Ben Jonson: Volpone Or The

SHRI VIDHIYA SHRI COACHING CENTRE, KARAIKUDI 9442738785, 7200430099 STUDY MATERIALS POLYTECHNIC TRB-ENGLISH www.usefuldesk.com Ben Jonson: Volpone or the Fox  The Jacobean era refers to the period in English and Scottish history that coincides with the reign of James VI of Scotland (1567–1625), who also inherited the crown of England in 1603 as James I  The Jacobean era succeeds the Elizabethan era and precedes the Caroline era, and is often used for the distinctive styles of Jacobean architecture,  Benjamin "Ben" Jonson (c. 11 June 1572 – 6 August 1637) was an English playwright, poet, actor, and literary critic, whose artistry exerted a lasting impact upon English poetry and stage comedy.  He popularised the comedy of humours.  He is best known for the satirical plays Every Man in His Humour (1598), Volpone, or The Fox (c. 1606), The Alchemist (1610) and Bartholomew Fair (1614) and for his lyric poetry.  He is generally regarded as the second most important English playwright during the reign of James I after William Shakespeare.  Jonson was a classically educated, well-read and cultured man of the English Renaissance with an appetite for controversy (personal and political, artistic and intellectual)  cultural influence was of unparalleled breadth upon the playwrights and the poets of the Jacobean era (1603–1625) and of the Caroline era (1625–1642).

 Volpone is a comedy play by English playwright Ben Jonson first produced in 1605–06, drawing on elements of city comedy and beast fable.  A merciless satire of greed and lust, it Volpone was published first in 1607 as a quarto and then in 1616 as part of Jonson's collected Workes.  In the later edition, the date of the first performance of Volpone is listed as 1605. Many scholars speculate that the first performance actually took place in early 1606.  Volpone was first acted by the King's Men with John Lowin playing Volpone, Richard Burbage playing Mosca, and Cooke playing Lady Would-be.  The play was an immediate and resounding success.  It was, and continues to be, admired for its balance of scathing satire against human greed with classical restraint and formalism.  Like many of his plays, Volpone demonstrates an attentiveness to the superficiality of theater.

Characters  Volpone (the Sly Fox) – a greedy, childless Venetian person  Mosca (the Fly/Parasite) – his servant  Voltore (the Vulture) – a lawyer  Corbaccio (the Raven) – an avaricious old miser  Bonario – Corbaccio's son  Corvino (the Carrion Crow) – a merchant  Celia – Corvino's wife  Sir Politic Would-Be – ridiculous Englishman. Probably partly based on Sir Henry Wotton, and partly on the traveller, Anthony Shirley  Lady Would-Be (the parrot) – English lady and wife of Sir Politic-Would-Be  Peregrine – another, more sophisticated, English traveller  Nano – a dwarf, companion of Volpone  Androgyno – a hermaphrodite, companion of Volpone  Castrone – a eunuch, companion of Volpone  The Avocatori – the judges of Venice All characters may

