The Elizabethan Era was characterized by an innumerable list of wonderful writers, which included Francis Bacon, John Fletcher, Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Spenser, and Sir Philip Sidney. However, William Shakespeare is probably the most renowned writer of the Elizabethan Era, which went from 1558 to 1603. To this date, 600 plays of the Elizabethan Era remain intact.

This flourishing period witnessed the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman literature and the creation of new, magnificent drama. The new writing had clearly evolved from the simpler, mystery and miracle plays that characterized earlier time periods such as the middle Ages.

Works from different genres were performed on stage. The most popular were Historical Plays, tragedies and comedies. Many of Shakespeare’s plays were considered historical because they dealt with the lives and machinations of real or former kings. Examples of these were Richard III and Henry V. Nevertheless, the author was most renowned for his tragedies, Hamlet and Macbeth being one of the most popular. Marlowe’s tragedies were also very popular during the time period.

It is thought that one of the driving forces of the popularity of literature from this time period was the establishment of large, lucrative theaters. It made people view drama almost as part of their daily lives, rather than as a transitory artistic movement. It allowed people of a wide variety of social classes to come in contact with the superb writing.

However, the new puritan movement soon challenged the increasing popularity of theaters. Apart from the fact that such establishments were usually located in parts of the city were brothels and gambling sites thrived, the Puritans considered them sinful mostly because young men dressed up in female costumes and interpreted roles of women.

The Elizabethan Era is understood to have ended in 1603 with the death of Queen Elizabeth. The new political and social tensions that developed after her death certainly influenced the literature of the period. Soon after her death, during what is considered the Jacobean period, writers used a darker and more pessimistic tone.

Shakespeare’s most renowned tragedies emerged during this period. A clear example is King Lear, which was written in 1605, and conveys the chaotic environment, treacherous royalty and fading morals of society through the portrayal of the old king and his disloyal daughters.