Assignment- II B.A. English (20-21) : History of English literature
Topics for Assignment
1. Give an account of Ben Jonson as a Dramatist. (A.Bavatharani)
2. Discuss life and achievements of Dramatist Ben Jonson. (M. Boomika)
3. Ben Jonson is a realist. Discuss with reference to his plays. (R.Kalpana)
4. Explain Ben Jonson's contribution to the Comedy of Humours. ( M.Roja Banu)
5. Explain Theory of Humours in detail. (S.Santha Kumari)
6. Discuss Ben Jonson as a Satirist with reference to his plays. ( S.Senthamil)
7. Give an account of Life of Francis Bacon as a prose writer and politician. (K.Sreeja)
8. Give an account of works of Francis Bacon. (M.Sumaiya Thasleem)
9. Explain the background of Jacobean Era and Jacobean Dramatists in detail. (E.Vanmathi)
10. Give an account of Jacobean Dramatists and their works. (M. Murugeshwari)
11. Trace the origin and development of English Drama. (S. Divya)
12. Give an account of University Wits and their contribution to the development of English Drama. (V. Ramya bharathi)
13. Give an account of Metaphysical poets and Metaphysical poetry in detail. (S. Barani)
14. Explain in detail about the life and works of John Bunyan. ( Gayathrri. V)
15. Give an account of John Milton and his contribution to English Literature. (Shritha. N)
Deadline for Submission : 17.10.2020
Dear Students,
ReplyDeletePost your assignment answers here.
Ben Jonson:
DeleteBen jonson, the greatest among the jacobean dramatist, produced various kinds of writing But, he is chiefly remembered for this drama, popularly known as the comedies of Humour. These comedies are read and appreciated even today
Ben jonson became popular as a dramatist with the production of every man in his Humour .
Then he produced every man out of his Humour.
But every interesting playbof this type were The ALCHEMIST, VOLPONE ,EPICOENE or the silent woman
THEORY OF HUMOUR:
Jonson's theory of Humours was based on the medival theory. The human body was lapsed to be composed of four fluids ( Humour) blood ,phegin, Bile and black bile.If the fluids were in ideal proportion in a body. The person the person would be abnormal in body and mind .Too much of blood would make a person enthusiastic Happy(sanguine); PHLEGM would make him (phlegmatic) ,cold and unexcited; bile would make him angry(choleric) ; and black Nile would make one sad(or melancholic)any combination would make him obsessed with some particular quality of behaviour what jonson means by 'humor ' in his comedies is that this character are obsessed with some quality. For example, kiteley in Every man in his Humour is obsessed with incurable jealousy.
These comedies have become popular because of this realism. His would is the contemporary London. He takes his comedies seriously. His purpose is not only to analyze but also to teach and correct the society. His character are not Individual but types we have and anxious father miestly, jealos lover and blaggring soldier.
Ben jonson is a classicist in order to check the emotional excess of his contemporaries he follows mediculosly all the tree classical unites.
All this would prove that his comedies of Humours laid the foundation for the emergence of the comedies of manner in the next century.
M.ROJA BANU
B9A18562
2ND BA ENGLISH
Ben Jonson’s contribution to the comedy of Humours:
ReplyDeleteThe terms“humour” comes from the ancient Greek physicians and, later, from the medieval system of medicine. This system envisaged four major humours corresponding with the four elements (fire, air, earth, and water) and possessing the quality respectively of heat, cold, dryness, and moisture.
“In Elizabethan times”, says Ifor Evans in A Short History of English Drama,“this medieval physiology was not treated with complete seriousness, but its vocabulary became a popular fashion in sophisticated conversation and this again Jonson exploited.”
Elizabethan Interpretation:
“Humour”, apart from its currency in the medieval profession, was also a catchword when Ben Jonson began to write.
Was ever -woman in this-humour wooed?
Was ever -woman in this humour won?
Again, in The Merchant of Venice, when Shylock is asked why he prefers a pound of the flesh of Bassanio’s heart to the sum of three thousand ducats, he replies:
It is my humour.
Jonson’s Interpretation:
Ben Jonson dissociated himself from this degenerate meaning of the word “humour”, took it back to its original physiological sense and fitted it into the context of his concept of the nature and function of comedy. He explains that
When some one peculiar quality
Doth so possess a man that it doth draw
All his effects, his spirits, and his powers,
In their confluctions, all to run one way;
This may truly be said to be a humour.
