Historia literatury angielskiej

Characteristic features of old eng literature: - alliteration-the repetition of initial sounds is stress syllables ; - meter-iambic meter; -ceasura-przerwa na nabranie oddechu= 2 accented syllables in the 1st half line, then caesura and then next half line/ any number of unaccented; -kenning-compounds used instead of simple words.

Beowulf (6th c):
-3182 lines preserved; -Scop (minstrel)-wedrujacy poeta; -genre=heroic epic poem = talks about great heroes; -Danes,Geats, Jutes; -Loyalty = special relationship between the king and his thanes; =relationship of kinship this relationship is based on love, it’s very strong; -fate/destiny= characters believe that fate controls them; -written by Christian poet; -plot is taken from folktales and legends; -mixture of pagan and Christian tradition

Bede-Eccllsiastical History of England
6th-7th c- reintroduction of Christianity
2different cultural influences: -german tribes; -christianity

Kinds of poetry in middle ages:
1. HEROIC poetry: -written in anglo-saxon (old English) language; -alliteration; -absence of rhymes; -presence of the caesura; -aim-to reward great warriors,fighters.
->Lay-narrative epic poem: -aim to immortalize the names of great warriors; -atmosphere in these poems is rather gloomy and dark
There r 30.000 lines of old eng poetry that preserve to modern times:
1. Ms Cotton Vitellus –Beowulf, Judith
2. The Junius MS – Genesis, Daniel, Christianed Satan (Bodlein Library,Oxford)
3. The Exeter Book –Christ, The Wonderer, The Sea Farer, Widsith
4. The Vercelli Book –Address of the Soul to the Body, The Dream of the Road, Elene.

2. RELIGIOUS poetry-8th-10th c: -Caedmon’s Hymn (9lines only); OLD SCHOOL POETRY:*Cynewulf-he used running letters; poems=Christ, Juliana, Elein, Aposthols; -aim to learn people about christianity, to prize the Lord; *”Ruthwell Cross”-Jesus is called young hero there,he’s brave.
3. ELEGY: -the most lyrical of old eng poetry; -:Wonderer”-it’s a lament of solitary man
Lyrical poetry-deals with emotions,it expresses personal emotions
Epic poetry-its aim is to tell a story
4. UBI SUNT THEME-“gdzie sa niegdysiejsze sniegi”: -„The Seafarer “; -“The ruin”; -anglo-saxon love poems: -“The Wife’s Lament”; -“The Husband’s Message”; -“Wulf and Eadwater”
5. RIDDLES/Gnomic verses-very short poems that describe sth.
6. 10th c HEROIC POETRY: -“The Battle of Brunaburgh” celebrates the soldiers but as a whole group of warriors and not the only one hero personally.
7. ANGLO –SAXON POETRY-religious and didactic 11th, 12th c: -“The Worcester Fragment”; -“Poema Morale”; -“Cursor Mundi”; -octosylabic couplet; -1200”The Owl and The Nightingale”-debat
8. ROMANS: *Verse Romance- a story about some unimportant events; plot contain a lot of elements;there is a fight but rather about views; *Chanson de gest:-action-north of France; longue d’oil; -country love, tradition trouveres-south of France-longue d’oc; troubadurs
Jean Bodel:
1) “The Matter of France”
2) “The Matter of Britain”
3) “The Matter of Rome and Great Britain”-“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”
4) “The Matterog England” - Romances based on English history
9. Genres imported from France: -courtly romance; -fablian-short narrative poem, realistic, makes fun from some characters; -fable
10. Genres imported from Greek tradition: -Medieval bestiang
11. Other genres: -carole-a song accompanied by a dance; -political lyrics; -religious lyric poems “I sing Maiden”; -allegorical romance –“Romanse de al Rosa”; -ballad-folk themes, heroes, repetition of elements is important.

Nennius-“Historia Britonum”-9th c; in latin, he mentioned the figure of King Arthur as Dux Balorum in historical world.
Geoffrey of Monmouth –“Historia Regum Britanniae”-1st literary work
La(zz)amon -1st version of King Arthur’s legend in English, in “Brut”

Sir Thomas Malony-died in 1471-“Le ‘Morte D’Arthur”-printed by the 1st English printer in 15th c.It’s the fullest version and the most popular one.
Alliterative revival-pwrot do aliteracji
“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”-it’s a creation of one individual poet, written around 1375-1400.The poet was anonymous. It’s skilfully written, devided into FITTS.

