3.

The Renaissance Period (1500–1660)

‘The Age of Chaucer was followed by The Renaissance Period also known as the
Elizabethan Period or the Age of Shakespeare in the history of English literature.

It is, in fact, the ‘golden age’ in the history of English literature. After the Middle Ages in
Europe came the Renaissance, meaning revival or rebirth. As a result, the darkness of the
middle ages was replaced by the enlightenment of the human mind with the ‘Revival of
Learning’, which the Renaissance prompted.

The major characteristic of the Renaissance was its focus on Humanism i.e. man’s concern
with himself as an object of observation. The Renaissance actually started Italy by Dante,
Boccaccio, and Petrarch. However, it became popular in Europe during the Elizabethan
Period. Beside focusing on the ‘study of mankind’, Renaissance had numerous subordinate
trends which were actually the significant aspects of Humanism. These include:

• The rediscovery of classical antiquity, particularly of ancient Greece.

• The rediscovery of the external universe, and its importance for man.
• The problems of human personality.
• The enhanced sensitivity to formal beauty, and the cultivation of the aesthetic sense.
• The belief that men are responsible for their own actions.

Instead of looking up to some higher authority for guidance, as was done in The Middle
Ages, the writers of the Renaissance Period found guidance from within.

Poets of Renaissance period

(i) Philip Sidney

Philip Sidney is one of the most important poets in English Renaissance literature. His poetry
is what is constituted as “good” poetry. His work was not only hugely influential, but it also
helped to shape what would become a new form of poetry in England during this period.
Philip Sidney is one of the most underrated poets of the English Renaissance.

He wrote poems such as Astrophil and Stella and The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia that
influenced poets in England during this era. Philip is also widely considered a very
underrated poet because while his work may have been hugely influential,

So while Philip wrote some beautiful poems about love and politics (his subjects tended to
focus on these areas), they never achieved much popularity.

(ii) Edmund Spenser

It was in 1590 when Edmund Spenser released The Faerie Queene, an epic poem that would
go on to have a profound impact on all of English literature.

The Faerie Queene influenced society so much that he became one of the first poets to be
published as an individual rather than just being included in anthologies compiled by other
writers; his work was also heavily studied throughout Europe for its allegorical significance.
It has been argued that Spenser “was not just a poet but also the founding father” of English
literature.

The Faerie Queene is one of the most influential works ever written in England, and it has
had a massive impact on all subsequent writers who have used allegory to explore moral or
political questions. This poem helped cement poetry’s role as an essential vehicle for
intellectual exploration in Britain, and its influence can still be seen today across many
writing genres.

The Faerie Queene, published during the Renaissance period, bridged medieval society with
early modernity; this publication would shape literary tradition within British culture and
abroad. Edmund Spenser would have a tremendous influence on many other writers; this
includes John Milton, William Wordsworth and Alfred Tennyson.

The poem helped to popularise allegorical narrative, which is regarded as one of the most
effective literature methods for exploring moral questions or political issues.

(iii) John Milton

John Milton’s poetry has had a tremendous impact on the English Renaissance era. His
contributions to England include “Paradise Lost” and “Paradise Regained”.

These two poems are considered one of the most critical works in English literature because
they were both published when there was much debate about religion. The religious argument
was deciding whether people could be saved from eternal damnation through faith alone
(without good deeds).

Milton’s writings show that he advocates for morals and virtues, which are learned by living
life with integrity. He believed that people could only have peace of mind if they live their
lives according to God’s plan rather than their desires.

His poetry impacted the English Renaissance era in many ways, but most notably by
influencing other poets, such as John Dryden and Samuel Johnson, to follow his poetic style.

Milton’s poems were also influenced by other literary works, including Homer’s Odyssey
and Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. In this way, he helped to shape what would become a
popular form of literature at that time – the epic poem.

(iv) William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is most well-known for his work as a playwright, but he was also an
accomplished poet. Many of his plays were originally written as poems and then later
translated into prose. His poetry has profoundly impacted the English language during the
Renaissance era and beyond, changing how people speak and how they think about and
express themselves.

