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Elizabethan Poetry ELIZABETHAN POETRY Dr Kalyani Dixit, Lucknow MODULE 16 Introduction to the historical, political and cultural background of the age, with special reference to the Renaissance and the Reformation; Paintings and songs GENERAL INTRODUCTION Society is the motivational force behind every literary product. Social, historical, political and cultural background plays a vital role in the emergence and development of the literature of a particular age / era. As per Hudson, “A nation‟s life has its moods of exultation and depression. Its epochs a strong faith and strenuous idealism, now of doubt, struggle and disillusion now of unbelief and flippant disregard for the sanctities of existence, and while the manner of expression will vary greatly with the manner of existence will vary greatly with the individuality of each writer, the dominant spirit of the hour, whatever that may be, will directly or indirectly reveal itself in his work.” The spirit of the age influences the human psyche that creates the literature. Literature and society are indivisibly interconnected. Their mutual influence is the subject of study. It is also said that literature is also capable of moulding the society and its trends. In words of W.R. Goodman „A great man of letters is the creature as well as the creator of the age in which he exists‟. Elizabethan Age : An Introduction (Image taken from- http://media.photobucket.com/user/LilyRose004/media/Royals%20and%20royal%20families/Portrait- Of-Elizabeth-I-Queen-Of- En.jpg.html?filters[term]=Queen%20of%20England&filters[primary]=images&filters[secondary]=vid eos&sort=1&o=2) Elizabethan Age, popularly known as the Age of Shakespeare or the brightest period of English poetry and drama extends from the accession of Queen Elizabethan to the throne of England in 1558 to the demise of James I in 1625. Elizabethan Age witnessed various, social historical, political and religious upheavals in England. It also welcomed some fresh influences imported from the other countries. It encouraged movements like Reformation in order to reform the English society and Church. Influence of Renaissance on Elizabethan literature was immense. Historical Background: Queen Elizabeth‟s accession of the English Throne in 1558 marked the beginning of a new epoch. It is also known as the Age of Shakespeare. As per W. J. Long, “In the Age of Elizabeth all doubt seems to vanish from English History. After the reigns of Edward and Mary, with defeat and humiliation abroad and persecutions and rebellion at home, the accession of a popular sovereign was like the sunrise after a long night, and in Milton‟s words, we suddenly see England, “a noble and puissant nation, rousing herself, like strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks.” Sir Francis Drake and Lord Charles Howard commanded the English naval force that defeated the „Spanish Armanda‟ that was supposed to be unconquerable. “Queen Elizabeth‟s decisive defeat of the Invincible Armanda made England a world-class power and introduced effective long–range weapons into naval warfare for the first time, ending the era of boarding and close-quarter fighting.” (www.history.com/this-day-in-history…) During her reign England was packed with the feelings of patriotism that clearly echoes in the literature of this era. Literary exponents of this period like William Shakespeare and Spenser were not untouched with such historical and patriotic influences. When Spenser came to England with his poems and met Leicester and Sidney, he got a golden opportunity to meet all the favourites of Queen Elizabeth. W.J. Long writes. „The court was full of intrigues, lying and flattery, and Spenser‟s opinion of his own uncomfortable position is best expressed in a few lines from “Mother Hubbard‟s Tale”. Full little knowest thou, that has not tried What hell it is, in suing long to bide‟: To lose good days, that might be better spent; To waste long nights in pensive discontent; … To fret thy soul with crosses and with cares; To eat thy heart through comfortless despairs; To fawn, to crouch, to wait, to ride, to run, To spend, to give, to want, to be undone. One year after the defeat of Spanish Armada, Drake went to Portugal along with a huge force. In year 1590 these English fighters were helping the Dutch against the Spanish King. Brittany and Normandy were also witnessing the fight. Brest was captured by Brittany in 1594. In 1597, another expedition was ready to repeat the previous success. English troops were also helping the Dutch in 1600. In „Ireland Lord Mountjoy was again trying to restore order.