GEFFREY CHAUCER -1340/43-1400
1370-new division of society-organic view of society ;
Boethius – “Consolidation of Philosophy”-Chaucer knew it.
1st poem “The Book of the Duchess”-1369-an elegy, French influence.
3periods in his work:
1)French period
2) Italian period: -he met Boccacio&Petrark: -“The House of Fame”-left unfinished-1374/5: >consists of2books; > prologue-nature of dreams; >sleep; >house of fame-showed to him by devil(Dante influence);
-“The Parliament of Fowls”:>dream; >to celebrate King’s Richard; >argument between birds;it’s allegorical;
-“Troilus and Criseyda”: >rhyme royal stanza(consists of 7lines:ababbcc); >story adopted from Boccacio;
-“The Legend of Good Woman”
3) English period: -“Canterbury Tales”
Framing device –rama dla utworu
CANTERBURY –Thomas Beckett (1118-1170).King Henry II didn’t agree with Beckett
CANTERBURY TALES: 22 stories;
Medieval theory of humors: -yellow bile=fire->choleric(prone to anger); -black bile=earth->melancholic(prone to sadness); -blood=water->sanguine (cheerful); -phlegm=air->phlegmatic(slow).
Humor meant personality, character, also called complexion.
Negative characters: Monk, Chaucer, Friar
Fun of: Squire, Prioress, Sergeant; -Wife of bath
Positive characters: Knight, Parson, Ploughman

John Gower (1330-1408): -admired by Chaucer, but never as popular as he; -“Confessia Amantis”-1386-exemplum-he wantes to teach people, Chaucer named him “moral Gower”, in Eng;-“Miroir de l’Homme” -a kind of moral lesson, in French ; -Vox Clamontis”-judgement of the English society, in Latin.

WILLIAM LANGLAND (1330-1386): -poetry preoccupied with religion; -alliterative revival; -“Piers Plowman”- function as an allegory, it’s about eng society, he spent 2- years o that poem, begins with prologue and then’s divided into parts called PASSUS: -1st part-Visio-speaker falls asleep; -2nd part-Vita; the structure of the poem s not unified but the theme is unified; main char looks for the truth and the way how to deserves for salvation. Poem concerns 7deadly sins; crucifixion of Christ and then redemption.

DRAMA: -no narrator; -dialogues; -Aristotle-drama is imitating human actions; -a STORY that is told through the ACTION by actors who impersonate CHARACTERS of this story and who use DIALOGUES.; -drama originated in Ancient Greece – the cult of Dionizos: *the celebrations of fertility->comedy; *the celebrations of death and resurrection->tragedy; -Tragedy means GOAT SONG. It’s sacrificial animal that was used during the resurrection; -props (rekwizyty); -dramatic CONVENTIONS: *convention of impersonation; *stage is location of actual setting of the action; *play is divided into scenes and acts; *the use of poetic language, costumes; *dramatic structure (Freytag’s pyramid) introduction->rising action->climax(crisis)->falling action->catastrophe; +exposition-to create the tone of drama, provide setting, introduce characters, provide all necessary information to understand the topic; + the exciting force-starts the conflict of opposing interests; +epitasis-classical term for rising action; + climax-moment of the highest tension; +falling action-forces that’re opposed the hero; relief scenes; -catastrophe-tragic fall of the hero, usually death; DENOUEMENT-the play doesn’t finish with catastrophe.

Development of middle aged drama is not continuation of Antic drama. Drama was always connected with some religious celebrations. Esp with winter and summer solstice. Ludus-aspekt ludyczny dramatu-dramatical entertainment(latin); Pleg (anglosaxon); play (modern equivalent)