The Purpose of Comedy:
Ben Jonson’s comedy is called the comedy of humours as it aimed primarily at the representation of such characters as were motivated mainly or entirely by their peculiar, dominant passions or humours.
It was not without reason that Ben Jonson characterised more than one of his comedies as “comical satires.”
Is Jonson an Imitator?:
We have not so far referred to Jonson’s indebtedness to classical dramatists in arriving at his concept of the comedy of humours. It was partly his classical instruction andxtaste which led him to this concept.
“No more genuine sketches ofLondon character are to be found in the annals of the drama.” They are children of Jonson’s own observation; and as an observer, he had, save Shakespeare, few rivals among his contemporaries.
Advantage of the Humour Technique:
There were some obvious advantages Jonson derived from the adoption of the humour technique. The chief among them are given below:
(i) First, it allowed him to dispense withe traditional clown or jester. The farcical laughter arising from the grotesque and slapstick farce of clownery could be substituted by the clash of humours.
(ii) Secondly, it provided a meeting-ground between classical theory and modern life.
(iii) Thirdly, as the introduction of humours put the dramatic emphasis on character at the cost of incident, it threw out of favour, once and for all, the comedy of mere intrigue.
(iv) Lastly, it rendered it possible for the master of satiric comedy, the doughty champion of classicism, and the most powerful of Elizabethan realists to be united in the same man. Jonson threw the massive weight of his dramatic genius against the current of popular taste and succeeded in pruning the romantic excesses of Elizabethan comedy.
The Disadvantages:
A very grave danger inherent in the envisagement and representation of humours was the possibility of a falsification of human nature. George Smith observes in this connexion : “In the first place, the presentation of certain selected humours throughout a long play involves the playwright, as it does novelists like Dickens.
Now it is a vice selected from the catalogue of moral philosophy sensuality thirsting for gold: the perverse double inclination becomes a personage, Sir Epicure Mammon; before the alchemist, before his friend, before his mistress, In public or alone, all his words denote a greed of pleasure and of gold, and they express nothing more.
M.Roja Banu
B9A18562
2nd BA English
Good Roja Banu
DeleteFrancis Bacon (1561-1626)
ReplyDeleteLife and works:
The age of Shakespeare was not entirely an age of drama; it was an age of prose as well. Prose was used by writers of various other fields also but a few writers claimed a place on record in the history of English Literature. Francis Bacon was the principal prose master of the Elizabethan period. He is hailed as the father of the English essay.
Bacon's life:
Francis Bacon was born in an Influcential family. His father was the keeper of the great seal of England. He was educated in Trinity college, Cambridge after his education he became a lawyer and was appointed the Queen's counsel. During the rule of James he became the attorney General and finally the lord keeper. Then came a sudden fall. He was charged with official malpractice but finally received a royal pardon. His last year were spent in scholary pursuits. He died of cold caught while doing a scientific experiment.
Works;essays:
Bacon's major contribute to literature is his little collection of essays or counsels civil and moral (1597). The essays deal with common topic like friendship. Studies, revenge, ambition, married life and parents and children.
The essays are brief, filled with Aphorisms (Aphorisms is a short, witly statement that contains a common truth) . For example in one of the essays "OF STUDIES" We find;"some books are to tasted, other to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested.
Bacon defines the essay as "DISPERSER MEDITATIONS" they are thoroughly practical in character. They concern themselves for the most part with the conduct of the life in private and public affairs. Extraordinary insight and sagacity are their salient feature. Bacon's style is marked by ornament. Imagery love of analogy and metaphor. They are 58 in number. Bacon has packed his thought into the smallest possible space. We can describe the essays as "INFINITE RICHES IN A LITTLE ROOM".
Novum Organum:
In his novum organum (meaning " New Organ Instrument)
Bacon advocate true science.
According to him true science is not speculation but collection of facts and observation.
The Advancement of Learning:
It is another important work by bacon it contains the substance of his philosophy it gives a General summary of human knowledge.
The New Atlantis:
In this work Bacon outline a Utopian society the people of atlantis are not interested in Philosophy. They conduct science the investigation and use the results to better the society it is said that bacon's work has anticipated the establishment of the royal society in 1662.
Thus Bacon is a powerful prose writer of the Elizabethan.
M. Sumaiya Thaslim,
B9A18567,
Department: 2nd BA English.