These poems have had an enormous impact on both literature and historical events during the
time because they were so provocative; it was common for them to be printed first before
being translated into prose or acted out by actors during this time which meant that much like
today these pieces could quickly go viral within hours.

His poems and plays have been translated into almost every language worldwide, and his
work has impacted theatre, poetry, and literature for centuries. We’ve already covered the life
and times of William Shakespeare, and you can read more about his extraordinary
journey here.

(v) John Donne

In the English Renaissance era, John Donne’s poetry was a vital source of inspiration for his
contemporaries and those to come after him. Perhaps this is because he wrote about topics
that were important in his time. One such topic is religion (specifically his experience with
Catholism). He chose Death as his theme in many of the poems

The Canonization, Death Be Not Proud are the most famous poem of John Donne with its
opening lines especially being extremely popular. Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill
me.

Donne’s writings were felt to be a vital source of inspiration for his contemporaries in the
English Renaissance era and those to come after him. This is likely because John Donne
wrote about essential topics during this time – one such topic was religion (specifically his
experience with Catholicism). Some of his religious poems are often used in sermons today.

(vi) Thomas Wyatt

In the English Renaissance era, Thomas Wyatt’s poetry was vastly influential in shaping
England’s national identity. His poems and translations were at the forefront of literary
development during that period. They served as a form of protest against the strictures
imposed by King Henry VIII upon his subjects.

He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare, who also impacted this period with his
plays and sonnets. Wyatt also wrote a poem called “In your absence”, one of the most well
known allegorical poems in English literature. We still celebrate him for pioneering literary
devices, imagery, and other poetic aspects

Thomas Wyatt’s influence on this period makes him a key author to study and read today..
The impact he has made on shaping England’s national identity remains relevant today with
how it continues to inspire writers nearly 500 years later.

(vii) Christopher Marlowe

Christopher Marlowe was an English poet, playwright, and translator of the Elizabethan era.
As one of the most celebrated writers of his time, he probably helped spread Renaissance
ideas more than any other writer. His work is often compared to poetry by John Donne and
William Shakespeare.

Marlowe’s poetry impacted English Renaissance literature by introducing a revolutionary

tone into his work that makes his poems more interesting than anything else being written at
the time. One example would be how he mocked religion with his play “The Jew of
Malta.” His words are raw and emotional as if they were pulled straight out of him. The
themes in his poems are often dark and deal with death or other subjects that were not
typically seen in poetry before he came along.

(viii) Walter Raleigh

Walter Raleigh was a poet, explorer, and courtier who is most well known for his sonnet
sequence “The Ocean to Cynthia”. He had many different styles of poems, including sonnets
and odes about love and politics that were often satirical or mocking in tone.

Raleigh’s work reflects the new interests of his contemporaries like courtly love and political
satire, which can be seen through his works such as “A Letter to His Son”, where he talks
about how great it would be if England becomes a republic again. He wrote what is arguably
the most important poem of the Elizabethan era, “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd”,
which has been called one of England’s greatest love poems. Raleigh’s work is still read
today because of its timeless quality. He wrote poems about love, nature, and political views
that were later published into books called “The Passionate Man’s Pilgrimage” and “The
Nymph’s Reply.” His work influenced many poets during this time, such as William
Shakespeare.

3.1. Elizabethan Drama

During the Renaissance Period the most important achievement in English literature was in
the field of drama. The dramatists of this golden period include William Shakespeare,
Christopher Marlowe, Ben Johnson, Lyly, George Peele, Thomas Kyd, Robert Greene and
others. All these writers produced prolific works. However, the greatest among all
Elizabethan dramatists was Shakespeare in whose hands the Elizabethan drama reached its
climax. He took English drama to the level which could not be surpassed till today.

Who is the Father of English Drama? William Shakespeare is called the ‘Father of English
Drama.’