1576-The Theatre – James Burbage built it.
1264-1311 – Corpus Christi Day was established; eng Drama originated in Christian Church, it’s connected to Christian festivals. 1)response to a dialogue(simple chanting) between the priest and the choir on sections of the choir; 2)more elaborate ecting out of a scene between two or more characters; 3)Trope is seen as a very beginning of drama; dramatic elaboration of a part of liturgy; the earliest is the Easter Trope-dialogue between angels and 3 Marries it was described by bishop Etholwold “Regulaus Comedia” in 970y.
4) Passion Play-developed and showed crucifixion; 5)Liturgical drama (12th c): -composed of some vernacular elements (English elements); -the subject matter is still religious; Ludi (Ludus)-instrument of instruction for illiterate audience. Teaching people some moral lessons. The aim is educational and to provide moral examples. 3types of these plays: *Mystery play: -medieval religious play, that is based on Biblical history(scriptural plays) They developed from liturgical drama. Movable pageants. >1st group- the Old Testament plays (eg. The sacrifice of Isaac); >2nd gr- the Old Testament plays(eg. The birth of Christ); >3rd gr – the death and resurrection (eg. The betrayal of Judas; crucifixion, Pentecost) ; >> York-low, 48 plays survive (54 in original); >>Chester –the earliest cicle, rather simple action, moral, entertainment; 25 plays; >>Coventry -only 2 plays remain; >>Wakefield / Towneley -42-the highest artistic manner, 5of them’re written by the same person; “Noah”,”2nd Shephard place”; are very realistic, a lot of humour, a lot of information.
Trade Guilds –some of trades would chose a play connected with their occupation.
*Miracle play: -non-scriptural play; -based on ome kind of legend, may tell us a story about miracle(secret object) of some saint; -“A play of st. Catherine”, “Plays on st. Nicolas”(12th c), “Play of the Sacrament”(15th c); “Conversion of st. Paul”, “st. Magdalene”(15th c).
* Morality play: -developed in lat middle ages; is concerned as the most advanced; dramatized allegory; -vices appear in personified way the same as virtues; -the motif of psychomachia appears. It’s the battle of positive and negative features; -dance of death –personification of death as God’s messenger; -allegory-elaborated metaphor that tells a story but meaning is outside the story; -“The Castle of Perseverance” -1425-34 characters who fight between mankind’s Good Angels and the Bad Angels(supported by 7 deadly sins). The play was found in the macro manuscript. Another plays found in the macro MS are “Wisdom” and “Mankind”. The aim of the plays is to teach people morals.

Interlude – secularization drama(the end of 15th c) sztuka wstawiana w przerwie jakichs powazniejszych sztuk dla rozrywki.
Henry Medwall – „Fulgens and Lucrece” –about 2 young people. Lucrece chooses poor but virtous. A lot of comic scenes in mixture with serious elements. This purpose is explicit in epilogue: to edify and to amuse.

EVERYMAN (around 1485) Elckerlijk: -morality play-to teach Christians how to live; -clear form of allegory; -it’s not based on miracle and illustrating a Bible, but how to live to get salvation; -good deeds become stronger thanks to confession;

