675 it was a Religion reform movement , tremendous social conflict, moral and political revolution, corrupted monarchy.

THE PURITAN ERA is a entire period covered by the effect of civil war. This movement regarded as a greater Renaissance, Rebirth of the moral nature of man and intellectual awakening. it is divided in to two parts THE AGE OF MILTON and THE PURITAN AGE. further more divided in to the JACOBEAN and CAROLINE periods after the name of the rulers JAMES 1 and CHARLES 1 who ruled 1603 to 1625 and 1625 to 1649.

Social context

This era was fully corrupted by high monarchy ,in the social context is devotion to the queen, two major religion ; CATHOLICISM AND PROTESTANTISM, the era of internal peace and the rapid increase of manufacturing gave employment, the increase of wealth, improvement in living, the opportunities for labor these all are factors which help to account for the new literary activity.

In the puritan time the religious clash between puritans and Anglicans become a social and political conflict. they are struggled for righteousness and liberty the reason pf their prevarication this age becomes the age of moral and political revolution. Puritan age had to perspectives personal religiousness and civil and religious liberty, it aimed at making people free and honest in the puritan age John Milton and Thomas cromwell fought for the religious liberties of people

RELIGION CONTEXT

religion tolerance is the most the two major religion in Elizabethan era, the priests and the services practiced in the religious of Elizabeth England.

England in the 1500's. The Great Reformation. New Ideas. New Beliefs. New Religions.
Queen Mary I (r.1553-1558), Elizabeth's sister, believed passionately in the Catholic religion and Protestants who were burned alive for their beliefs ( hence her nickname Bloody Mary)
Queen Elizabeth I (r.1558-1603) changed the system of Protestant religion and restored Protestantism as the official religion. She however, firmly believe that people should be allowed to practice the Catholic religion without fear of recrimination so long as it presented no threat to peace in the realm and her rule over England.(Wikipedia)
- There were, however, many Catholic plots against Queen Elizabeth I - many Catholics wanted to replace Elizabeth with her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. These plots eventually led to the execution of Mary Queen of Scots

Puritan religion

In the 1600’s, the Church of England was becoming increasingly corrupt, and when King Charles I ascended the throne, he started heading back towards Roman Catholicism. A protestant group called the Puritans would not have it, and moved to the new world in order to find religious freedom.

A protestant group called the Puritans would not have it, and moved to the new world in order to find religious freedom.

Literary context

Elizabethan literature is generally inspiring the throbs with youth hope and vitality. elizabethan England show remarkable processing of arts and literature Renaissance humanism protestant and scientific Discovery all contributed to creative power. "Drama" was the dominant genre in elizabethan age William Shakespeare was the most significant period of the age Shakespeare included a wild variety of comedies,tragicomedies , poetry and sonnets.

Elizabethan age also witnessed the establishment of the theatre in 1576 Elizabethan drama broke away from religious domination which was the major focus on mediaeval mystery and morality plays . elizabethan drama often used political matter in his drama performance and ddialodi. Apart from drama elizabethan age also show flowering of "Poetry" the "Sonnet the "spenserian stanza" and inspired a wild variety of splendid prose by writer of such is Francis bacon.

Literature of puritan age was characterized by the spirit of somberness and pensiveness. Keeping with the religious ideas and romantic poetry. according to" John Richard"

"Green a great moral change come over the people of. England England

become the. people of a book and the book. was the Bible"

The outbreak of the civil war it will close down under the influence of puritans the English Parliament issued and ordinance suppressing all stage plays in theatres. the strict religious views of the puritans spread in many social activities within England.

Author of Puritan literature was deeply religious and wrote in a such a way God make become easier everyone to understand and more relevant to in their day to day Life. Literature of Puritan
All literature direct and focus on the offering instruction frombiblical point of view
This literature firmly relied on religion rather than a entertainment theme. And a first person narrative.

Political context

In the age of Elizabeth The new passion for classical learning, in itself a rich and full of enthusiasm . The branches of literature Greek and literature usages began to force themselves upon English was not beneficial. The political structure of Elizabeth era was a " Monarchy" . Here is some most important political issues of Elizabeth Era.

