MIDTERM HANDOUT FOR ENGLISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE

The Renaissance and Reformation (1485-1660 CE)

The Renaissance took place in the late 15th, 16th, and early 17th century in Britain, but
somewhat earlier in Italy and southern Europe and somewhat later in northern Europe.

 Early Tudor Period (1485-1558)

 Elizabethan Period (1558-1603)
 Jacobean Period (1603-1625)
 Caroline Age (1625-1649)
 Commonwealth Period/Puritan Interregnum (1649-1660)

The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic
“rebirth” following the Middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from the 14th century
to the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature
and art.

Some of the greatest thinkers, authors, statesmen, scientists and artists in human history thrived
during this era, while global exploration opened up new lands and cultures to European
commerce. The Renaissance is credited with bridging the gap between the Middle Ages and
modern-day civilization.

During the 14th century, a cultural movement called humanism began to gain momentum in
Italy. Among its many principles, humanism promoted the idea that man was the center of his
own universe, and people should embrace human achievements in education, classical arts,
literature and science.

In 1450, the invention of the Gutenberg printing press allowed for improved communication
throughout Europe and for ideas to spread more quickly. As a result of this advance in
communication, little-known texts from early humanist authors such as those by Francesco
Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio, which promoted the renewal of traditional Greek and Roman
culture and values, were printed and distributed to the masses. Additionally, many scholars
believe advances in international finance and trade impacted culture in Europe and set the stage
for the Renaissance.

The Medici Family

The Renaissance started in Florence, Italy, a place with a rich cultural history where wealthy
citizens could afford to support budding artists.

Members of the powerful Medici family, which ruled Florence for more than 60 years, were
famous backers of the movement.
Great Italian writers, artists, politicians and others declared that they were participating in an
intellectual and artistic revolution that would be much different from what they experienced
during the Dark Ages.

The movement first expanded to other Italian city-states, such as Venice, Milan, Bologna,
Ferrara and Rome. Then, during the 15th century, Renaissance ideas spread from Italy to France
and then throughout western and northern Europe.
Although other European countries experienced their Renaissance later than Italy, the impacts
were still revolutionary.

Early Tudor Period (1485-1558)

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The Tudor dynasty, which ruled between 1485 and 1603, transformed England and monarchs
such as Henry VIII are larger-than-life figures who are instantly recognizable.

The period 1485 – 1558 witnessed the establishment of the Tudor dynasty and the upheavals of
the English Reformation. The Tudors continue to fascinate and the figure of Henry VIII is
instantly recognizable to large numbers of people. The number of books written, both fiction
and non-fiction, films, television series, etc. on the Tudors or set in Tudor England demonstrate
the enduring appeal of this period.

House of Tudor, an English royal dynasty of Welsh origin, which gave five sovereigns to
England: Henry VII (reigned 1485–1509); his son, Henry VIII (1509–47); followed by Henry
VIII’s three children, Edward VI (1547–53), Mary I (1553–58), and Elizabeth I (1558–1603).

The origins of the Tudors can be traced to the 13th century, but the family’s dynastic fortunes
were established by Owen Tudor (c. 1400–61), a Welsh adventurer who took service with Kings
Henry V and Henry VI and fought on the Lancastrian side in the Wars of the Roses; he was
beheaded after the Yorkist victory at Mortimer’s Cross (1461). Owen had married Henry V’s
Lancastrian widow, Catherine of Valois; and their eldest son, Edmund (c. 1430–56), was created
Earl of Richmond by Henry VI and married Margaret Beaufort, the Lady Margaret, who, as
great-granddaughter of Edward III’s son John of Gaunt, held a distant claim to the throne, as a
Lancastrian. Their only child, Henry Tudor, was born after Edmund’s death. In 1485 Henry led
an invasion against the Yorkist king Richard III and defeated him at Bosworth Field. As Henry
VII, he claimed the throne by just title of inheritance and by the judgment of God given in
battle, and he cemented his claim by marrying Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV and
heiress of the House of York.

The Tudor rose symbolized the

union by representing the red rose
of the Lancastrians superimposed
upon the white rose of the
Yorkists.