 In ACT – One Volpone, wealthy and childless, is a con artist who attracts legacy hunters by pretending to be on the verge of death. Volpone's "clients" - including Corvino, Corbaccio, Voltore, and Lady Would-be Politic - bring him presents in the hopes of being included in his will. At the opening of the play, Volpone delivers a soliloquy in which he literally worships his gold while his servant Mosca, often called his Parasite, flits around and periodically interrupts him with flattery. Nano, Castrone, and Androgyno - Volpone's buffoons - enter and perform a skit which gives a sarcastic account of the transmigration of Pythagoras's soul. The entrance of Voltore, a lawyer, dispatches the buffoons. Voltore brings an antique plate and is told he will be Volpone's sole heir. Corbaccio and Corvino For Best Coaching: TNPSC / NEET/ BANKING/ TET/ TRB-PG / G.K CLASSES 276 PASSED TILL 2017AUG Web: www.usefuldesk.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/usefuldesk Twitter: www.twitter.com/usefuldesk2 SHRI VIDHIYA SHRI COACHING CENTRE, KARAIKUDI 9442738785, 7200430099 STUDY MATERIALS POLYTECHNIC TRB-ENGLISH www.usefuldesk.com enter in succession, bringing a bag of gold coins and a pearl, respectively, and are also told that they will be heir to Volpone's fortune. Mosca is responsible for their deception, including Corbaccio's false belief that disinheriting his son Bonario will eventually pay dividends. Lady Would-be also comes to the door but is told to return later. Mosca describes the beauty of Corvino's wife Celia to Volpone, who decides he must see her for himself. They agree to go to her house in disguise.  Fellow Englishmen Sir Politic Would-be and Peregrine are seen in the public square outside Corvino's house at the opening of Act Two. They discuss a series of rumors involving animals which Sir Politic interprets as bad omens for the English state. Mosca and Nano interrupt their discussion as they enter to set up a stage. Volpone, disguised as a mountebank, takes the stage and delivers a sales pitch for an elixir. When he asks for a handkerchief from the audience, Celia throws hers down to him. Corvino enters and furiously disperses the crowd.  Back at his house, Volpone swoons for Celia. He gives Mosca permission to use his fortune in whatever way is necessary to woo Celia. At Corvino's house, Corvino sharply reprimands Celia for showing favor to a mountebank. He brandishes his sword and threatens her with physical violence before Mosca knocks on the door. Mosca tells Corvino that Volpone is on the mend but is in need of a female companion to maintain his health. After due consideration, Corvino offers Celia and goes to tell her to prepare for a feast at Volpone's house.  Act Three begins in the street with a soliloquy from Mosca regarding the supposed superiority of natural-born parasites compared to learned parasites. Bonario enters and scorns Mosca, who breaks down crying. Mosca then tells Bonario that Corbaccio plans to disinherit Bonario. Mosca offers to bring Bonario hear it for himself. Back at Volpone's house, the entertainment provided by Nano, Castrone, and Androgyno is interrupted by the entrance of Lady Would-be, who talks Volpone's ear off and brings him a cap she made herself. Mosca enters and dispatches with her by telling her he saw her husband Sir Politic on a gondola with another woman. Mosca hides Bonario so that he may witness the conversation with Corbaccio. However, Corvino and Celia arrive early and Mosca is forced to move Bonario to the gallery. After considerable deliberation, Celia is forced to be alone with Volpone, who reveals to her that he is not actually sick. Volpone offers her his fortune, but she declines. Just as he begins to force himself on her, Bonario leaps out and rescues Celia, exiting through the window. Mosca, who has been wounded by Bonario, enters and attends to Volpone. Mosca then convinces Corbaccio and Voltore to go after Bonario.

 At the opening of Act Four, Sir Politic and Peregrine discuss the ways of a gentleman. Sir Politic details his get-rich-quick schemes, one of which involves selling the Venetian state to the Turks. Lady Would-be enters and accuses Peregrine of being a woman who is seducing her husband. Mosca enters and convinces Lady Would-be that her husband's seducer is actually Celia. Though Lady Would-be apologizes to him, Peregrine vows revenge on Sir Politic for his humiliation.  At the Scrutineo, Voltore, Corbaccio, Corvino, and Mosca get their story straight. Though they side with Bonario and Celia at the opening of the case, the Avocatori eventually align themselves with Voltore, who argues that Bonario committed adultery with Celia and attempted to kill his father. Lady Would-be testifies that Celia seduced her husband. Bonario and Celia have no witnesses of their own, so they lose the case.  Volpone's soliloquy at the beginning of Act Five foreshadows his punishment at the end of Act Five. He complains that, during the court case, he began to feel the pains which he has been faking for so long. He downs a glass of wine to "shake it off" (5.1.8) and Mosca enters to celebrate their unsurpassable masterpiece. Mosca goads Volpone to begin cozening his "clients," so Volpone writes a will naming Mosca as heir and spreads the word that he is dead. When Volpone's "clients" enter and discover that they have been duped, Mosca berates them one by one as Volpone looks on from behind the curtain. Volpone and Mosca decide to disguise themselves and continue tormenting the "clients" in the street.  At Sir Politic's house, Peregrine plays a practical joke on Sir Politic. Pretending to be a messenger, Peregrine tells Sir Politic that he has been reported for his plan to sell Venice to the Turks. Sir Politic panics, instructs his servants to burn his notes, and hides under a large tortoise shell just as three merchants, dressed as statesman, enter the house. Once the merchants discover Sir Politic under the shell, Peregrine tells him they are even and leaves. Sir Politic decides to leave Venice forever since his reputation has been so damaged.  In the street, Volpone, disguised as a commendatore, torments Corbaccio, Corvino, and Voltore by pretending he has heard news that they inherited a fortune. Voltore cracks and goes to the Scrutineo to confess that he lied during the previous court case. He gives his notes to the Avocatori but when Volpone, still disguised, tells him that Volpone is still alive, Voltore retracts his confession and pretends he was possessed while making it. While debating over whether to turn himself in, Volpone discovers that Mosca has locked him out of his own house. After being summoned by the Avocatori, Mosca arrives at the Scrutineo and affirms that Volpone is dead. Volpone beseeches him to say that Volpone is still