Good Sumaiya Thaslim
DeleteDear Students,
DeleteThe following answer is a general introduction of Ben Jonson.
Ben Jonson:
Jonson was born in London in 1573 was educated at the Westminster school became an actor about 1592 and in 1598 opened his career as a dramatist with his Every man in his humour.
Comedy of Humour:
Ben Jonson the greatest among the Jacobean dramatist, produced various kinds of writing but he is chiefly remember for this drama, popularly know as the comedies of humours. These comedies are read and appreciated even today.
Ben Jonson became popular as a dramatist with the production of Every man in his humour. Then he produced Every man out of his humour. But very interesting play of this type were.
The Alchemist, volpone, epicoene or the silent woman.
Theory of Humours:
Johnson's theory of humour was based on the medieval theory. The human body was supposed to be composed of four fluid (humours) blood, phlegm, bile and black bile. If the fluids were in ideal proportion in a body, the person would be abnormal in body and mind too much of blood would make a person enthusiastic happy (sanguine);phlegm would make him (phlegmatic), cold and unexcited;bile would make him angry (choleric); and black bile would make one sad (or melancholic) any combination would make obsessed with some particular quality of behaviour.
What Jonson means by 'humour' in his comedies is that his characters are obsessed with some quality. For example, kiteley in Every man in his humour is obsessed with incurable jealous.
These comedies have became popular because of their realism. His world is the contemporary London. He take his comedies seriously. His purpose is not only to abuse but also to teach and correct the society.
His characters are not individuals but types. We have an anxious father miserly, merchant, jealous, lover and bragging soldier.
Ben Jonson is a classicist in order to check the emotional excesses of his contemporaries classical unites.
All this would prove that his comedies of humours laid the foundation for the emergence of the comedies of manners in the next century.
M. Sumaiya Thaslim,
B9A18567,
Department: 2nd, BA English.
Performed around 1597, his play titled, ‘The Case is Altered’, was not printed for publication until a decade after. The following year, his play, ‘Every Man in His Humour' was published.
ReplyDeletePerformed in 1599, the satirical comedy play, ‘Every Man out of His Humour', was a sequel to his earlier play, ‘Every Man in His Humour'. His subsequent plays include, ‘Cynthia's Revels', ' The Poetaster' and 'Sejanus His Fall'.
In 1603, he wrote the masques for the ‘Stuart Court’ titled, ‘The Entertainment at Althorp', which is also referred to as ‘The Satyr'. This was one of his first works for the European royal house.
In 1604, his masque, ‘The Coronation Triumph’, a literary piece written for the coronation of King James I was performed. The same year, he also authored ‘A Private Entertainment of the King and Queen on May-Day’.
Performed and printed in 1605, his satirical comedy play, ‘Eastward Ho' was co-written with George Chapman and John Marston. The same year, his other comedy play, ‘Volpone' was performed.
From 1605 onwards, he wrote several works of entertainment for the royal European house. Some of which include, 'The Masque of Blackness', 'Hymenaei' 'The Masque of Beauty', 'The Masque of Queens' and 'The Hue and Cry After Cupid'.
In 1609, his comedy play, ‘Epicœne, or The Silent Woman' was performed. His subsequent plays include, 'The Alchemist', 'Catiline His Conspiracy', 'Bartholomew Fair' and 'The Devil is an Ass'.
In 1625, his play titled, ‘The Staple of News' was performed at the Blackfriars Theatre. This play was only published in later years and is regarded as one of his finest works.
Continue Reading Below
In 1633, 'A Tale of a Tub', a comedy play, was performed at the Cockpit theatre in London. This was one of the last of his plays that was performed during his lifetime.
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His Plays And Achievement
Ben Jonson occupies by common consent the second place among English dramatists of the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. He was a man of contraries. For “twelve years a papist,” he was also—in fact though not in title—Protestant England’s first poet laureate. His major comedies express a strong distaste for the world in which he lived and a delight in exposing its follies and vices. A gifted lyric poet, he wrote two of his most successful plays entirely in prose, an unusual mode of composition in his time. Though often an angry and stubborn man, no one had more disciples than he. He was easily the most learned dramatist of his time, and he was also a master of theatrical plot, language, and characterization. It is a measure of his reputation that his dramatic works were the first to be published in folio (the term, in effect, means the “collected works”) and that his plays held their place on the stage until the period of the Restoration. Later they fell into neglect, though The Alchemist was revived during the 18th century, and in the mid-20th century several came back into favour: Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair especially have been staged with striking success.
