Elizabethan Drama: Features

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 Elizabethan Drama: Features

Elizabethan drama is a term used to describe the plays written and performed in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). It is considered to be one of the golden ages of Eng lish literature, and produced some of the greatest playwrights in the English language, including William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Ben Jonson.

Elizabethan drama is characterized by a number of features like:

  • Wide variety of genres: Elizabethan playwrights wrote in a wide variety of genres, including comedies, tragedies, histories, and romances. This allowed them to explore a wide range of themes and stories.
  • Poetic language: Elizabethan drama is known for its use of poetic language. Playwrights used elaborate metaphors, similes, and other figures of speech to create a sense of beauty and grandeur in their plays.
  • Strong characters: Elizabethan plays often feature complex and well-developed characters. Playwrights were interested in exploring the human condition, and their characters often grapple with difficult issues such as love, loss, betrayal, and revenge.
  • Dramatic themes: Elizabethan plays often explore universal themes such as love, death, power, and justice. Playwrights were also interested in contemporary issues such as politics, religion, and social class.
  • Spectacle: Elizabethan plays were often visually stunning. Playwrights used elaborate costumes, props, and special effects to create a sense of excitement and wonder for their audiences.
  • Use of blank verse: Blank verse is a type of unrhymed poetry that uses a regular meter. It was the most common form of verse used in Elizabethan drama.
  • Use of soliloquies and asides: Soliloquies are speeches that a character gives to themselves, while asides are spoken directly to the audience. Playwrights used these devices to reveal a character's inner thoughts and feelings.
  • Use of subplots: Elizabethan plays often have multiple subplots, which run alongside the main plot. This allowed playwrights to explore different themes and characters in more depth.
  • Use of music and dance: Music and dance were often incorporated into Elizabethan plays. This helped to create a sense of spectacle and excitement for the audience.
  • All-male casts: Women were not allowed to perform on the Elizabethan stage, so all female roles were played by boys.

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