For Best Coaching: TNPSC / NEET/ BANKING/ TET/ TRB-PG / G.K CLASSES 276 PASSED TILL 2017AUG Web: www.usefuldesk.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/usefuldesk Twitter: www.twitter.com/usefuldesk4 SHRI VIDHIYA SHRI COACHING CENTRE, KARAIKUDI 9442738785, 7200430099 STUDY MATERIALS POLYTECHNIC TRB-ENGLISH www.usefuldesk.com alive, but Mosca demands half of his fortune. When Mosca and Volpone cannot agree to share the fortune, Volpone is apprehended by officers of the court. Before he is led away, however, Volpone unmasks himself and brings Mosca down with him. The Avocatori then hand down punishments to Volpone, Mosca, and the rest of the "clients." To conclude the play, Volpone speaks to the audience and asks for applause. Birds view of the story Volpone (The Fox) is a Venetian gentleman who pretends to be on his deathbed after a long illness in order to dupe Voltore (The Vulture), Corbaccio (The Raven) and Corvino (The Crow), three men who aspire to inherit his fortune. In their turns, each man arrives to Volpone’s house bearing a luxurious gift, intent upon having his name inscribed to the will of Volpone, as his heir. Mosca (The Fly), Volpone’s parasite servant, encourages each man, Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino, to believe that he has been named heir to Volpone’s fortune; in the course of which, Mosca persuades Corbaccio to disinherit his own son in favour of Volpone. To Volpone, Mosca mentions that Corvino has a beautiful wife, Celia. Disguised as Scoto the Mountebank, Volpone goes to see Celia. Corvino drives away "Scoto" (Volpone), who then becomes insistent that he must possess Celia as his own. Mosca deceives Corvino into believing that the moribund Volpone will be cured of his illness if he lies in bed beside a young woman. Believing that Volpone has been rendered impotent by his illness, Corvino offers his wife in order that, when he is revived, Volpone will recognise Corvino as his sole heir. Just before Corvino and Celia are due to arrive at Volpone's house, Corbaccio’s son Bonario arrives to catch his father in the act of disinheriting him. Mosca guides Bonario to a sideroom, and Volpone and Celia are left alone. Upon failing to seduce Celia with fantastic promises of luxury and wealth, Volpone attempts to rape her. Bonario comes forward to rescue Celia. In the ensuing trial at court, the truth of the matter is well-buried by Voltore, using his prowess as a lawyer to convince the Avocatori, with false evidence given by Mosca, Volpone and the other dupes. There are episodes involving the English travellers Sir and Lady Politic Would-Be and Peregrine. Sir Politic constantly talks of plots and his outlandish business plans, while Lady Would-Be annoys Volpone with her ceaseless talking. Mosca co-ordinates a mix-up between them which leaves Peregrine, a more sophisticated traveller, feeling offended. He humiliates Sir Politick by telling him he is to be arrested for sedition and making him hide inside a giant tortoise shell. Volpone insists on disguising himself and having it announced that he has died and willed his wealth to Mosca, which enrages the would-be heirs Voltore, Corbaccio