The Tudor dynasty was marked by Henry VIII’s break with the papacy in Rome (1534) and
the beginning of the English Reformation, which, after turns and trials, culminated in the
establishment of the Anglican church under Elizabeth I. The period witnessed the high point
of the English Renaissance. During Elizabeth’s reign, too, through a generation of wars, Spain
and the Irish rebels were beaten, the independence of France and of the Dutch was secure, and
the unity of England was assured.

By act of Parliament (1544) and his own will and testament, Henry VIII left the crown to his
three children in turn—Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I—and provided that, in the event
that they died without issue, the crown would pass to the descendants of his younger sister,
Mary, before those of his elder sister, Margaret, widow of James IV of Scotland. During her

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reign, Elizabeth refused to choose between Edward Seymour, Lord Beauchamp (descendant of
Mary) and King James VI of Scotland (descendant of Margaret)—the former being the heir
under Henry VIII’s will and act of succession and the latter being the heir by strict hereditary
succession. On her deathbed, however, she selected the king of Scotland—who became James
I of Great Britain, first of the English House of Stuart.

The War of the Roses (1455-1487)

Fought between the forces of King Henry VI and his wife Margaret of Anjou (House of
Lancaster), and representatives of the House of York led by Richard, Duke of York and the Earl
of Warwick. Both houses were branches of the Plantagenet royal house, tracing their descent
from King Edward III.

The rivalry between the House of York and the House of Lancaster started when King Richard
II was overthrown by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster. However, the civil war
began with the First Battle of St Albans in 1455 and was followed by Battle of Northampton
(1460), Battle of Wakefield (1460), Battle of Barnet (1471), Battle of Tewkesbury (1471) and Battle
of Bosworth Field (1485). The last battle ended both the Plantagenet dynasty and the War of the
Roses, and heralded the Tudor dynasty represented by King Henry VII.

The Tudor Succession

Elizabethan Age

The Elizabethan Age is named after the reigning monarch of England at the time, Queen
Elizabeth I. The epoch began in 1558 when Queen Elizabeth I ascended the throne and ended
with her death in 1603. Queen Elizabeth was a great patron of the arts, extending her patronage
to remarkable artists and performers, thus leading to a surge in works of art produced. This is
why the period is also referred to as the Golden Age, i.e., because of the flourishing of arts and
artists during this time.
During the Elizabethan Age, England was experiencing the effects of the Renaissance, which
began as a movement in Italy and then swept the rest of Europe in the 16th century.
The Renaissance spurred artists to create great works of art and had a significant influence on
the ideologies and products of painting, sculpture, music, theatre and literature. Figures

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representing the English Renaissance include Thomas Kyd, Francis Bacon, William Shakespeare
and Edmund Spenser among others.

With the growing wealth and status of the English population as a result of the flourishing
Golden Age and the English Renaissance, Queen Elizabeth I was regarded highly by her
subjects. She also painted her public image as one devoted to England and its people, especially
by calling herself 'The Virgin Queen,' who was married solely to England.

Characteristics of the Elizabethan Age

The religious background of the Elizabethan Age

Queen Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church and separated the
Church of England from Papal authority in 1534 to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon. This
led to religious unrest in England. After King Henry VIII's reign, i.e., during Edward VI's and
Mary I's succession, the religious unrest only increased. Queen Elizabeth I's religious tolerance
led to a time of peace between religious factions. This is the reason people celebrate her reign.

The social background of the Elizabethan Age

The social aspects of life during the Elizabethan Age had their merits and demerits. While there
were no famines, and harvest was bountiful during this period, people also lived in extreme
poverty due to a wide wealth gap among the different social groups.
Families that could afford to, sent their sons to school, while daughters were either sent to work
and earn money for the household or be trained to manage a household, do domestic chores
and take care of children in the hopes of them marrying well.

The population of England increased. This increase led to inflation, as labour was available for
cheap. Those who were able-bodied were expected to work and earn a living. Due to an
increase in population, major cities, especially London, were overcrowded. This led to rat
infestation, filthy environments and the rapid spread of diseases. There were multiple
outbreaks of plague during the Elizabethan Age, during which outdoor gatherings were
banned, including theatre performances.

