Ben Jonson ( 1572-1637)

1. Ben Jonson ( 1572-1637) Mrs. Cumberland

2. Jonson • Johnson lived in a nearly mythical life. Even in his physical stature, he seemed a little larger than life- he was a big man with boundless energy and enormous courage,

3. Jonson • Brilliant in his poetry and dangerous in a duel, a classical scholar and a veteran soldier, an astute critic and a brassy talker, Jonson had a colorful, sometimes violent career that culminated in his reputation as an esteemed judge of literature

4. Jonson • The friend as well as the chief rival of Shakespeare and Donne, he set literary tastes for a generation of poets. • From bricklayer to poet laureate, his life story is a true “rags to riches” tale.

5. A Poet at War • Adopted in infancy, Jonson worked for his stepfather, a bricklayer, while attending the equivalent of high school under a private tutor. • Too poor to study at a university, Jonson joined the army and fought in the wars for Dutch independence from Spain. • The brawny Jonson at one point met an enemy champion in single combat before the massed armies of Holland and Spain. Jonson won.

6. Scandal and Success • After returning to England, Jonson became an actor. • Despite his turbulent life- jailed for his part in a “slanderous” play, almost hanged for killing a fellow actor in a duel, and even suspected of plotting against the king- Jonson became a major dramatist.

7. Shakespeare and Jonson • Some say Shakespeare acted in his first play, and the chief acting companies of the day, including Shakespeare’s company, performed his later dramas.

8. Jonson was so successful that he was granted a handsome pension by King James I and treated as if he wrote masques- elaborate entertainments- for the royal court, where he was a favorite writer.

9. Dictator of Taste • Jonson became extremely influential in literary affairs of the day, functioning as a virtual dictator of taste. • Historic accounts help us picture him at the Mermaid Tavern, surrounded by admirers and engaged in duels of with with Shakespeare. • His followers included Robert Herrick and Sir John Suckling, took to calling themselves the “Sons of Ben” or “Tribe of Ben.”

10. The Importance of a Poet • Jonson’s own opinion of his work and status may be judged by the fact that when he published his collected works in 1616, he entitled the volume The Works of Benjamin Jonson- a style of title used largely with celebrated ancient authors.

11. With this gesture, Jonson may have become the first English-language poet to claim true professional dignity for himself. The esteem in which the occupation of poet is held in later times owes something to Jonson’s self-confidence

12. Varied Styles • Jonson’s expereinces ranged from tavern brawls to elegant entertainments, and his poetic styles are equally varied. He favored satire in his dreams, poking fun at contemporary character types in plays

13. In Contrast • His masques provided the king’s court with lavish pageants, often based on Greek and Roman myths and topped off with flattering references to the king and queen- far from the satirical bite of his stage plays

14. Jonson wrote many of his poems in an impersonal style, one studied to inscriptions on mountains. Others are filled with nasty wit. As diverse as his styles are, though, one of his consistent strengths is the clear, direct expression of ideas.

15. A Lasting Influence • In his varied experiences and diverse literary output, Jonson might seem to sum up the age in which he lived. • Yet his importance does not end with the 17th century. • Jonson’s influence on writers is still felt today, and his plays continue to be produced. • What Jonson said of Shakespeare can also be said of him: He was not of an age, but for al time.”