For Best Coaching: TNPSC / NEET/ BANKING/ TET/ TRB-PG / G.K CLASSES 276 PASSED TILL 2017AUG Web: www.usefuldesk.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/usefuldesk Twitter: www.twitter.com/usefuldesk5 SHRI VIDHIYA SHRI COACHING CENTRE, KARAIKUDI 9442738785, 7200430099 STUDY MATERIALS POLYTECHNIC TRB-ENGLISH www.usefuldesk.com and Corvino, and everyone returns to court to dispute the will of Volpone, who becomes entangled in the circumstances of the plots that he and Mosca devised. Despite Volpone's pleas, Mosca refuses to relinquish his new role as a rich man; Volpone reveals himself, and his deceits, in order to topple the rich Mosca; in the event, Voltore, Corbaccio, Corvino, Mosca and Volpone himself finally are punished. 6. Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus Christopher Marlowe Period 1564–93  He is also known as Kit Marlowe (baptised 26 February 1564 – 30 May 1593), was an English playwright, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era.  Marlowe was the foremost Elizabethan tragedian of his day  He greatly influenced William Shakespeare,.  Marlowe's plays are known for the use of blank verse and their overreaching protagonists.  Literary movement English Renaissance theatre  Notable works Hero and Leander, Edward the Second, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus,  Dido, Queen of Carthage Story of Dr.Faustus Doctor Faustus, a talented German scholar at Wittenburg, rails against the limits of human knowledge. He has learned everything he can learn, or so he thinks, from the conventional academic disciplines. All of these things have left him unsatisfied, so now he turns to magic. A Good Angle and an Evil Angel arrive, representing Faustus' choice between Christian conscience and the path to damnation. The former advises him to leave off this pursuit of magic, and the latter tempts him. From two fellow scholars, Valdes and Cornelius, Faustus learns the fundamentals of the black arts. He thrills at the power he will have, and the great feats he'll perform. He summons the devil Mephostophilis. They flesh out the terms of their agreement, with Mephostophilis representing Lucifer. Faustus will sell his soul, in exchange for twenty-four years of power, with Mephostophilis as servant to his every whim. In a comic relief scene, we learn that Faustus' servant Wagner has gleaned some magic learning. He uses it to convince Robin the Clown to be his servant. Before the time comes to sign the contract, Faustus has misgivings, but he puts them aside. Mephostophilis returns, and Faustus signs away his soul, writing with his own blood. The words "Homo fuge" ("Fly, man) appear on his arm, and Faustus is seized

