The University Wits: 16th-Century Playwrights
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The University Wits: 16th-Century Playwrights

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Questions and Answers

What was the University Wits known for in their literary works?

  • Use of simple language and exploration of rural life
  • Use of tragic endings and exploration of death
  • Use of witty dialogue, complex plots, and exploration of themes such as love, power, and morality (correct)
  • Use of tragic heroes and exploration of fate

    • Which of the following playwrights was known for his use of blank verse?

  • John Lyly
  • Christopher Marlowe (correct)
  • Robert Greene
  • Thomas Lodge

    • What themes did the University Wits often explore in their works?

  • Love, power, and morality (correct)
  • War, politics, and social hierarchy
  • Death, fate, and tragedy
  • Nature, beauty, and the environment

    • Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of University Wits' literature?

    <p>Use of tragic endings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the impact of the University Wits on later literature?

    <p>They paved the way for later playwrights such as William Shakespeare</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following playwrights was known for his use of romantic comedy?

    <p>Robert Greene</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What classical sources did the University Wits draw inspiration from?

    <p>Greek and Roman mythology and literature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following plays is associated with Christopher Marlowe?

    <p>Tamburlaine the Great</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of drama did Thomas Lodge explore in his works?

    <p>Historical drama</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main theme explored in the play Tamburlaine The Great?

    <p>Power, ambition, and the nature of evil</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main plot of the play Doctor Faustus?

    <p>A scholar's bargain with the devil for knowledge and power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which Shakespeare play is heavily influenced by Marlowe's Tamburlaine The Great?

    <p>Richard III</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of Marlowe's use of blank verse?

    <p>It creates a sense of grandeur and drama</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the title of the two-part play written by Marlowe in 1587?

    <p>Tamburlaine The Great</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the protagonist in the play Doctor Faustus?

    <p>Doctor Faustus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a feature of Marlowe's characters?

    <p>They are complex and nuanced</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of Marlowe's use of blank verse in his plays?

    <p>It adds to the emotional intensity and dramatic power of the plays</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of Marlowe's plays is known for its use of magic and spectacle?

    <p>Doctor Faustus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of Marlowe's influence on Shakespeare's early plays?

    <p>It adds to the dramatic power and complexity of the plays</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What historical figure is the play Tamburlaine the Great based on?

    <p>Timur (also known as Tamerlane)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key feature of Renaissance drama, as seen in Tamburlaine the Great?

    <p>Use of blank verse to create a sense of grandeur</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main criticism of the play Tamburlaine the Great in terms of its portrayal of the East?

    <p>It reinforces Western stereotypes and prejudices</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the city that Tamburlaine conquers in the play, after defeating the Egyptians?

    <p>Aleppo</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term coined by Edward Said to describe the Western tendency to exoticize and romanticize the East?

    <p>Orientalism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main theme explored in the play Tamburlaine the Great, in terms of power and ambition?

    <p>The nature of power and ambition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of Marlowe's use of language in Tamburlaine the Great?

    <p>Poetic and elaborate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the consequence of Tamburlaine's conquests in the play?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of Tamburlaine's conquest of Moscow in the play?

    <p>It shows his military prowess</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The University Wits

    • A group of young playwrights and poets in 16th-century London
    • Known for their witty dialogue, complex plots, and exploration of themes such as love, power, and morality

    Key Members

    • Christopher Marlowe
      • Wrote plays such as Tamburlaine the Great and Doctor Faustus
      • Known for his use of blank verse and exploration of themes such as power and ambition
    • Robert Greene
      • Wrote plays such as Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay and The Honorable Historie of Frier Bacon and Frier Bongay
      • Known for his use of romantic comedy and exploration of themes such as love and morality
    • Thomas Lodge
      • Wrote plays such as The Wounds of Civil War and A Looking Glass for London and England
      • Known for his use of historical drama and exploration of themes such as power and corruption
    • John Lyly
      • Wrote plays such as Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit and Gallathea
      • Known for his use of romantic comedy and exploration of themes such as love and identity

    Characteristics of University Wits' Literature

    • Use of witty dialogue and complex plots
    • Exploration of themes such as love, power, and morality
    • Use of blank verse and other poetic forms
    • Often featured complex, flawed characters and explored the human condition
    • Drawn from classical sources, such as Greek and Roman mythology and literature

    Influence on Later Literature

    • Influenced the development of English Renaissance theatre
    • Paved the way for later playwrights such as William Shakespeare
    • Contributed to the development of dramatic forms such as tragedy and comedy