RENEISSANCE
-rediscovery of tradition of Ancient Greece and Rome; -1485-Accession of Henry VII; the beginning of Tudors; -1509-Henry VIII-beginning of Anglican church; -1517-Martin Luther’s Wittenberg Theses-protestant denomination; -1535-Henry VII acknowledged as the “Supreme Head on Earth of the English Church”; -1557-“Tottel’s Miscellany” published; -1558-Elizabeth I became the king of England; -1588-defeat of Spanish Armada; -1603-death of Elizabeth I-the throne was taken by James I Stuart; Stuart’s dynasty beginning.;
-production of quality literature in Eng; -Geografical discoveries-1492-discovery of America; vasco da gama; -successful merchants, they often made great fortunes; Francis Drake; -exporting clothes made of woll; -migration from rural areas of the country to the urban areas (economic changes; new professions); -the character of he knight disappear; firearms started to be used; -humanism- human beng in the centre of attention, nature. Aristotle become popular once again etc but literature is created now in native languages, classical traditions re used to improve literature in vernacular language; -Chaucer as the founder of English literature; -the concept of the universe was in medieval ages theocentric, now it’s not; -Sir Thomas More-“Utopia”-vision of the ideal society rejection of the rule of the pope, he has his head cut; -reformation; -very optimistic period in England; -new genres in literature.
POETIC GENRES & CONVENTIONS: 1) pastoral convention – idealization of simple rural world that is close to nature, includes shepherd’s life, simply occupations, people are happy of their lives, they r satisfied and don’t want more. The themes r: love, admiration of the world of nature; -pastoral lyric(description of the joys of such a simple life; praising the joy; -pastoral eclogue (dialogue between two shepherds)
2) mythological poems:-derived from Ovid
3)the sonnet –a lyric poem, so one that deals with personal emotions; 3 types: -Italian/Petrarchan: *iambic pentameter; *divided into 2 parts: >octave-abba abba; >sestet- cde cde/cd cd cd/ cde dce; -English/Shakespearian: *devided into 4 parts: >3 quatrains ab ab cd cd ef ef; >couplet gg; -Spenserian’s Sonnet: *3 quatrains and a couplet: abab bc bc cd cd; *linking rymes;
Queen Elizabeth I was frequently the object of poems/sonnets; she was called virgin; - the form of sonnet was introduced to England by Sit Thomas Wyatt – at 1st h started translating Petrarchan Sonnets then he wrote his own.
Topics of the sonnets: -love for the lady-poet complain-feelings of lovers; -complaints about coldness of the lady to the poet; -renunciation of love ; -absence, missins someone; -poetry-originality; -the suffering of the lover
They used Petrarchan conceits: -expressing in extravagant terms; -comparisons r exaggerated and very elaborated.
Lyric poetry and Drama: - the term lyric come from association with musical instrument “lyra”; -writing poetry for develop writing skills not for money; -they want to introduce some new aspects also, not only r based on ancient culture; -neoplatonic idealization of the object of love; -love as means of redemption; -feelings of misogyny – reluctance for women; renunciation of love.
SIR THOMAS WYATT (1503-1542)
He was a courtier and diplomat so he traveled a lot. He was interested in foreign lit.He’s responsible for bringing Petrarch to England. 2 major gr of his poetry: 1) sonnets based on Italian models – at 1st he was translating Petrarchan sonnet. 2)lyrics in the manner of native Eng ballet –spirit of such poetry is much more joyful and optimistic. His poetry can be found in Tottel’s Miscellany. “The Long Love that in My Thought Doth Harbour”-love is compared to warrior. Lady doesn’t care about his feelings. The only thing that he can do is the fight with his matter for love. It’s another translation of the same Italian poet, the version of Henry Howard is easier to read. ;
“Farewell, Love”-The poet reject love, there’s no woman there, He’s not going to think about love anymore, instead he wants to think about knowledge. He’s not interested in pain connected to love. He wants to develop intellectually (develop mind not heart). Love brings only pain and suffer.
“I find no Peace”-Iambic pentameter, serials of paradoxes-they seemingly exclude each other but then we find some sense in it. He feels like this because of love because love can be only described as the series of paradoxes.
“Madam, Withouthen Many Words” –if u accept me just tell me and if u don’t tell me too, that’s ok, we can be friends.
“The Soote Season”-poet describes sweet season, spring. Everything is new and fresh but the poet cannot be happy because is unhappy in love.
SIR PHILIP SIDNEY (1554-1586)
He was great courtier, soldier, scholar and poet. SPREZZATURA-doing sth difficult in a perfect way without showing any effort. –“Pastoral romance Arcadia”; -“The Defense of Poesy”-it’s well known essay response to sb who attacked poetry; his arguments r: *poetry is sth that has ancient tradition and is prestigious; -*has some kind of universality; *the poet can make nature better, new and more beautiful; *poet presents virtues and vices in a more convincing way-he has a function of a teacher; *compares poet to the philosopher and historian; *the poetry imitates not only what is but also what might be(creative power); *defends Eng as the proper medium of poetry.; - CLICH-utarte wyrazenie uzywane nadmiernie; he protested against using these clichs; he used his own comparisons. “Astrophel and Stella”-it’s based on well understood convention, feelings of lovers are contrary. He uses original and spontaneous convention. He uses hexameter, 6feet, 12 syllables. ; - “sonnet1”-u have to look in ur heart to write a poem. The lover would read it and she would find out about his feelings,1st she would feel pity but then she appreciate him. He looks for inspiration in ancient poetry but he need some new inventions.; -“sonnet 31”-the poet is in constant love with one woman, he perceive moon as a constant state with sad face. The poet think that even in heaven there s such phenomena as painful love. Feeling of despair because his constant feeling is not understand.
DEVELOPMENT OF ELIZABETHIAN DRAMA: -development of theater at that time was strongly influenced by renaissance; -movement from religious topics toward secular ones; -themes taken from (inspired by): history, Greek & Roman myths and legends (mythology); -strong influence of classical writers: *Seneca=tragedy; *Plautus=comedy; -famous Eng writers: Heywood, Medwall, Rastell; -they introduced humanistic themes: *movement of interests from salvation towards education; *interest in politics “Magnificience”-John Scalton; “King Johan” –struggle between the king and the pope; *a lot of critic for churches-vices impersonated as a catholic priest-John Bale; *Nicholas Udall-“Ralph Raister Doister” –he introduced for the 1st time a soldier who always boasts(1553); *”Grammer Gurton’s Needle”-themes taken from Eng life but structures from ancient drama.; -Tragedy remain under strong ancient influence from Seneca’s tragedies.He was a Roman writer, a stoic.A lot of elements of cruelty, violence, tragic conflict, murders, very bloody, appearance of ghosts as characters; -“Gorbodul” or “Ferrex & Porrex”(1561)it has more than 1 author.1st 3 by Thomas Morton and the last 2 by Sackville. Garbodul has a wife and 2 sons:Ferrex and Porrex in a revenge.5 acts.; - being an actor was not vry respectable profession . Most of playhouses were built on the outskirt of the city. In 1583the master of the Revels decided to form an official company of actors that have to perform their plays at Royal Court. Play Houses were very big, 3000 people can enter there.; -1593-The Globe-the most popular Elizabethan theater, Theatres were greatly decorated. Costumes were very expensive and beautifully decorated; -University wits-educated, young, witty people who decided to turn to playwriting (Robert Green, Thomas Lodge, George Pill, Thomas Nash, Thomas Kid, Christopher Marlowe).
Drama becomes part of literature: -Robert Green-romantic comedy-“The Honorable History of the Friar Bacon and the Friar Bungay”. Love between Margaret & 1 of the title character. Friar Bacon wants to prove that he has magic power.; -Thomas Kid-romantic tragedy-“The Spanish Tragedy” Love, conspiracy, murder, revenge; -Marlowe & Shakespeare-revenge tragedy-tragedy of blood: *the heroes, quest for revenge often because of the ghosts prompts; *insanity(pretended or real); *a play within a play; *a lot of scenes of violence that r played on scene not like in Seneca plays (scenes of bloody fights); -professionalization of the theatre (a gr of professional authors)
CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE (born in Canterbury)-he didn’t study theology but dialectic. He spent lots of time in Rome. 1587- “Tamburlaine 1”, part 2 at 1588. He was very skillful. He had terrible reputation. –political plays with any very well developed characters:“Dido Queen of Cothage”, “Jew of “Malta”, “Edward II”; -morality plays: “Massacre at Paris”-only fragments remain, “Dr Faustus”. Self made man-czlowiek tory sam sie stworzyl pojawia sie po raz pierwszy w Tamburlaine. Desire to prove sth Power of Money of unlimited knowledge.
THOMAS HOBBS-1588-“Leviathan”