For Best Coaching: TNPSC / NEET/ BANKING/ TET/ TRB-PG / G.K CLASSES 276 PASSED TILL 2017AUG Web: www.usefuldesk.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/usefuldesk Twitter: www.twitter.com/usefuldesk6 SHRI VIDHIYA SHRI COACHING CENTRE, KARAIKUDI 9442738785, 7200430099 STUDY MATERIALS POLYTECHNIC TRB-ENGLISH www.usefuldesk.com by fear. Mephostophilis distracts him with a dance of devils. Faustus requests a wife, a demand Mephostophilis denies, but he does give Faustus books full of knowledge. Some time has passed. Faustus curses Mephostophilis for depriving him of heaven, although he has seen many wonders. He manages to torment Mephostophilis, he can't stomach mention of God, and the devil flees. The Good Angel and Evil Angel arrive again. The Good Angel tells him to repent, and the Evil Angel tells him to stick to his wicked ways. Lucifer, Belzebub, and Mephostophilis return, to intimidate Faustus. He is cowed by them, and agrees to speak and think no more of God. They delight him with a pageant of the Seven Deadly Sins, and then Lucifer promises to show Faustus hell. Meanwhile, Robin the Clown has gotten one of Faustus' magic books. Faustus has explored the heavens and the earth from a chariot drawn by dragons, and is now flying to Rome, where the feast honoring St. Peter is about to be celebrated. Mephostophilis and Faustus wait for the Pope, depicted as an arrogant, decidedly unholy man. They play a series of tricks, by using magic to disguise themselves and make themselves invisible, before leaving. The Chorus returns to tell us that Faustus returns home, where his vast knowledge of astronomy and his abilities earn him wide renown. Meanwhile, Robin the Clown has also learned magic, and uses it to impress his friend Rafe and summon Mephostophilis, who doesn't seem too happy to be called. At the court of Charles V, Faustus performs illusions that delight the Emperor. He also humiliates a knight named Benvolio. When Benvolio and his friends try to avenge the humiliation, Faustus has his devils hurt them and cruelly transform them, so that horns grow on their heads. Faustus swindles a Horse-courser, and when the Horse-courser returns, Faustus plays a frightening trick on him. Faustus then goes off to serve the Duke of Vanholt. Robin the Clown, his friend Dick, the Horse-courser, and a Carter all meet. They all have been swindled or hurt by Faustus' magic. They go off to the court of the Duke to settle scores with Faustus. Faustus entertains the Duke and Duchess with petty illusions, before Robin the Clown and his band of ruffians arrives. Faustus toys with them, besting them with magic, to the delight of the Duke and Duchess. Faustus' twenty-four years are running out. Wagner tells the audience that he thinks Faustus prepares for death. He has made his will, leaving all to Wagner. But even as death approaches, Faustus spends his days feasting and drinking with the other students. For the delight of his fellow scholars, Faustus summons a spirit to take the shape of Helen of Troy. Later, an Old Man enters, warning Faustus to repent. Faustus

Characters He sells his soul to the devil Faustus A brilliant man, who seems to have reached the limits of natural knowledge. Faustus is a scholar of the early sixteenth century in the German city of Wittenburg. He is arrogant, fiery, and possesses a thirst for knowledge. As an intellectual, Faustus is familiar with things (like demon summoning and astrology) not normally considered academic subjects by today's universities. Faustus decides to sell his soul to the devil in exchange for earthly power and knowledge and an additional 24 years of life. He proceeds to waste this time on self-indulgence and low tricks. Faustus is the absolute center of the play, which has few truly developed characters.

Mephostophilis From the Hebrew, mephitz, destroyer, and tophel, liar. A devil of craft and cunning. He is the devil who comes at Faustus' summoning, and the devil who serves Faustus for 24 years. In lore, Mephostophilis (also spelled Mephistopheles, or Miphostophiles, and also called Mephisto) seems to be a relative latecomer in the recognized hierarchy of demons. He possibly was created for the Faustus legend. In Marlowe's play, Mephostophilis has layers to his personality. He admits that separation from God is anguish, and is capable of fear and pain. But he is gleefully evil, participating at every level in Faustus' destruction. Not only does Mephostophilis get

Valdes Friend to Faustus, who teaches him the dark arts. He appears only in Act One. Cornelius Friend to Faustus, who teaches him the dark arts. He appears only in Act One. Lucifer Satan. "Lucifer" original meant Venus, referring to the planet's brilliance. In Christian lore, Lucifer is sometimes thought to be another name of Satan. Some traditions say that Lucifer was Satan's name before the fall, while the Fathers of the Catholic Church held that Lucifer was not Satan's proper name but a word showing the brilliance and beauty of his station before the fall. He appears at a few choice moments in Doctor Faustus, and Marlowe uses "Lucifer" as Satan's proper name. Belzebub One of Lucifer's officers. A powerful demon. The Seven Deadly Sins Personifications of the Seven Deadly Sins, not acts but impulses or motivations that lead men to sinful actions. They array themselves in a pageant before Faustus, although scholars think now that this section was not written by Marlowe. Clown / Robin Robin learns demon summoning by stealing one of Faustus' books. He is the chief character in a number of scenes that provide comic relief from the main story. Dick A friend of Robin's. He is one of the characters peopling the few comic relief scenes. Rafe A horse ostler, or groomer, and friend to Robin. With the Clown, he summons Mephostophilis, who is none too pleased to be called.