The main characteristics of the Elizabethan drama include–revenge themes, internal conflicts,
good versus evil, melodramatic scenes, hero-villain protagonists, tragic-comedy, presence of
supernatural beings such as ghosts and witches and the use of blank verse. Here are some
famous dramatists of the Elizabethan Period:

3.1.1. Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)

There was a famous group of dramatists in the Elizabethan Period known as ‘University
Wits’. It was actually a professional set of literary men. Of all the members of this group
Marlowe was the greatest, while other dramatists such as Lyly, Peele, Greene, Lodge, and
Nash were minor artists.

Nevertheless, Marlowe’s contributions to the Elizabethan drama were remarkable. Although

his plays were different from Shakespeare’s in content and style, yet he raised the subject-
matter of drama to a higher level. It was Marlowe who gave beauty, dignity, and poetic glow
to the drama. There is no doubt that he did the groundwork on which Shakespeare built the
grand edifice. Therefore, Marlowe has been rightly called “the Father of English Dramatic
Poetry.”

Christopher Marlowe is also known as the ‘Child of Renaissance’

Marlowe’s first play Tamburlaine appeared in 1587 and took the public on a storm due to its
impetuous force, sensitivity to beauty, and splendid command of blank verse. His other
famous work, however, include The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus which tells the story
of a scholar who sells his soul to the devil for unlimited power and worldly enjoyment. The
third famous tragic play of Marlowe is The Jew of Malta. Though it has a glorious opening, it
is not as fine as Doctor Faustus. Marlowe’s last play is Edward II which is best from
technical point of view but lacks the rhythmic beauty as well as grandeur of his earlier plays.

3.1.2. William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

It was Shakespeare, the greatest of all Elizabethan dramatists, who took English drama to the
highest peak of fame. He was, indeed, a gifted man. His brilliant imagination, keen insight,
and a creative mind gave new life to the old familiar stories and made them glow with
tenderest feelings and deepest thoughts. His style and versification were extremely
remarkable. He was not only the greatest dramatist of his time, but also a famous poet as
well. His sonnets, replete with passion and aesthetic sense, also possess a significant place in
the history of English literature. Although Shakespeare belonged to the Elizabethan Age, due
to his universality he belongs to all times.

Shakespeare’s works include non-dramatic poetry consisting of two narrative poems, Venice
and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece, 154 sonnets, and 37 plays. His work as a dramatist
extends over some 24 years (1588-1612), and is divided into four periods.

Overview of Shakespearean period:

1577-1593: First Period

This period includes Shakespeare’s early experimental work. The famous works of this
period are: the revision of old plays as the three parts of Henry VI and Titus Andronicus; his
first comedies—The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Love’s Labor’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s
Dream, and The Comedy of Errors ; his first chronicle play—Richard III; and his most
famous youthful tragedy—Romeo and Juliet.

1594-1600: Second Period

This period reveals Shakespeare’s development as a great thinker and artist. The works of
this period includes Shakespeare’s great comedies and chronicle plays such as: The Merchant
of Venice, Richard II, Henry IV, King John, Henry V, Part I and II, Much Ado About
Nothing, The Training of the Shrew, As You Like It, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and
Twelfth Night.
1601-1608: Third Period

This period includes Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies and somber comedies. His main
concern there is to reveal the darker side of human personality and its destructive passions.
The major works of this period are: Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, Julius Caesar, King Lear,
All’s Well that Ends Well, Measure for Measure, Coriolanus, Anthony and Cleopatra, Troilus
and Cressida, and Timon of Athens.

1608-1612: Fourth Period

This period includes Shakespeare’s later dramatic romances and comedies. Here we see a
decline in his power of thought and expression. Still his plays are tender and gracious. The
famous works of this period are: The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, and Cymbeline. He wrote
all these plays in collaboration with other dramatists.

3.1.3. Ben Johnson (1573-1637)

Ben Johnson was Shakespeare’s contemporary as well as a prominent dramatist of his times.
But he was just the opposite of Shakespeare. A moralist, reformer, and a classist, Johnson in
his works presented a true picture of contemporary society. He wrote his plays in a realistic
manner and introduced his theory of ‘humour’. His famous comedies are: The Alchemist,
Bartholomew, Fair, Volpone, Every Man in His Humour, Every Man Out of His Humour, and
The Silent Woman.