SHAKESPEARE(1564-1616)
-“Greens cwierc funta rozumu”-earliest published text; -1593-“Venus & Adonis”, 1594-“The Rape of Lucrece”=these r narrative poems 1st published in 1594; -1601-“The Phoenix & the Turtle”; -1609-sonnets were published; -1623-“The first folio”-the 1st official edition of Shakespeare’s plays in print; -he writes also about 1 central point (as Marlowe). Every time of his carrier he wrote different types of plays.; -“bad quaitos”-nieoficjane edycje np spisywane w czasie przedstawinia.
1) 1st series of romantic comedies: -“Two Gentlemen of Verona”; -“A Midsummer’s Night Dream”; -“12 Night”; -“The Merchant of Venice”; -“Much a Due about nothing”; -“As u like it”.
2) History plays: Henry VI(3 parts), Richard III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, King John.
3)Tragedies (1600-1606-gr8 tragedy period): Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Anthony & Cleopatra.
4) Problem plays or bitter comedies: (the plays end well, but some elements of the play r almost tragic): Troilus & Cressida, All’s well that ends well, Measure for measure.
5) Romances: (main theme evil & innocence conflict, atonement, magic, folklore): Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest.
He didn’t write anything in the last 5-6 years of his life. His poetry is universal, gr8 ability to mix skillfully different topics. Gr8 knowledge of human nature and history. After his death his competitor Ben Johnson wrote an elegy about Shakespeare.