Thomas Moore : UTOPIA Thomas Moore (28 May 1779 – 25 February 1852) was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of "The Minstrel Boy" and "The Last Rose of Summer". He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death. In his lifetime he was often referred to as Anacreon Moore. Utopia (Libellus vere aureus, nec minus salutaris quam festivus, de optimo rei publicae statu deque nova insula Utopia) is a work of fiction and socio-political satire by Thomas More (1478–1535) published in 1516 in Latin. The book is a frame narrative primarily depicting a fictional island society and its religious, social and political customs. Many aspects of More's description of Utopia are reminiscent of life in monasteries. The Title is "Of a republic's best state and of the new island Utopia". The original name was even longer: Libellus vere aureus, nec minus salutaris quam festivus, de optimo rei publicae statu deque nova insula Utopia. This translates, "A truly golden little book, no less beneficial than entertaining, of a republic's best state and of the new island Utopia". "Utopia" is derived from the Greek prefix "ou-" meaning "not", and topos "place", with the suffix -iā that is typical of toponyms; hence the name literally means "nowhere", emphasizing its fictionality. In early modern English, Utopia was spelled "Utopie", which is today rendered Utopy in some editions. A common misunderstanding has that "Utopia" is derived from "good", and "topos", such that it would literally translate as "good place" The first edition contained a woodcut map of the island of Utopia, the Utopian alphabet, verses by Peter Gillis, Gerard Geldenhouwer, and Cornelius Grapheus, and Thomas More's epistle dedicating the work to Gillis.

For Best Coaching: TNPSC / NEET/ BANKING/ TET/ TRB-PG / G.K CLASSES 276 PASSED TILL 2017AUG Web: www.usefuldesk.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/usefuldesk Twitter: www.twitter.com/usefuldesk11 SHRI VIDHIYA SHRI COACHING CENTRE, KARAIKUDI 9442738785, 7200430099 STUDY MATERIALS POLYTECHNIC TRB-ENGLISH www.usefuldesk.com Book 1: Dialogue of Counsel The work begins with written correspondence between Thomas More and several people he had met on the continent: Peter Gilles, town clerk of Antwerp, and Hieronymus van Busleyden, counselor to Charles V. More chose these letters, which are communications between actual people, to further the plausibility of his fictional land. In the same spirit, these letters also include a specimen of the Utopian alphabet and its poetry. The letters also explain the lack of widespread travel to Utopia; during the first mention of the land, someone had coughed during announcement of the exact longitude and latitude. The first book tells of the traveller Raphael Hythlodaeus, to whom More is introduced in Antwerp, and it also explores the subject of how best to counsel a prince, a popular topic at the time. The first discussions with Raphael allow him to discuss some of the modern ills affecting Europe such as the tendency of kings to start wars and the subsequent loss of money on fruitless endeavours. He also criticises the use of execution to punish theft, saying thieves might as well murder whom they rob, to remove witnesses, if the punishment is going to be the same. He lays most of the problems of theft on the practice of enclosure—the enclosing of common land—and the subsequent poverty and starvation of people who are denied access to land because of sheep farming. More tries to convince Raphael that he could find a good job in a royal court, advising monarchs, but Raphael says that his views are too radical and wouldn't be listened to. Raphael sees himself in the tradition of Plato: he knows that for good governance, kings must act philosophically. He, however, points out that: “Plato doubtless did well foresee, unless kings themselves would apply their minds to the study of philosophy, that else they would never thoroughly allow the council of philosophers, being themselves before, even from their tender age, infected and corrupt with perverse and evil opinions.” More seems to contemplate the duty of philosophers to work around and in real situations and, for the sake of political expediency, work within flawed systems to make them better, rather than hoping to start again from first principles.

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