Robert Greene: Prolific Prose Writer in the Dominant Era of Elizabethan Poetry
The domination of poetry was supreme in the Elizabethan period. Simple, lucid rational, restrained, matter of fact, unimaginative prose was not the order of the day. The prose of the early writers like Lyly and Sir Philip Sidney influenced the later writers and a sort of Arcadianism and Euphuism came into being. In short it was a sort of poetic that had its say subsequently. Robert Greene (1560 – 92), a disciple of Lyly and one of the featured University Wits, wrote more pleasingly than some of his contemporaries. Educated at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Greene was a prolific and popular prose writer.
The ordinary Life of England does not come much into Elizabethan prose. However, in Robert Greene , picaresque narratives show something of the English heroes (!) in action. So, Greene is best known for his works in the genres of comedy, romance, and pastoral literature. Some of his notable works include Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, Orlando Furioso, Pandosto, and The Honorable Historie of Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. These plays and prose works often incorporated elements of magic, love, and adventure.
Robert Greene: Renaissance Writer and Progenitor of Early Prose Romance and Novels
It is important to note that during the Renaissance, the concept of the novel as we understand it today did not exist. The modern novel as a literary form emerged much later, in the 17th and 18th centuries. Therefore, Robert Greene's contributions were primarily in the form of plays, pamphlets, and prose writings rather than novels. But his prose romance can well be stressed as the origin of early novels. His prose romance, Marmillia (1533) written in imitation of Euphues, by John Lyly warns the young against the distraction of the so called pure love which might reduce them to lust. His other works include The Myrrour of Modestie (1584); Perimedes the Blacke-Smith (1588) an imitation from Boccaccio, Menaphon (1589) and Pandosto, the Triumph of Time (1588). Greene’s style and morals are after Eupheus while his romantic theme follows Sidney’s Arcadia.
Greene's best productions are the lyrics interspersed through his works, which show a fine ear for verse and a delight in beauty and innocence strange to find in a man of his character. One of his tales," Dorastus and Fawnia or Pandosto is indubitable romantic as it supplies the plot for Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. He wrote many pamphlets, including a series on the London underworld. The autobiographical Greene's Groatsworth of Wit Bought with a Million of Repentance, which has an alleged allusion to Shakespeare as an “upstart crow,” and The Repentance of Robert Greene, Master of Arts were written in 1592.
Menaphon is a prose romance novel in Arcadian setting with poetic passages and graceful songs. We find here the purity and serenity of Bohemian imagination. The conventional opening, the scene of the shipwreck in which a woman and her infant son are cast upon the shore and her hushing him with a lovely cradled song, is really touching. Though the stories are fantastic there is an element of true feeling in them. In his series of short stories under the name The Conny – Catching Tracts (1591 – 92), Greene turns to his advantage, his contact with every kind of ruffian, rogue, thief, rascal and loose woman. He paints the underworld of London so that the reader may come to know of the bags of tricks employed by such people to defraud the unwary and the gullible. In the enumeration of all these detail he is simple and direct, leading the road to Daniel Defoe.
On the other hand, Greene’s contribution to English drama is remarkable in the field of characterization and plot-construction. Among his five plays Frier Bacon and Frier Bongay, The Scottish Historie of James the forth are notable.
The Notable Features of Robert Greene's Writing
There are some notable features of Robert Greene's writing. Greene's works are often characterized by their wit and humor. He employed clever wordplay, puns, and comedic situations to entertain his audience. He was skilled at building and maintaining dramatic tension in his plays and prose. He incorporated elements of suspense, conflict, and unexpected twists to engage his readers and keep them hooked. But notably, Love and romance were recurring themes in Greene's works. He explored the complexities of romantic relationships, often incorporating elements of unrequited love, seduction, and betrayal.
Greene's writings often conveyed moral lessons and social commentary. Through his characters and their actions, he explored topics such as greed, ambition, and the consequences of immoral behavior. Many of Greene's works were set in idyllic pastoral landscapes, depicting a nostalgic and romanticized view of rural life. These settings provided a backdrop for themes of love, nature, and the contrast between urban and rural lifestyles. Greene's writing often evoked a sense of melancholy and pathos. He explored themes of loss, regret, and the transient nature of life, adding depth and emotional resonance to his works. Greene's writing also exhibited a richness of language and imagery. He used descriptive language, metaphors, and poetic devices to create vivid and evocative scenes.
Conclusion
Robert Greene's writing exhibits a unique blend of wit, dramatic tension, romance, moral lessons, pastoral settings, melancholy, and rich language. His works entertain with clever wordplay and comedic situations while exploring complex themes of love, betrayal, and ambition. Through vivid imagery and poetic devices, Greene's writing leaves a lasting emotional impact, offering readers a glimpse into the multifaceted world of Renaissance literature.
Ref:
1. ALBERT. (2000). History of English Literature (Fifth Edition) [English]. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS.
2. A history of English literature : Compton-Rickett, Arthur, 1869-1937 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/historyofenglish00comprich
3. A short history of English literature : Saintsbury, George, 1845-1933 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/shorthistoryofen00sain
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I am thirsty for your full explanation of Robert Greene's contribution to English literature
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