University Wits

 

University Wits

Introduction
The group known as the University Wits refers to a circle of young and educated writers from the late sixteenth century. Most of them studied at the University of Oxford or Cambridge. They wrote during the early years of the Elizabethan Age. It was a time when English drama was beginning to grow. Before this group, drama in England was mostly moral or religious. It lacked imagination, emotion, and art. The University Wits brought a new spirit to the stage. They introduced poetry, passion, and power into plays. They laid the foundation for the greatness that was to come with Shakespeare and his contemporaries.

 

Common Characteristics of the Wits

The University Wits were known for certain common features. They were all highly educated and proud of their learning. They used classical models and often wrote about great heroes and tragic fates. Their plays were full of action, emotion, and powerful language. They loved blank verse and grand speeches. They believed that drama should teach, move, and entertain. Their works were full of energy and imagination. They liked bold plots and complex characters. They helped English theatre grow from a simple craft into a serious literary art.

 

The Major University Wits

1.    Christopher Marlowe (Cambridge)

Marlowe is the most famous among the University Wits. He changed the course of English drama with his powerful use of blank verse. His plays were filled with passion, ambition, and tragic depth. His major works include Tamburlaine the Great, Doctor Faustus, The Jew of Malta, and Edward II. In Doctor Faustus, he tells the story of a man who sells his soul for knowledge and power. Marlowe’s heroes are larger than life. They dream big and fall hard. His poetry is full of rhythm and beauty. He showed that English drama could be deep and poetic.

 

2.    Robert Greene (Cambridge)

Greene was a romantic playwright and prose writer. His plays like Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay and James IV blend love, magic, and folklore. He often wrote about clever women and brave lovers. Greene was also famous for his pamphlets. In one of them, he called Shakespeare an “upstart crow,” showing jealousy toward the rising star. Greene’s writing is lively and full of wit. He helped popularize romantic comedy and pastoral themes.

 

3.    Thomas Nashe (Cambridge)

Nashe was best known for his prose. He wrote pamphlets, satires, and one famous novel, The Unfortunate Traveller. His style was sharp, humorous, and clever. He also collaborated with Marlowe on the play Dido, Queen of Carthage. Nashe's writing is known for its boldness and creativity. He attacked social evils and made fun of foolish people. His language was rich and quick. He brought a fresh and fearless voice to Elizabethan literature.

 

4.    John Lyly (Oxford)

Lyly was a master of prose style. His book Euphues gave birth to a literary style called Euphuism. This style used balanced sentences, wordplay, and classical references. His comedies such as Campaspe and Endymion were performed in royal courts. They combined myth, wit, and romance. Lyly’s work helped shape English prose. He made it refined and decorative. His comedies also set a pattern for later playwrights, including Shakespeare.

 

5.    Thomas Lodge (Oxford)

Lodge was a writer of poems, romances, and plays. His most famous prose work is Rosalynde, which later became the basis for Shakespeare’s As You Like It. His play The Wounds of Civil War shows his interest in classical history. Lodge blended love and learning in his works. He used both poetry and drama to tell beautiful stories. His language was gentle and lyrical. He helped make romantic tales popular on stage and in books.

 

6.    George Peele (Oxford)

Peele was known for his poetic touch. His plays include The Arraignment of Paris and David and Bethsabe. He loved music, myth, and beauty. His works often praised the Queen and royal power. Peele used poetic forms in drama more than most of his peers. His writing was graceful and rich. He experimented with themes from history and the Bible. Though not as famous as Marlowe, his style influenced others.

 

7.    Thomas Kyd (Not university-trained, but linked with the group)

Though there is no clear record of university education, Thomas Kyd is often grouped with the University Wits. His play The Spanish Tragedy was a major success and started the fashion of revenge tragedies. The play had ghosts, madness, and violent justice. It influenced Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Kyd showed that drama could be intense and serious. His plots were full of suspense, and his characters full of feeling. He proved that a non-university man could still lead English drama.

 

Contribution to English Drama

The University Wits turned English plays into a powerful form of art. They introduced tragic heroes, poetic dialogue, and strong emotions. They blended classical knowledge with native storytelling. Their plays reached beyond the simple religious stories of earlier times. They showed how theatre could move hearts and raise thoughts. Though some of them died young or fell into poverty, their impact lasted. They built the stage where Shakespeare would later shine. They brought drama from streets and churches into real theatres. They helped shape the golden age of English drama.

 

Conclusion

The University Wits played a key role in the growth of English literature during the Elizabethan Age. These young men from Oxford and Cambridge brought bold ideas, poetic power, and dramatic energy to the stage. Marlowe gave it fire, Lyly gave it polish, and Kyd gave it depth. Together, they lifted English drama from simple beginnings to a rich and serious art form. Their work opened the way for Shakespeare and others who followed. The legacy of the University Wits remains strong in the history of English literature.

References

Long, William J. English Literature: Its History and Its Significance for the English-Speaking World. Anboco, 2016.
Albert, Edward. History of English Literature. Oxford University Press, 2005.
Ward, A.W. History of English Dramatic Literature to the Death of Queen Anne. Macmillan, 1899.

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