3.1.4. Other Major Figures

There were many other playwrights who were part of the Golden Age of English Drama. For
instance, Lyly wrote Euphues, Sapho and Phao, Midas, Endymion and Compaspe. Thomas
Kyd wrote The Spanish Tragedy. Robert Greene wrote Orlando Furioso. Compared to the
works of the greatest dramatists of this period, their works are of little importance.

William Tyndale is known as ‘The Father of English Prose’

3.1.5. The Puritan Age (1600-1660) or John Milton’s Age

In the 17th century came the decline of the Renaissance spirit. The writers of that time either
imitated the Elizabethan masters or paved new paths. The 17th century’s literature is divided
into two periods—The Puritan Age or the Age of Milton (1600-1660) and the Restoration
Period or the Age of Dryden (1660-1700). Up to 1660, Puritanism dominated the 17th
Century. John Milton was the greatest representative of the Puritan spirit. The Puritan
movement in literature is also called the second Renaissance because of the revival of
man’s moral nature. It stood for people’s liberty from the shackles of the despotic ruler and
introduced morality and high ideals in politics.

John Milton(1608-1674) was the most significant poet of the Puritan Age. He was a great
scholar of classical as well as Hebrew literature. A child of the Renaissance, Milton was also
a great humanist. As an artist we may call him the last Elizabethan. Milton’s greatest poetical
works are Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes. Besides Milton, the
poetry of The School of Spencer, The Metaphysical Poets, and The Cavalier Poets also
earned great fame. But no one of them was as noblest and indomitable representative of the
Puritan spirit as John Milton.

Moreover, this period was rich in prose as well. Among the great prose writers of the Puritan
Age include Francis Bacon, Milton, Robert Burton, Jeremy Tayler, Sir Thomas Brown and
Clarendon. During this period we find English prose developing into a magniloquent and rich
instrument capable of expressing all types of ideas, such as scientific, philosophical, poetic,
religious and personal.

General Characteristics of the Age of Milton

(i) Civil War:

The entire period was dominated by the civil war, which divided the people into two factions,
one loyal to the King and the other opposed to him. English people had remained one and
united and loyal to the sovereign. The crisis began when James I, who had recoined the right
of royalty from an Act of Parliament, gave too much premium to the Divine Right and began
to ignore Parliament which had created him. The Puritans, who had become a potent force in
the social life of the age, heralded the movement for constitutional reforms. The hostilities,
which began in 1642, lasted till the execution of Charles I in 1649. There was little political
stability during the interregnum of eleven years which followed. These turbulent years saw
the establishment of the Commonwealth, the rise of Oliver Cromwell, the confusion which
followed upon his death, and, finally, the restoration of monarchy in 1660.

(ii) The Puritan Movement:

The Renaissance, which exercised immense influence on Elizabethan literature, was

essentially pagan and sensuous. It did not concern the moral nature of man, and it brought
little relief from the despotism of rulers. “The Puritan movement,” says W. J. Long, “may be
regarded a second and greater Renaissance, a rebirth of the moral nature of man following the
intellectual awakening of Europe in the fifteenth and the sixteenth centuries.” In Germany
and England the Renaissance was accompanied by a moral awakening, “that greatest moral
and political reform which ever swept ‘over a nation in the short space of half a century”,
which is meant by the Puritan movement.