The political background of the Elizabethan Age

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the Parliament was not yet strong enough to pit itself
against Royal authority. This changed after the succession of James I of the crown. An elaborate
spy network and a strong military foiled numerous assassination attempts on the Queen.
Furthermore, Queen Elizabeth I's army and naval fleet also prevented the invasion of England
by the Spanish Armada in 1588, thus establishing England's and consequently Queen Elizabeth
I's supremacy in Europe. The period was also marked by political expansion and exploration.
The trade of goods thrived, leading to a period of commercial progress.

Literature of the Elizabethan Age

Some of the most significant contributions to the English literary canon emerged from the
Elizabethan Age. This section explores some of the popular playwrights and poets of the
Elizabethan Age.

Writers and Poets of the Elizabethan Age

The most important playwrights and poets of the Elizabethan Age include William
Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe and Edmund Spenser.

William Shakespeare

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William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was known as the 'Bard of Stratford' as he hailed from a place
called Stratford-Upon-Avon in England. He is credited with having written 39 plays, 154
sonnets and other literary works. A prolific writer, much of the vocabulary we use today in our
everyday lives was coined by William Shakespeare.

William Shakespeare often performed a supporting character in the theatrical iterations of the
plays he wrote. He was a part-owner of a theatre company that came to be known as the King's
Men as it received great favour and patronage from King James I. Even during the reign of
Queen Elizabeth I, Shakespeare received patron age from the monarch and often performed
for her.
Because of the universal themes that characterise his works, such as jealousy, ambition, power
struggle, love etc., William Shakespeare's plays continue to be widely read and analysed today.
Some of his most famous plays include Hamlet (c. 1599-1601), Othello (1603), Macbeth (1606),
As You Like It (1599) and Romeo and Juliet (c. 1595).

Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson had a significant influence on English theatre and poetry. His work popularised the
genre of comedy of humours, such as Every Man in His Humour (1598). Comedy of humours
typically focuses on one or more characters, particularly highlighting their 'humours' or shifts in
temperaments.

Jonson is identified by some as the first poet Laureate as he received patronage from aristocrats
as well as a yearly pension. Ben Jonson's work was influenced by his social, cultural and
political engagements. Jonson was well acquainted with Shakespeare and the latter's theatre
company often produced Jonson's plays. While during his lifetime, Jonson was often critical of
Shakespeare's works, he also credited Shakespeare as a genius in the preface to the First Folio.
The First Folio is the first consolidated publication of Shakespeare's plays. It was published by
John Heminges and Henry Condell.

Some works authored by Ben Jonson include The Alchemist (1610), Volpone, or The Fox (c.
1606) and Mortimer His Fall (1641).

Christopher Marlowe

Christopher Marlowe was a contemporary of Jonson and Shakespeare and a prolific poet and
playwright. He is best known for his translation of Goethe's tale of Dr. Faust, which Marlowe
titled The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus (c. 1592).

Marlowe employed the blank verse to compose his works, popularising the form in the
Elizabethan Age. His works include Tamburlaine the Great (c. 1587), The Jew of Malta (c. 1589)
and Dido, Queen of Carthage (c. 1585). Marlowe's untimely death at the age of 29 is a matter of
debate among scholars, some of whom think that Marlowe was killed by a spy in the Privy
Council.

Blank verse refers to unrhymed lines written in the iambic pentameter.

An iamb is a metrical foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed

syllable. When an iamb is repeated five times, it is said to be a line written in the iambic
pentameter.

Edmund Spenser

Edmund Spenser is most famous for his epic poem The Fearie Queene (c. 1590), which includes
pastoral themes and whose titular character is inspired by Queen Elizabeth I. The poem
celebrates the Tudor dynasty and was widely read at the time of publication, and continues to
be an important part of the English literary canon emerging from the period.

