University Wits
University wits is a group of English dramatists who wrote in the 16 century before William Shakespeare and educated at the Universities like Oxford and Cambridge.There were 7 scholars in that group some were from Oxford University and some were from Cambridge University.They influenced the development of Elizabethan literature. The group including seven dramatists like John Lyly,George Peele, Robert Greene,Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Nashe,Thomas kyd Thomas lodge.
According to E.Albert, the dramas of University wits had certain common features, there was a fascination towards heroic themes, style and treatment was also Heroic and the themes were tragic in nature.All dramatists wanted to uplift the status of society during that period.They focused the incidents what happened in that society because they wanted to fetchout the people from that crucial situation or panic status of human society mostly in England.
John Lyly had given a great contribution to the development of that society. His contribution was mostly related to the political circumstances because he became the (M.P) over there three times.He was belonging from a well to do family.His grandfather was a well-known grammarian and his father was the registrar of Canterbury.His dialogue was inspirational because William Shakespeare made him a role model in the world of English literature. His works were brilliant and witty as Euphues, Women in the Moon(1597) Endymion (1591) Mother Bombie(1589) Compaspe (1584).
George Peele, he was a man of personal experience of life. He was from common middle class family in London. He was the man who contributed a lot to the literature in London through his intelligence after the completion of BA Honours in English, unfortunately he got marry to a girl more younger to him who was only 16 years old.what amount of sums,he got in his marriage, he spent all within few months and move to London with his wife.Over there due to shortage of money, he started writing Dramas for his living,though he also wanted to develop his society through the literary work. His famous works as The King Edward-1, The love of king David and Fair Bathsheba (1599)The Battle of Alcazar (1594).
ROBERT GREENE, a brilliant dramatist with the honour "the founder of romantic comedy in university wits " through his romantic work he wanted to awake the people of England to enhance the social quality. It did that most of people over there inspired by his romantic concept of life expressed by literary medium.His famous plays as Mamillia(1583),Philomela(1592),The King of Arogon(1590). THOMAS LODGE, the son of Mayor of London beloved from high class family but his interest was also for the development of the society.He wanted to help the group to establish for the Nation's development on the basis of financial conditions because his financial conditions of family was very strong so he wanted to help and also served as an honest member of the university group. His famous works like,Scillaes(1589),The Wounds of Civil War (1594), A Looking Glass From London and England (1594).THOMAS NASHE, a good satirist and Elizabethan playwright. He was also from high class family in London.He prayed in church in front of father for nation welfare but sorry to say that he had gone from the world so early without achieving his mission but his plays are still alive in the reader's mind and heart. His works as The Anatomy of Absurdity (1589) Almond for a Parrot (1590) The Unfortunate Traveller (1594). THOMAS KYD,also genius born in London in 1558 but it was considered that Kyd was not from the university. He was the son of a middle class businessman who had been playing role for his business not for others but unfortunately he joined the group of scholars of university wits and by inspiring, he decided to give his contributions for the development of the society in different fields. He was interested in writing tragedies, his most popular play as The Spanish Tragedy (1589-92). CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE, considered to be "The most talented pre Shakespearean dramatist of 16th century". Fortunately, he came into this world with great patience, passion and will power to contribute for the world of English literature. He belong from very lower middle class family because of that he suffered a lot in his entire life. He was the second child of his parents but with a great literary impact, appeared in this world wits. He took a big space in the heart of readers because of his different thoughts and ideas. He was a real hero of university wits. He also introduced 'Blank Verse ' first and also 'Mighty Lines ' in his plays. He drew the real picture of the society during 16th century through his most powerful plays. He touched the extreme height of grief, pain, suffering,poverty and lost in his life. He was also known as the father of modern tragedy. His world famous tragedies as Doctor Faustus (1588), Edward II (1591), The Jew of Malta (1590), The Massacre at Paris (1593) and Tamburlaine the Great (1587).
At last, in my area of knowledge, University wits is really a group of electronic minds. All Scholars of that time had devotion to the development of the society on different scales but I mean that Christopher Marlowe was the hero of that time among them. He played vital role through his tragedies within very short span of time. His literary career was short but given to us a lot so his roles and contributions clear that he was really a leader of that University Wits.
