Who are called the University Wits?

The University Wits were a group of English playwrights and poets who were active in the late 16th century, during the Elizabethan era. The term “University Wits” was coined by literary historian George Saintsbury in the 19th century to refer to a group of writers who were educated at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and who were influential in the development of English drama.

The University Wits included Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Kyd, George Peele, John Lyly, and Robert Greene. These writers were known for their innovation and experimentation in drama and their use of blank verse, which was a new form of poetic meter that did not rhyme.

How many University Wits are there?

There are total seven University Wits in the group.

Who is the leader of University Wits?

There was no clear leader among the University Wits, as they were a loosely connected group of playwrights and poets rather than a formal organization. However, Christopher Marlowe is often considered the most influential and celebrated member of the group.

Marlowe’s plays, such as “Tamburlaine the Great” and “Doctor Faustus,” were groundbreaking in their use of blank verse, their exploration of complex psychological and philosophical themes, and their larger-than-life protagonists. Marlowe was also known for his wit and his ability to subvert traditional literary conventions, which made him a major figure in the development of English drama.

Who used the term University Wits?

The term “University Wits” was first used by the literary historian George Saintsbury in the 19th century to refer to a group of late 16th-century English playwrights who were educated at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and who wrote plays for the London commercial theaters.

What is the importance of University Wits?

What is the importance of University Wits?

The University Wits were an important group of English playwrights who were active in the late 16th century. Their works had a significant impact on the development of English drama, and they helped to establish the commercial theater as a major cultural institution in London.

Some of the key contributions of the University Wits to English literature and drama include:

Advancing the art of dramatic writing: The University Wits were among the first English playwrights to write in the style of the classical authors of Greece and Rome, and they brought a new level of sophistication to English drama.

Creating memorable characters: The University Wits created some of the most memorable and iconic characters in English drama, such as Tamburlaine, Doctor Faustus, and Barabas in Marlowe’s plays.

Influencing other writers: The works of the University Wits had a significant influence on the writers who came after them, including William Shakespeare, who was heavily influenced by Marlowe’s works.

Contributing to the growth of the theater industry: The University Wits were instrumental in the growth of the theater industry in London, which became a major cultural and economic force during the Elizabethan era.

What are the characteristics of the university wits?

The University Wits were a group of English playwrights and poets who were active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Some of the key characteristics of the University Wits include:

Education: The University Wits were highly educated, having attended prestigious universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

Classical Influences: They were heavily influenced by classical literature and often incorporated classical themes and motifs into their works.

Drama: The University Wits were primarily known for their contributions to the development of English drama, particularly the Elizabethan stage. They were among the first to write plays in the English language, which helped to establish English drama as a literary genre.

Satire: Many of the University Wits used their plays to satirize contemporary society and social conventions. They were known for their sharp wit and biting commentary on the world around them.

Collaboration: The University Wits often collaborated with one another on their works, sharing ideas and refining each other’s writing.

Innovation: The University Wits were instrumental in the development of the early modern English language and helped to establish many of the conventions and techniques that are still used in English literature today.

University Wits

Among Shakespeare’s predecessors, John Lyly, George Peele, Robert Greene, Thomas Kyd and Christopher Marlowe were notable playwrights. Lyly, Peele and Greene wrote comedies while Kyd and Marlowe were tragedians who advanced English tragedy. The “University Wits” like Lyly and Marlowe had strong classical learning and brought new life to the English drama. 

John Lyly

John Lyly achieved success as a playwright with his prose romance Euphues before writing popular comedies like Campaspe, Gallathea, and Endimion. His comedies drew inspiration from myths and legends, showcasing his inventive situations and vivid dialogues. Though Lyly’s plays lacked strong plotting and characterization, he introduced innovations to English drama in three key ways. 

1. He introduced prose dialogue into original English comedy for the first time, marking a departure from earlier doggerel and contributing to a new world of expression. 
2. He established the “high comedy” genre to cultured audiences that relied more on intellectual wit rather than slapstick or physical comedy and farce.
3. His Euphuistic prose style brought new sophistication, charm and subtlety to dramatic dialogue, enriching the overall dramatic expression during the Elizabethan era.

George Peele

George Peele was a dramatist who, compared to Lyly and Greene, held a lower position. His notable plays were The Arraignment of Paris, The Famous Chronicle of King Edward the First, The Battle of Alcazar, The Old Wives’ Tale, and The Love of King David and Fair Bethsabe. 

Like his contemporaries, Peele used history, mythology, and legends as source material. He was not an original innovator in dramatic techniques. His play structures were weak, and he didn’t stand out in plot creation, character portrayal, or versification. However, Peele’s competence in drama shouldn’t be completely disregarded. He had versatility in themes, refined treatment, avoidance of crude humor, captivating imagery, and skillful language. These qualities earned him a respectable place among Elizabethan playwrights, though he can be seen as a contributor rather than a leader in the field.

