Shakspere’s Predecessors in the English Drama

'Shakspere’s Predecessors in the English Drama' is an authoritative and sweeping examination of the evolution of the English stage prior to the rise of William Shakespeare. Written by the esteemed historian and critic John Addington Symonds, this work explores the transition from medieval religious performances to the sophisticated secular theater of the late sixteenth century.Symonds meticulously traces the development of dramatic forms, beginning with the Miracle and Morality plays and moving through the pedagogical influence of the University Wits. The study provides critical insights into the works of influential figures such as Christopher Marlowe, Robert Greene, and John Lyly, demonstrating how their structural and linguistic innovations laid the necessary groundwork for the masterpieces of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. By analyzing the social, political, and intellectual currents of the time, the author illustrates how English drama grew from humble folk origins into a complex and profound literary tradition.This volume serves as an essential resource for students of literature and theater history, offering a detailed map of the creative landscape that made the English Renaissance possible. It remains a foundational text for understanding the historical continuity and the brilliant individual contributions that defined the golden age of English drama.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.