Jacobean Age (1603-1625)

The age is named after James I who reigned over England from 1603 to 1625. The word “Jacobean” is derived from “Jacobus“, the Latin version of James. Some historians like to call the last five years of this age a part of another age which they call the Puritan Age (1620-1660). They call it so because between 1620 to 1660 Puritanism became the driving force in the life and literature of England. 

The important facts which influenced the literature of this period are:

  1. Colonial territories severely expanded.
  2. The religious conflict that subsided in the Elizabethan Age, was revived in this period. Protestants were divided into three sects:
    • Anglicans, 
    • Presbyterians,
    • Puritans.
  3. Renaissance’s influence continued.
  4. Scotland was brought under the rule of the King of England.

Major Written of the Period and  Their Major Works:

Shakespeare who had started writing in the Elizabethan Period wrote twelve serious plays during this period. Those plays are:

  1. Measure for Measure (1604)
  2. Othello (1604)
  3. Macbeth (1605)
  4. King Lear (1605)
  5. Antony ends Cleopatra (1606)
  6. Coriolanus (1606)
  7. Timon of Athens (unfinished-1608)
  8. Pericles (in part-1608)
  9. Cymbeline (1609)
  10. The Winter’s Tale (1610)
  11. The Tempest (1611)
  12. Henry VIII (in part – 1613)

Though Shakespeare wrote these serious plays in the Jacobean Age, he is called an Elizabethan dramatist and never the Jacobean. The period (1590-1616) in which he wrote his plays, is also called the Shakespearean Age.

Ben Jonson who had started writing in the Elizabethan Period wrote his famous plays in this period:
Volpone (1605)
The Silent Woman (1609)
The Alchemist (1610)

Francis Bacon continued writing in this period:
Advancement of Learning (1605)
Novum Orgum (1620)
Some new essays were added to the new edition of his Essays (1625)

* King James I, known as the Wisest Fool, instituted the translation of the Bible into English in 1611. The Authorized King James Bible appears in 1611 and its language became the benchmark of the English language.

John Webster (1580-625):
The White Devil (1612)
The Duchess of Malfi (161 4)

Cyril Tourneur (1575-626):
The Revenger’s Tragedy (1600)
The Atheist’s Tragedy (1611)

John Donne (1572-1631) and George Herbert (1593 – 1633), were the metaphysical poets. Started writing during this period.

Main Literary Features of the Age:

  1. The elegance and felicity of Elizabethan verse disappear.
  2. The Platonic idealism which had been the main spirit of the Elizabethan era almost dies out.
  3. Renaissance spirit still remains the main influence.
  4. The drama continues to dominate the literary scene.
  5. Classical rules of drama are maintained by Ben Jonson.
  6. Poetry takes a new and startling turn.
  7. The decadence of art begins.
  8. The English language develops further.
  9. Masque is innovated.
  10. Satiric art begins.