Contribution of the University Wits to the English Drama
History of English Literature is a notable literary work by ___. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of History of English Literature.
Answer
Who were the University Wits? Assess the contribution of the University Wits to the English drama.
The term ‘University Wits’ is applied to a group of highly educated English scholars. George Saintsbury, a literary historian, gave this title. ‘University Wits’ flourished in the Elizabethan age (1558-1603) under the influence of the Renaissance. They take writing as a profession. ‘University Wits’ are particularly associated with the University of Cambridge and Oxford. The university wits consist of planets like Thomas Kyd, John Lyly, George Peele, Robert Greene, Thomas Lodge, and Thomas Nashe—that revolve around Christopher Marlowe, the central sun. They directly influence William Shakespeare (1564-1616).
Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593): Christopher Marlowe is the icon among the “University Wits”. He is from Cambridge University. He is best known for his groundbreaking plays, including “Doctor Faustus,” “Tamburlaine,” and “The Jew of Malta.” Marlowe’s works explore themes of ambition, power, and the human condition. The tendency of gaining God’s like power is found in Doctor Faustus’s dialogue,
“A sound magician is a mighty God.”
Again, Marlowe reveals the contemporary human mentality. Elizabethan people were thinking of them as immortal. They wanted to have their desired things at any cost. Doctor Faustus, as his last wish, wants to have Helen. When Helen appears before him, he says,
“Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.”
Marlowe introduces blank verse to the stage and influences Shakespeare. He died young in a suspicious stabbing in 1593.
John Lyly (1554-1606): John Lyly is one of the University Wits from Oxford University. He is famous for prose romance. Lyly mainly focuses on elaborate metaphors, wordplay, wit, and humor. Lyly is best known for his prose romance “Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit” and its sequel “Euphues and His England”. His other works include “Endymion,” “Gallathea,” “Mother Bombie,” and “The Woman in the Moon.” His comedies were performed by the Children of the Chapel, a prominent acting company of that time. In “Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit,” Lyly emphasizes the valueUnlock this study guide now