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Edmund Spenser is also the pioneer of the Spenserian stanza and the Spenserian sonnet, both of
which are named after him. The Spenserian stanza is composed of lines written in the iambic
pentameter with the final line of the stanza written in the iambic hexameter (the iambic foot
occurring 6 times). The rhyme scheme of the Spensarian stanza is ababbcbcc. The poem The
Faerie Queene is written in Spensarian stanzas. The Spenserian sonnet is 14 lines long,
wherein the final line of each quatrain is linked to the first line of the quatrain. A quatrain is a
stanza composed of 4 lines. The rhyme scheme of a Spensarian sonnet is ababbcbccdcdee.

Jacobean Period (1603-1625)

The Jacobean era was the time when King James I was king of England, between 1603 and 1625.
During this time, the first American colonies were founded and the Gunpowder Plot occurred,
in which a group of religious extremists tried to blow up the English Parliament building and
kill King James.

The Jacobean era was the time when James I was King of England, between 1603 and 1625.
We call it the ‘Jacobean’ era and not the ‘Jamesian’ era because Jacobus is the Latin version of
the name ‘James.’

Jacobean age, (from Latin Jacobus, “James”), period of visual and literary arts during the reign
of James I of England (1603–25). The distinctions between the early Jacobean and the preceding
Elizabethan styles are subtle ones, often merely a question of degree, for although the dynasty
changed, there was no distinct stylistic transition.

In literature, too, many themes and patterns were carried over from the preceding
Elizabethan era. Though rich, Jacobean literature is often darkly questioning. William
Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies were written between about 1601 and 1607. Other Jacobean
dramatic writers became preoccupied with the problem of evil: the plays of John Webster,
John Marston, Thomas Middleton, and George Chapman induce all the terror of tragedy but
little of its pity.

Comedy was best represented by the acid satire of Ben Jonson and by the varied works of
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. Another feature of drama at this time, however, was the
development of the extravagant courtly entertainment known as the masque, which reached its
literary peak in the works of Jonson and Inigo Jones. Jonson’s comparatively lucid and
graceful verse and the writings of his Cavalier successors constituted one of the two main
streams of Jacobean poetry. The other poetic stream lay in the intellectual complexity of John
Donne and the Metaphysical poets.

In prose, Francis Bacon and Robert Burton were among the writers who displayed a new
toughness and flexibility of style. The monumental prose achievement of the era was the
great King James Version of the Bible, which first appeared in 1611.

Caroline Age (1625-1649)

The Age of Caroline is an age in British history that is named for Charles I. It lasted from 1625 to
1649. It is made up of three poetic schools— Metaphysical, Cavalier and Puritan.

The word “Caroline” comes from the name “Charles,” who was king of England from 1625 to
1649. During this period, poetry was divided into three categories:

 Metaphysical
 Cavalier
 Puritan

Of these, metaphysical poetry is the best known. It included colloquial diction, new and original
conceits, irony, the relaxed use of meter, and philosophical exploration.

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Puritan Poetry

Puritanism began in England in the 17th century. The poets who were part of this movement
did not agree with the use of a great deal of figurative language, like metaphors, and refrained
from using overly poetic language. Some of the best-known Puritan poets are John Milton,
Anne Bradstreet, and John Dryden.

Cavalier Poetry

The Cavalier Poets were a group of writers from the 17th century in England. They are
generally defined by their class and the fact that they originated from that which supported
Charles I during the English Civil War. Sometimes, the cavalier poets were looked down on
because they created the art King Charles was interested in and often worked in his service.
Poets of this movement include Robert Herrick, Thomas Carew, and Richard Lovelace.

Example:

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

Robert Herrick

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

The higher he’s a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he’s to setting.

That age is best which is the first,

When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,

And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry.

‘To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time’ was written by Robert Herrick in the 17th century. The
poem was number 208 in Hesperides. It is known as a “carpe diem” poem or a “seize the day”
poem. It, along with others in its genre, asks a specific reader or group of readers to “seize
the day” and make the most of it. In this case, he’s speaking to women who must “seize the
day” before their beauty fades.

Metaphysical Poetry

Metaphysical poetry is marked by elaborate figurative language, original conceits, paradoxes,

and philosophical topics. Important writers of this movement included George Herbert,
Andrew Marvell, and Henry Vaughan. John Donne is the best-known metaphysical poet. His
poetry is often cited as the best example of the movement.

