MAJOR POETS OF THE ELIZABETHAN ERA

The writings of an era depict the culture and trends that the era has gone through. In the history of English literature, several ages have been segregated from one another to differentiate every era. From Anglo-Saxon to postmodernism every period has its own culture and sets of writers that make it unique.

One such period was the Elizabethan era which is also considered the golden age in English history and started with the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 (1558-1603). It is when English literature fully flourished and hence, this period is also well known as the English Renaissance. Some of the greatest poets that emerged from this era are- 

1- Sir Philip Sidney 

He was born on 30 Nov 1554. He was a poet, scholar, courtier, and soldier. Some of his writings include Arcadia, Astrophel, and Stella, The Defense of Poesy, a sonnet sequence, and a treatise. He was born into an aristocratic family. His parents were Sir Henry Sidney and Lady Mary Dudley. He was the eldest son of his parents. Sidney dedicated his work Arcadia to his sister Mary and then after the death of Sidney Mary published Arcadia by the name The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia.

2-Ben Johnson 

Ben Johnson was born on 11 June 1952. He was an English poet and playwright. He is best known for his plays like Volpone, The alchemist, Every Man in his Humour, and Bartholomew Fair. All of these plays are satirical. Ben Johnson popularised the comedy of humour. He was the first unofficial poet laureate.

 3-William Shakespeare 

Also known as the Bard of Avon. William Shakespeare was born on 26 April 1564. He was an English poet, playwright, and actor. He 

 He wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets. He dedicated his sonnets to fair youth and the dark lady. Shakespeare received a classical Latin education at King’s New School in Stratford. His greatest plays include Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, Romeo, and Juliet. Shakespeare's plays are divided into 3 parts 

Comedies

Tragedies

Histories

4-Edmund Spencer 

He was born in 1552. He is regarded as one of the best English poets of Modern English verse. Charles Lamb called him Poet's poet. The important works of Spenser include Faerie Queene and The Shepherd's Calendar, the latter being published first. They are allegorical and written in a distinctive verse form.

He is no less than Shakespeare when it comes to style and creativity. He influenced many other Renaissance writers with his work.

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