    The University Wits

    • A group of young playwrights and poets in 16th-century London known for their witty dialogue, complex plots, and exploration of themes such as love, power, and morality

    Key Members

    • Christopher Marlowe
      • Wrote plays such as Tamburlaine the Great and Doctor Faustus
      • Known for his use of blank verse and exploration of themes such as power and ambition
    • Robert Greene
      • Wrote plays such as Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay and The Honorable Historie of Frier Bacon and Frier Bongay
      • Known for his use of romantic comedy and exploration of themes such as love and morality
    • Thomas Lodge
      • Wrote plays such as The Wounds of Civil War and A Looking Glass for London and England
      • Known for his use of historical drama and exploration of themes such as power and corruption
    • John Lyly
      • Wrote plays such as Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit and Gallathea
      • Known for his use of romantic comedy and exploration of themes such as love and identity

    Characteristics of University Wits' Literature

    • Use of witty dialogue and complex plots
    • Exploration of themes such as love, power, and morality
    • Use of blank verse and other poetic forms
    • Often featured complex, flawed characters and explored the human condition
    • Drawn from classical sources, such as Greek and Roman mythology and literature

    Influence on Later Literature

    • Influenced the development of English Renaissance theatre
    • Paved the way for later playwrights such as William Shakespeare
    • Contributed to the development of dramatic forms such as tragedy and comedy

    Marlowe's Plays

    • Marlowe's two-part play, Tamburlaine The Great, written in 1587, tells the story of Timur, a Scythian shepherd who rises to become a great conqueror.
    • The play is known for its poetic language, grandiose style, and exploration of themes such as power, ambition, and the nature of evil.
    • Tamburlaine's character is complex, exhibiting both brutal and poetic qualities.

    Doctor Faustus

    • Written around 1592-1593, Doctor Faustus is a tragic play that tells the story of a scholar who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power.
    • The play explores themes such as morality, sin, and redemption, and is known for its use of magic and spectacle.
    • Doctor Faustus is a complex and nuanced character, exhibiting both hubris and tragic flaws.

    Influence on Shakespeare

    • Marlowe's influence on Shakespeare is evident in Shakespeare's early plays, such as the Henry VI trilogy.
    • Marlowe's use of blank verse, poetic language, and exploration of themes such as power and ambition can be seen in Shakespeare's works.
    • Shakespeare's play Richard III, in particular, owes a debt to Marlowe's Tamburlaine The Great.

    Marlowe's Use of Blank Verse

    • Marlowe was a master of blank verse, a type of poetry that uses unrhymed iambic pentameter.
    • He used blank verse to create a sense of grandeur and drama, particularly in his plays Tamburlaine The Great and Doctor Faustus.
    • Marlowe's use of blank verse helped to create a sense of rhythmic flow and natural speech, making his characters more believable and relatable.
    • His use of blank verse also added to the emotional intensity and dramatic power of his plays.

    Tamburlaine's Conquests

    • Tamburlaine, a Scythian shepherd, rises to become a great conqueror, inspired by the historical figure of Timur (Tamerlane)
    • Conquests include:
      • Defeating the Persians and taking the throne of Persia
      • Conquering the Turks and taking the city of Damascus
      • Defeating the Egyptian army and taking the city of Aleppo
      • Conquering the Russians and taking the city of Moscow

    Renaissance Drama

    • Tamburlaine the Great is a classic example of Renaissance drama
    • Key features of Renaissance drama:
      • Use of blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) to create a sense of grandeur and elevated language
      • Exploration of themes such as power, ambition, and the human condition
      • Use of dramatic devices such as soliloquies, asides, and stage directions to create a sense of drama and tension
    • Marlowe's play is notable for its poetic language, elaborate stage directions, and exploration of themes such as the nature of power and the corrupting influence of ambition

    Orientalism

    • The play is criticized for its Orientalist portrayal of the East, reinforcing Western stereotypes and prejudices
    • Orientalism is a term coined by Edward Said to describe the Western tendency to exoticize and romanticize the East, often inaccurately and derogatorily
    • In Tamburlaine the Great, the East is portrayed as a place of luxury, decadence, and cruelty, with characters such as the Persian king and the Turkish emperor depicted as cruel and tyrannical
    • The play reinforces the idea of Western superiority and the notion that the East is a place of barbarism and savagery, while the West is civilized and enlightened

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    Explore the lives and works of the University Wits, a group of young playwrights and poets in 16th-century London, including Christopher Marlowe and Robert Greene.

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