The Queen's Safety
Glorification of Queen.
Religion
Matters of National tests
Welfare of the people
Miscellaneous laws

William Shakespeare and politics

Shakespeare was very aware of Dengours of politics , many his plays specially written , performed and dedicated for the Queen Elizabeth. Those plays are addressed to a Catholic religion's belief . Additionally we can say that Shakespeare was involved in chatolic religion .

Puritans were protestants they believed in “purifying” English Church. They feel stressed an individuals personal covenant with God, and with their community. Puritans also believed in predestination. This was the belief that God chose individuals who would be spared from hell before they were born, and that their actions in life would not change this final outcome.

The Puritans prefered a simple, plain form of religion, and used the Geneva Bible which did not have the exuberant wording of the" King James" Version. Lastly the Puritans had no tolerance for those with beliefs that differed from their own. People who did not keep to the Puritan creed could be hanged or exiled or hanged for heresy. These religious beliefs held all the people together in a strange new place. These religious practices also carried over to the Puritan political values.

Renaissance literature : Thinking activity

Ben Johnson (1573-1637)

Ben Johnson was born in 1573 in "West minister" and educated Westminster School his father died before Johnson's birth he was adopted boy Ben Johnson's become a soldier serving in the low countries from this Turner to acting in writing plays engaging himself both as actor and play writer.

At first he had little success . Johnson's numerous works comedies tragedies rescues and lyrics are of widely wearing married all of them as well his timber a kind of commonplace book. this book interest for its critical comments on literature show the University of aim in his writing.

His works divide conveniently into comedies and tragedies for Johnson's true to his classic models did not combine the two in his comedies am to return to controlled, satirical realistic comedy of the classical dramatist and the introduction of the place make it clear that the hope to the reform the drama on this linesis mean concern was with the drawing of character in his creations are important because they introduced the comedy of humours.

Comedies
"Every man in his humour " 1598
"Every man out of his homework" 1599
"The poetaster" 1601 they are full of vivacity and fun.

The historical tragedies

" sejanus his fall" 1603 and
"catiline his conspiracy " 1611

composed on classical models to liberated medically to be great tragedies. The lyrics of which appeared in underwoods reflect no deep surge of emotion, but are controlled, poised, urbane.

Minor poets

George Chapman.

1559 to 1634 .

He Was born at Hitchin. Followed by many more both comical and tragical. He died in London. His historical place dealing with nearly contemporary with his own time. History and solution of Huma has something of the pace of music of the original.

Historical plays

" the blind beggar of Alexandria" 1596.

" Bussy d' Ambois" 1604.

"Charles, Duke of Byron"1608

comedies

" all fools" 1605 "

"Eastward Hoe!" 1605

John Marston (c. 1575-1634)

He was born in conventry , educated in at Oxford university, he was a leterary figure in London and died in London too.

He was a member of senecan school, master of Melodramatic tragedies

1. Antonio and mellida (1599)

2. Antonio's Revenge (1602).

Thomas Dekker

(c. 1572 to 1632)

He Born in London, he was a playwriter by occupation. His plays chiefly comedies , he has a intimate knowledge of a comman men and their sentiments. His plot are chaotic, his Best plays are

1. Old fortunatus (1599)

2. The shoemaker's holiday (1599)

3. Satiromastix (1602)

Thomas Middleton

(c. 1570-1627) ,

He was born in London, he was the most equable dramatists of the age .he was a writer of the Fanciful turn. His most powerful plays are ,

1. The changeling (1624)

2. Women beware woman (1622)

3. The witch (1623)

Thomas Heywood

(c.1575- 1650) ,

he was born in Lincolnshire, aducated at Cambridge University, and becomes the author and dramatist in London. He wrote a two hundred and twenty plays of which twenty three survive.his best plays are

1. A woman killed with kindnesse (1603)

2. The Royal King and loyall subjects ( 1602)

3. The captives (1624)

4. King Edward The Fourth (1594-95)

John Webster

He was the greatest post-shakespearian dramatist. Webster have a deep and subtle analysis of character in his work, also including Horror eliments. He deals with a gloomy, supernatural themes, great crimes, turbulent emotions in a very artistic way. His famous tragedies are

1. The White devil (1609-12)

2. The duchess of malfi (1613-14)

3. The devil's law case (1623)