The Renaissance Period (1500-1660)/The Elizabethan Age.

The Renaissance Period

Though renaissance began in 1453, it's effect on English life and literature was felt after 1500.For this reason it is generally accepted that the renaissance period began with the beginning of the 16th century and continued till the Restoration in 1660.This period is called the Renaissance Period because renaissance spirit was the main force that characterized the literature of this time.This period of 160 years is subdivided into four shorter ages according to the names of the political rulers.

a.The Elizabethan Age-1558-1603
This age is named after Queen Elizabeth I who reigned over England from 1558 to 1603.This is the most glorious age of English literature.
Major Writers and Their Major Works
1.  Thomas More (1478-1535)
                           Utopia (Kingdom of Nowhere)
2.  Edmund Spenser (1552-99)
                                The Faerie Queen-1590
                                 The Shepherd's Calendar-1579
3.  Nicholas Udall
                             Ralph Roister Doister-1553,the first English comedy.
4.  Norton and Sackville (1536-1608)
                          Gorboduc-1562,The first English tragedy
5.  Thomas Kyd (1557-1595),a university wit.
                         The Spanish Tragedy-1585
6.  Sir Philip Sidney(1554-1586)
                             An Apologie for Poetrie-1595
                             Arcadia-1590
7.  Christopher Marlowe (1565-93),a university wit
                                       Tamburlaine the Great - 1587
                                        Dr.Faustus - 1592
                                        The Jew of Malta - 1589
                                         Edward 2 - 1591
8.  Francis Bacon (1561-1626),the natural philosopher.
                                          Essays - 1597
9.  Ben Jonson (1573-1637)he is called a neo-classicist
                             Every Man in His Humour - 1599
10.  John Lyly (1554-1606)a university wit
                                  Campaspe -1584
                                   Sapho and Phao -1584
                                   Midas - 1589
                                   Euphues - 1579
11.Robert Greene (1558-92)a university wit.
                                Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay - 1589
                                 James-IV  - 1591
12.  George Peele (1558-98)a university wit
                             David and Bethsabe -1599
                             Arraignment of Paris - 15849
13.  Thomas Nashe (1567-1601)a university wit.
                               The Unfortunate Traveller - 1594
14.  Beaumont (1584-1616) and Fletcher (1579-1625)
                                   Philaster -1611
                                   A King and No King - 1611
                                   The Maid's Tragedy -1610
15.  William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

b.Jacobean Age-1603-1625
c.Caroline Age-1625-1649
d.Commonwealth Period-1649-1660