DEVELOPMENT OF 17TH C POETRY:
1599-Spencer dies-the gr8est non-dramatic poet. 1603-James I Stuart takes over the English throne.
2 SCHOOLS OF POETRY:
1) Metaphysical School of Poetry –John Donne(the founder of this school), Andrew Marvell, George Herbert, Thomas Carew, Thomas Traherne, Richard Crashaw, Henry Vaghn; -Discordia concors-a combination of dissimilar images or discovery of awkward resemblances in things apparently unlike (Samuel Johnson 18th c);
-Features: *sharpened awareness of contradictory nature of human experience; *paradox, conceit, hyperbole, antithesis, catachresis-celowe uzycie terminow w zlym kontekscie, oxymoron; -restlessness of temper; -metaphysical conceit/wit-refers to ability to bring together 2 or 3 things that seems to be completely different/alike and show similarity between them: metaphors may be shocking and surprising but have to make sense, discord przeciwienstwo harmony, striking parallel between things that r completely unlike-the conceit is the centre of the poem, it may be shocking; -they want the language sounds as everyday life speech; -science begin influence the poetry-poets often use images that come from science.
GENRES: -personal lyric: *highly individual tone, poet shows us his own vision; *original stanza patterns-language that has to imitate spoken language is not so regular/colloquial language; *intellectual, analytical, psychological poetry; *sometimes the poem can be in form of an argument but not only with another person but also with God or himself; *T.S.Elliot-in his essay says that these poets were able to feel and think at the same time; they avoided Dissociation of sensibility.
2) Cavalier School of Poetry – Ben Jonson
-influenced by Roman writers; - Richard Lovelace, John Suckling, Robert Herrick; -proportion, harmony, decorum, light hearted poetry, melodies; - Braggadoccio motif(sb who is always noisy); -themes: love, war, loyalty to the king, chivalry; -easy to read, usu, short, not shocking.

JOHN DONNE(1571-1631): -born in London, gifted & talented child; -1594 he joined to Anglican Church; -1633 –“Satires & Elegies” was published(2 ys after his death); -1596-he joined to expedition against Spanish. He get married secretly to niece of Sir Thomas Eagertone (Anna Moor); -1607-“The Progress of the Soul”-result of his being in jail; -he started practicing law; -1607-“Divine Poems”-his own personal searches; -1615-he decided to be a priest of the Anglican church; -1617-his wife died, religion was the only thing that has left to him; -1618-“Holy Sonnets”; -1620-he becomes seriously ill; -1623-24-recovalescence from the illness, then he wrote “Devotions upon Emergent Occasions”-no1 is an island; -his poetry is reaction against smooth love sonnets of Petrarch; -very often uses paradoxes and language of religious devotion to discuss love and passion and language of love to discuss religious devotion.
“The Flea”-published in 1633;
“The Relic”, “A Valedication:Forbidding Mourning”-image of intelligent woman.
Robert Herrick-“To Julia”-in this kind of poetry only appearance of the woman is important, whilst in Donne’s poetry the mind is the most important.
Donne’s spiritual life was very important, he was always struggling with his doubts about faith and his life. “Holy Sonnet 14”

GEORGE HERBERT(1593-1633): -he’s not a typical metaphysical poet, his poetry is more peaceful than John Donne’s.; -He was Welsh by origin, educated in Cambridge; -he was very good minister; -was known in his parish as Holy Herbert; -1633- his poems were published after his death- “The Temple”- a collection of his poems; -was very devoted to religion; -wrote only religious poetry that praises God; -tradition of the EMBLEM poetry: *popular in 17th c and renaissance; *it was often illustration that contains a motto frequently in Latin; -pic that allegoricaly presents poem; -poem was some kind of comment that brings together the motto and the illustration together; -in Herbert’s poetry there r no pics but they r shaped in a way of image.; -“The Altar”-the most important poem of “The Temple”; -“The Collar”

RICHARD CRASHAW(1613-1649): metaphysical poet, brought up in Anglican church but then joined to roman. He wrote “Steps to the temple” Interested in emblematic poetry, roman catholic mystical experiences. Collection of his poems: “The flaming heart” Crashaw admired Theresa z Avinion ktorej ukazal sie Jezus z plonacym sercem. He is said to be a baroque poet(the only one in England). His poemas were published after his death.