‟ „Year 1601 proved to be lucky in form of two decisive victories of this age. Queen Elizabeth‟s death in year 1603 marked the end of various problems such as the battle with Spain. Before the death of the Queen, England had acquired the figure of world power in every respect. She increased the English boundaries at ocean and encouraged expeditions of discovery. In many respects the death of the Queen was the end of an era in England. But James the first‟s accession to the throne was another significant historical event of Elizabethan age. Historical background of Elizabethan age period peeps through the literature of this age. In words of L.G. Salinger; “There were popular Moralities satirizing abuses, in which history was subordinate to general social ethics: the Armada battle in Wilson‟s Three Lords of London (1589) for instance, is reduced to a symbolic episode (a struggle for shields) while the legendary Kings in A Knack to know a Knave (1592) or Nobody and Somebody (c.1606) are merely vague ciphers for the magistrate in general.” (Pg- 62-63) Spenser also used history of England in his Faerie Queene. Critics believe that Faerie Queene was composed to flatter the queen Elizabeth. The objective of this poem was to portray “the most excellent and glorious person of our sovereign the Queen and her kingdom in Faeryland.” The Faerie Queene is the Queen Elizabeth herself. Gloriana is the portrayal of Queen. She also figures in Faerie Queen as Britomart, the lady knight symbolizing chastity, Mercilla, and Belphoebe, „a pure, high – spirited maiden‟. Elizabethan England also witnessed Nine years war within Spain (from 1594 – 1603). K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar writes: “War was no doubt evil, but civil strife was the worst curse of all, and its spectre was seldom very far from the consciousness of the Elizabethans.‟ Shakespeare in Hamlet portrays the preparations of war in the opening scene. Marcellus: Why this same strict and most observant watch So nightly toils the subject of the land; And why such daily cost of brazen cannon, And foreign mart for implements of war; Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task Does not divide the Sunday from the week; What might be toward, that this sweaty haste Doth make the night joint- labourer with the day. (Hamlet,I, I, 71) In Marlowe‟s Tamburlaine, also great wars form the background of the play. Wars were also the cause of the anxiety for the people and the ruler. Shakespeare tries to expresses some tension in Henry IV: So shaken as we are, so wan with care, Find we a time for frighted peace to pant… No more the thirsty entrance of this soil Shall daub her lips with her own children‟s blood, No more shall trenching war channel her fields, Nor bruise her flow‟rets with the armed hoofs Of hostile paces (HenryV, I, i, 1) Expansion of horizon was a chief feature of his age. As per K. R. S. Iyengar; “The discovery – partly by design, partly by accident- of the ocean routes to the East and, more important still, the discovery of the New World, made England‟s situation central between the Old World and The New, whereas it had hitherto been considered merely peripheral to the known world?” (Image taken from http://www.search.ask.com/picdetails?apn_dbr=&apn_dtid=%5EIME001%5EYY%5EIN&crxv=&itb v=&d=1-) Famous Historical Events of Elizabethan Age DATES EVENTS 1558 Accession of Queen Elizabeth to the throne of England 1571 Rise of English Puritans 1577 Drake‟s famous voyages 1587 Execution of Mary Queen of Scotts 1588 Defeat of Spanish Armada 1594--1603 The English War with Spain ( The Nine Years War) 1595 Spanish forces burnt the town of Penzance in England 1597 IInd Armada was sent against England by King Philip II of Spain 1601 Robert Devereux The Earl of Essex rebelled against Queen Elizabeth, and was killed on 25th February, 1601 24 March DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH 1603 24 March James I ascended the throne of England and Scotland 1603 1603 Puritans The Millenary Petition presented before James I, for the reforms to the Church 1628 Death of James I, at the age of 58 Political Background: Political history of Elizabethan age was the specimen of peace, balance and steadiness. The Queen achieved a proper balance at both the fronts-inside and outside of England. Political parties did not come into existence till that time. The theory of state was working on the Christian doctrine. In words of G.B. Harrison, „In the accepted theory the Queen was supreme head of Church and State, and she constantly insisted in her speeches and public documents that she was directly under God‟s special blessing.‟ (pg173) People were following the established order blindly. Thomas More writes: For to the King God hath His office lent Of dread, of justice, power and command, Hath bid him rule, and will‟d you to obey; And, to add amples majesty to this, He hath not only lent the king His figure, His throne and sword, but given him His own Name, Calls him a God on Earth.
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