The Concise Cambridge History of English Literature

acted appeared ballads became beginning belongs called century character Chaucer Chronicle church classical collection comedy contains couplet court criticism death drama early edition Elizabethan England English example existence fact famous Fletcher followed French gave give greatest hand Henry important influence interest Italy John kind King known language later Latin learning less letters lines literary literature lived London lyric manner manuscript matter medieval mentioned merely moral naturally never original Oxford period piece plays poem poet poetic poetry political popular present printed probably produced prose published reader religious remained remarkable rhyme Richard romance satire scholars seems Shakespeare shows songs sonnets spirit stage stanza story style successful Thomas took tragedy translation true verse whole writers written wrote