One of the most prominent characteristics of this movement is the spoken quality of the poetry,
something that many other writers of that time disapproved of. Other standard features include
the use of colloquial diction, philosophical exploration, new and original conceits, irony, and
the relaxed use of the meter.

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Example:

‘The Flea’ is one of the most commonly cited examples of a metaphysical poem (along with ‘A
Valediction: Forbidding Mourning’). It is also one of Donne’s best. The poem makes a familiar
argument in a very original way.

The Flea
John Donne

Mark but this flea, and mark in this,

How little that which thou deniest me is;
It sucked me first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;
Thou know’st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead,
Yet this enjoys before it woo,
And pampered swells with one blood made of two,
And this, alas, is more than we would do.

Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare,

Where we almost, nay more than married are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is;
Though parents grudge, and you, w'are met,
And cloistered in these living walls of jet.
Though use make you apt to kill me,
Let not to that, self-murder added be,
And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

Cruel and sudden, hast thou since

Purpled thy nail, in blood of innocence?
Wherein could this flea guilty be,
Except in that drop which it sucked from thee?
Yet thou triumph’st, and say'st that thou
Find’st not thy self, nor me the weaker now;
’Tis true; then learn how false, fears be:
Just so much honor, when thou yield’st to me,
Will waste, as this flea’s death took life from thee.

Why is The Age of Caroline Important?

The Age of Caroline encompasses some of the most essential poetry in the English language.
This includes the work of poets like John Milton, Anne Bradstreet, John Donne, and Robert
Herrick. During this period of poetry, the English language saw the composition of pieces like
‘Paradise Lost,’ ‘A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning,’ and ‘To the Virgins, to Make Much of
Time.’

Commonwealth Period/Puritan Interregnum (1649-1660)

From 1649 to 1660, England was therefore a republic during a period known as the Interregnum
('between reigns'). A series of political experiments followed, as the country's rulers tried to
redefine and establish a workable constitution without a monarchy.

''Interregnum'' means ''between offices'' or ''between reigns.'' It refers to the period between the
reign of two rulers. In English history, this refers to the period of 1649 to 1660, between the

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reign of King Charles I and Charles II. The main ruler during this period was Oliver Cromwell,
who eventually established himself as ''Lord Protectorate'' over the Commonwealth of England.

The Commonwealth Period, also known as the Puritan Interregum, extends from the end of the
Civil War and the execution of Charles I in 1649 to the restoration of the Stuart monarchy under
Charles II in 1660.

In this period England was ruled by Parliament under the Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell;
his death in 1658 marked the dissolution of the Commonwealth. Drama almost disappeared for
eighteen years after the Puritans closed the public theatres in September 1642, not only on moral
and religious grounds, but also to prevent public assemblies that might forent civil disorder. It
was the age of Milton’s political pamphlets, of Hobbes’ political treatise Leviathan (1651), of the
prose writers Sir Thomas Browne, Thomas Fuller, Jeremy Taylor , and Izaak Walton, and of the
poets Henry Vaughan, Edmund Waller, Abraham Cowley, Sir William Davement, and Andrew
Marvell.

England is ruled by Parliament by the leader Oliver

Cromwell (1653-8) and later by his son Richard
Cromwell.

Richard Cromwell (1658-9), son of

Oliver Cromwell.