Robert Greene

Robert Greene was a more successful playwright than Lyly In the Elizabethan era. His well-known plays include The Comical History of Alphonsus, King of Aragon, A Looking Glass for London and England (written with Thomas Lodge), Orlando Furioso, The Scottish History of James the Fourth, and Friar Bacon and Friar Bongay. He is also attributed as the author of George a Green or The Pinner of Wakefield.

Greene took subjects from English history, medieval legends, and foreign tales. Unlike John Lyly who focused on language and rhetoric, Greene had great skill in crafting dramatic characters and situations. Greene’s mastery in drawing characters and crafting dramatic situations surpasses Lyly’s work. Even Shakespeare showed influence from Greene, just as from Lyly. 

His plays were meant for the stage and mass appeal, much like the works of Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, and Shakespeare. 

Greene made several key contributions to Elizabethan drama. 

First, he effectively used romantic settings, which Shakespeare later employed. 

Second, he created vibrant, intellectual female characters. He is among the first to portray intellectually vibrant women, a theme that Shakespeare later brilliantly elaborated on with characters like Rosalind, Celia, Viola, Beatrice, and Portia. 

Third, Greene’s comedies also pioneered what is now known as the romantic comedy genre, prefiguring Shakespeare’s famous works like “As You Like It” and “Twelfth Night.” 

Fourth, Greene mixed verse and humorous prose in his comedies, advancing on Lyly’s sole use of prose. 

Lastly, Greene’s plays resonate with a strong national spirit, showcasing his attachment to English traditions, traits, and scenes—an affinity he shares with his great successor, Shakespeare.

Thomas Lodge

Thomas Lodge is known primarily for his romances, not his plays. Only two of Lodge’s plays survive – The Wounds of Civil War and A Looking Glass for London and England, the latter believed to be a collaboration with Greene. Neither of Lodge’s plays demonstrate strong dramatic skill or made major innovations to English drama.

Thomas Nashe

Similarly, Thomas Nashe also has very limited achievements as a dramatist. He likely contributed to Christopher Marlowe’s Dido, Queen of Carthage and the lost play called The Isle of Dogs. His one known play Summer’s Last Will and Testament is an allegorical satire about the seasons which provides  a clear sense of his dramatic skills.

In short, while Peele, Lodge, and Nashe contributed to Elizabethan theater, they did not make major advancements to the era’s drama. In contrast, Thomas Kyd and Christopher Marlowe stand out as the most prominent dramatists preceding Shakespeare. They wrote popular tragedies that paved the way for Shakespeare’s works to surpass them in fame and genius.

Thomas Kyd

Thomas Kyd is known for writing the revenge tragedy The Spanish Tragedy, which followed the model of Senecan tragedies from ancient Rome. Kyd’s play popularized the revenge theme and sensational dramatic elements like blood, ghosts, and intense emotions that influenced later Elizabethan dramas including Shakespeare’s.

Kyd’s play might be considered the first example of a romantic tragedy, a style later perfected by Shakespeare. He created a new type of tragic hero through the character of Hieronimo, influencing Shakespeare’s tragic heroes like Hamlet.

Kyd’s contribution to English drama is vital. Kyd pioneered the “revenge tragedy” genre that was further developed by Shakespeare. He was the first to focus on dramatic movement’s impact on character development, using intrigue, violence, cunning, and horror to evoke suspense and emotions. 

His use of blank verse matched the themes of blood and revenge, while supernatural elements like ghosts added to the eerie atmosphere. Kyd’s influence on later Elizabethan playwrights, including Shakespeare, was significant, as seen in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” being inspired by Kyd’s “The Spanish Tragedy.”

Christopher Marlowe

Christopher Marlowe was a talented playwright and a University scholar with a short but brilliant career. Christopher Marlowe, a distinct dramatist, left a remarkable mark among pre-Shakespeareans. 

Despite his short life, Marlowe’s dramatic achievements were impressive. His plays, Tamburlaine, Doctor Faustus, The Jew of Malta, and Edward II showcased history, romance, and magic. Marlowe excelled in combining drama and poetry, skillfully portraying tragic characters’ inner conflicts with passionate and touching poetry. He transformed blank verse, making it musical and dignified, suiting the intensity of his tragedies centered on passion.

Marlowe’s characters were powerful tragic figures, grappling with inner conflict. He advanced the romantic tragedy genre through his focus on human emotion and poetry. 

Marlowe and Kyd, along with the University Wits, laid the foundation for English drama’s development and advanced English drama up to Shakespeare’s era.