Puritanism had two chief objects:

i. the first was personal righteousness;

ii. the second was civil and personal liberty. In other words, it aimed to make men
honest and to make them free.
iii. “Though the spirit of the Puritan movement was profoundly religious, the Puritans
were not a religious sect; neither was the Puritan a narrow-minded and gloomy
dogmatist, as he is still pictured in the histories.” Hampden, Eliot, Milton, Hooker
and Cromwell were Puritans.
iv. Puritanism included all shades of belief. In course of time “Puritanism became a
great national movement. It included English Churchmen as well as extreme
Separatists, Calvinists, Covenanters, Catholic noblemen,— all bound together in
resistance to despotism in Church and State, and with a passion for liberty and
righteousness such as the world has never since seen,” says W. J. Long.
 v. During the Puritan rule of Cromwell severe laws were passed, simple pleasures
were forbidden, theatres were closed, and an austere standard of living was forced
upon an unwilling people. So there was rebellion against Puritanism, which ended
with the Restoration of King Charles ll.

Literary Characteristics of the Age of Milton

(i) Influence of Puritanism:

The influence of Puritanism upon English life and literature was profound. The spirit which it
introduced was fine and noble but it was hard and stern. The Puritan’s integrity and
uprightness is unquestionable but his fanaticism, his moroseness and the narrowness of his
outlook and sympathies were deplorable. In his over-enthusiasm to react against prevailing
abuses, he denounced the good things of life, condemned science and art, ignored the
appreciation of beauty, which invigorates secular life. Puritanism destroyed human culture
and sought to confine human culture within the circumscribed field of its own particular
interests. It was fatal to both art and literature.

Puritanism created confusion in literature. Sombreness and pensiveness pervaded poetry of

this period. The spirit of gaiety, of youthful vigour and vitality, of romance and chivalry
which distinguished Elizabethan literature was conspicuous by its absence. In the words of
W. J. Long: “Poetry took new and startling forms in Donne and Herbert, and prose became as
sombre as Burton’s The Anatomy of Melancholy. The spiritual gloom which sooner or later
fastens upon all writers of this age, and which is unjustly attributed to Puritan influence, is
due to the breaking up of accepted standards in religion and government. This so-called
gloomy age produced some minor poems of exquisite workmanship, and one great master of
verse whose work would glorify any age or people, —John Milton, in whom the indomitable
Puritan spirit finds its noblest expression.”

(ii) Want of Vitality and Concreteness:

The literature of this period lacks in concreteness and vitality. Shakespeare stands first and
foremost for the concrete realities of life; his words and phrases tingle with vitality and thrill
with warmth. Milton is concerned rather with theorising about life, his lines roll over the
mind with sonorous majesty, now and again thrilling us as Shakespeare did with the fine
excess of creative genius, but more often impressing us with their stateliness and power, than
moving us by their tenderness and passion. Puritanism began with Ben Jonson, though it
found its greatest prose exponent in Bunyan. W. J. Long writes: “Elizabethan literature is
generally inspiring; it throbs with youth and hope and vitality. That which follows speaks of
age and sadness; even its brightest hours are followed by gloom, and by the pessimism
inseparable from the passing of old standards.”

(iii) Want of the Spirit of Unity:

Despite diversity, the Elizabethan literature was marked by the spirit of unity, which resulted
from the intense patriotism and nationalism of all classes, and their devotion and loyalty to
the Queen who had a singleminded mission to seek the nation’s welfare. During this period
James I and Charles II were hostile to the interests of the people. The country was divided by
the struggle for political and religious liberty; and the literature was as divided in spirit as
were the struggling parties.
(iv) Dominance of Critical and Intellectual Spirit:

The critical and intellectual spirit, instead of the romantic spirit which prevailed on
Elizabethan literature, dominates the literature of this period. W. J. Long writes: “In the
literature of the Puritan period one looks in vain for romantic ardour. Even in the lyrics and
love poems a critical, intellectual spirit takes its place, and whatever romance asserts itself is
in form rather than in feeling, a fantastic and artificial adornment of speech rather than the
natural utterance of a heart in which sentiment is so strong and true that poetry is its only
expression.”

(v) Decay of Drama:

This period is remarkable for the decay of drama. The civil disturbances and the strong
opposition of the Puritans was the main cause of the collapse of drama. The actual dramatic
work of the period was small and unimportant. The closing of the theatres in 1642 gave a
final jolt to the development of drama.