FAMOUS WRITERS AND WORKS DURING THE RENAISSANCE

1. Doctor Faustus. Christopher Marlowe (Father of English Tragedy) powerfully

exemplifies the sum total of the intellectual aspirations of the renaissance through his
play Dr. Faustus. In the play, Faustus sells his soul to the devil in exchange of power and
knowledge.
2. The Faerie Queene. Edmund Spencer composed this elaborate allegory in honor of the
Queen of Fairyland (Queen Elizabeth I). Spenserian sonnet consists of three quatrains
and a concluding couplet in iambic pentameter with the rhyme pattern abab-bcbd-cdcd-
ee.
3. Song to Celia. A love poem written by Ben Johnson – a poet, dramatist and actor best
known for his lyrics and satirical plays.
4. The King James Bible. One of the supreme achievements of the English Renaissance.
This translation was ordered by James I and made by 47 scholars working in
cooperation. It was published in 1611 and is known as the Authorized Version. It is
regarded as the most influential book in the history of English civilization.
5. Shakespearean Sonnets. Also known as the Elizabethan or English sonnets,
Shakespearean sonnets are composed of three quatrains and one heroic couplet with the
rhyme scheme -abab-cdcd-efef-gg. William Shakespeare is the great genius of the
Elizabethan Age (1564-1616). He wrote more than 35 plays as well as 154 sonnets and 2
narrative poems – Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece.

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THE AGE OF REASON (17TH Century)

1. The Essays (Francis Bacon). The greatest literary contribution of the 17th century is the
essay. Francis Bacon is hailed as the Father of Inductive Reasoning and the Father of the
English Essay.
2. The Pilgrim’s Progress (John Bunyan). An Allegory that shows Christian tormented by
spiritual anguish.
 Allegory is a story illustrating an idea or a moral principle in which objects and
characters take on symbolic meanings external to the narrative.
3. Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained (John Milton)
 Paradise Lost – is an epic poem in blank verse that tells of the fall of the angels
and of the creation of Adam and Eve and their temptation by Satan in the
Garden of Eden (“Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit/Of that forbidden
tree…”)
 Paradise Regained centers on the temptation of Christ and the thirst for the word
of God.
4. Holy Sonnets (John Donne)
 Metaphysical Poetry makes use of conceits or far-fetched similes and metaphors
intended to startle the reader into an awareness of the relationship among things
ordinarily not associated.
5. Easter Wings and the Altar (George Herbert). Concrete poems that deal with man’s
thirst for God and with God’s abounding love.

O let thy blessed S A C R I F I C E be mine,

And sanctify this A L T A R to be thine.

6. Cavalier Poems. Popularized by Thomas Crew, Richard Lovelace, Sir John Suckling and
Robert Herrick, cavalier poems are known for their elegant, refined and courtly culture.
The poems are often erotic and espouse carpe diem, “seize the day.”

THE RESTORATION (18TH Century)

1. Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

 A Modest Proposal is a bitter pamphlet that ironically suggests that the Irish
babies be especially fattened for profitable sale as meat, since the English were
eating the Irish people anyhow- by heavy taxation.
 Gulliver’s Travels is a satire on human folly and stupidity. Swift said that he
wrote it to vex the world rather than to divert it. most people, however, are so
delightfully entertained by the tiny Liliputians and by the huge Brobdingnagians
that they do not bother much with Swift’s bitter satire on human pettiness or
crudity.

2. Alexander Pope (1688-1744) published an exposition of the rules of the classical school
in the form of a poem An Essay on Criticism. His Rape of the Lock mockingly describes
a furious fight between two families when a young man snips off a lock of the beautiful
Belinda’s hair. Pope wrote in heroic couplets, a technique in which he has been
unsurpassed.

3. Thomas Gray (1716-71) wrote Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, which is a

collection of 18th-century commonplaces expressing concern for lowly folk.

4. Henry Fielding (1707-54) is known for his Tom Jones, which tells the story of a young
foundling who is driven from his adopted home, wanders to London, and eventually,
for all his suffering, wins his lady.

5. Laurence Sterne (1713-68) wrote Tristram Shandy, a novel in nine volumes showcasing
a series of loosely organized funny episodes in the life of Shandy.

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 6. Oliver Goldmsith (1728-74) was an Anglo-Irish poet, novelist and playwright who is
best known for his novel Vicar of Wakefield and poem She Stoops to Conquer – a
comedy of manners that satirizes the 18th century aristocracy who is overly class
conscious.

References:

English: A Reviewer for the Licensure Examination for Teachers. Philippine Normal University.
CalQ Publishing, 2013.
https://poemanalysis.com/movement/the-age-of-caroline/
https://www.britannica.com/art/Jacobean-age
https://www.britannica.com/art/Elizabethan-literature
https://mc.libguides.com/eng/literaryperiods

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