Milton's contribution can be identified two ways. The first is his contribution to the corpus of English literary works, such as three of his greatest: Paradise Lost, Lycidas, Samson Agonistes. Additionally, Milton broke with his contemporaries, who were largely following what we call the metaphysical tradition, and turned back to the Renaissance and to Greek and Latin poets. Thus it is he made a contribution to poetic and tragic genre by reviving the greatest earliest traditions, for instance, Samson Agonistes is styled as a classic Greek tragedy.
ReplyDeleteThis introduces the other way his contribution can be measured, that is his contribution to the English language. While acknowledging his linguistic debt to Shakespeare in "On Shakespeare," introducing his 1632 folio, Milton followed in Shakespeare's footsteps by expanding the English language for poetic and dramatic effect. Gavin Alexander of Christ's College, Oxford University, expresses this aspect of Milton's contribution like this:
... to remake words to bear new meanings, to create a word or phrase where the language offers none, to stretch imagery and syntax in the effort to represent emotion and thought. This is why Milton stands next to Shakespeare in the English poetic tradition
He too, like Shakespeare, altered syntax and grammar to most effectively express an idea, or to most dramatically express it. He too relied on extended simile and metaphor, like in epic similes. He too coined words from Latin borrowed words. Some of these dropped out of the lexicon with Milton, but many coined words are still active contributors to the English lexicon. A few examples of these are: embellishing, besotted, unadventurous, reforming, slow-motion, chastening, unintended, defensively, padlock, disregard, attacks, enjoyable, awe-struck.
A couple of examples of these points from Milton's greatest works follow.
Paradise Lost:
Word coining: bliss:
Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat,
Syntax:
Him the Almighty Power
Hurld headlong
Samson Agonistes:
Extended metaphor underlying tragedy:
... and find him
Eyeless in Gaza at the Mill with slaves,
Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke;
Lycidas:
Classical Greek allusion:
Begin then, Sisters of the sacred well,
That from beneath the seat of Jove doth spring,
Shritha
DeleteB9a18566
2bd ba english
Grierson attempted to characterise the main traits of Metaphysical poetry in the introduction to his anthology. For him it begins with a break with the formerly artificial style of their antecedents to one free from poetic diction or conventions.[19] Johnson acknowledged as much in pointing out that their style was not to be achieved “by descriptions copied from descriptions, by imitations borrowed from imitations, by traditional imagery and hereditary similes”.
ReplyDeleteEuropean Baroque influences, including use of conceits Edit
Another characteristic singled out by Grierson is the Baroque European dimension of the poetry, its “fantastic conceits and hyperboles which was the fashion throughout Europe”.[20] Again Johnson had been partly before him in describing the style as “borrowed from Marino and his followers”. It was from the use of conceits particularly that the writing of these European counterparts was known, Concettismo in Italian, Conceptismo in Spanish.[21] In fact Crashaw had made several translations from Marino. Grierson noted in addition that the slightly older poet, Robert Southwell (who is included in Gardner's anthology as a precursor), had learned from the antithetical, conceited style of Italian poetry and knew Spanish as well.
The European dimension of the Catholic poets Crashaw and Southwell has been commented on by others. In the opinion of one critic of the 1960s, defining the extent of the Baroque style in 17th-century English poetry “may even be said to have taken the place of the earlier discussion of the metaphysical”.[22] Southwell counts as a notable pioneer of the style, in part because his formative years were spent outside England. And the circumstance that Crashaw's later life was also spent outside England contributed to making him, in the eyes of Mario Praz, “the greatest exponent of the Baroque style in any language”.[23]
Crashaw is frequently cited by Harold Segel when typifying the characteristics of The Baroque Poem,[24] but he goes on to compare the work of several other Metaphysical poets to their counterparts in both Western and Eastern Europe. The use of conceits was common not only across the Continent, but also elsewhere in England among the Cavalier poets, including such elegists of Donne as Carew and Godolphin. As an example of the rhetorical way in which various forms of repetition accumulate in creating a tension, only relieved by their resolution at the end of the poem, Segel instances the English work of Henry King as well as Ernst Christoph Homburg's in German and Jan Andrzej Morsztyn’s in Polish. In addition, Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress” is given as a famous example of the use of hyperbole common to many other Metaphysical poets and typical of the Baroque style too.
S. Barani
B9A18553
2nd Ba
English