BEN JONSON(1572/3-1637): -he was an actor, a writer, he goes back to middle ages drawing from comedy of humours. Characters r dominated by the particular passions like:desire for money, desire for power,etc. The most famous play is “Everybody’s in humour”.; -. He was a father of Cavalier poet school. He wrote also tragedy “Spanish tragedy”. He was also put in a jail.. In 1598 he was sentenced to hanging but the custom was that a person who writes and reads was saved. When he was in jail he turned to roman Catholicism.
20 ys later he came back to English church. He wrote a satirical play “Poetaster” & he made fun of T. Decker. His 1st successful play was “Every Man in His Humour” (1598). This play indicates an important prologue in which he indicates that he is a realist. He stresses the realism of play (imitation of life). One character from this play was performed by Shakespeare. Next play “Cynthia’s Revels” (1600). This play followed “Every Man Out of His Humor.” (1599).; -after imprisonment in 1605 he wrote “Volpone”. There r characters whose names r: Fly,Fox,Volture(bad characters) Bonnario, Cylia (positive characters); -1609-“Epicoene or a Silent Woman”; -1610-“The Alchemist”; -1614-“Bartholomew’s Fayre” –these r satirical of human vices, the characters posses individual features.
Tragedies of Roman themes: -1603-“Sejanus”; -1611-“Catiline”; -in his plans he didn’t keep to the unity of figure although he drawed from classical plays.; -Jonson’s dotage-the period in which Jonson is getting old & his output isn’t as good as before.
Masque-dramatic entertainment with singing dancing etc. played by amateurs. Performed to Royal Family.; -Cuty masque-the prologue to the main Masque.; -Masques: “The Masque of Queens”1609, “Love Restored”1612, “Mercury Vindicated”1616, “Pleasure Reconciled to Virtue”1618; -they always contain some compliments of the queens (The Royals); -poems r divided into several different groups: 1)poems of festive ceremonies; 2)elegies & epitaphs; 3) compliments & tributes; 4)songs; 5)epigrams; -he died as a very successful and respected man, 1638-a set of poems was published called “Jonsonus Verbuis”-poemas written by his friends celebrating him.
CAVALIER POETS: -followers of Ben Johnson; -it was a period in history of conflicts between parliament and king Charles I. Cavalier support rather Charles I.; -Thomas Carew, John Suckling, Richard Lovelace, Robert Herrick; -they were all aristocratic origin only R.Herrick was a countryman; -this poetry various clarity and proportion –influenced by classical Roman poets; -influenced by Horace; -influenced also by Catullus. ; -FEATURES of poems: -light-hearted in tone; -very graceful; -melodious language; -polished in manner, they know how to use rules; -epigramatic and witty; -bragaddocio-the person who boasts about his brave but in fact is a coward; -“Bad Wedding”poem of John Suckling; -the most popular theme is love, but also war; -the theme of chivalry; -loyalty to the king; -poems distinguished by short lines, precise, idiomatic diction, the presence of wit.
ROBERT HERRICK(1591-1674): -not of aristocratic origin; -wrote many love poems to womem eg to Julia, Corinna.- they were taken from his imagination, he had never married; -1648-“Hesporidee”; -“His pray to Ben Jonson”-he treats Ben Jonson as a kind of saint.; -any elusions to old ancient beliefs.;CARPE DIEM=SEIZE THE DAY -“To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”.

ANDREW MARVELL(1621-1678): -difficult to classify; -combination of metaphysical and cavalier; -his wit was rather metaphysical; -poetry full of grace and melody, proportion and balance which r characteristic for cavalier; -very humorous and graceful poems; -assistant of John Milton who was losing sight; -1650-“An Horatian Ode upon Cromwell’s return from Ireland”-political poetry; -lyric poetry “To His Coy Mistress”; -“The Garden”, “a dialogue between soul and body”