The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 17.0328 Thursday, 20 April 2006
From: Frank Whigham <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Wednesday, 19 Apr 2006 16:05:02 -0500
Subject: 17.0321 Elizabeth I Questions
Comment: Re: SHK 17.0321 Elizabeth I Questions
Donna Lodge <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
>I'm a writer working on a novel, a historical drama, that takes
>place during the time of Will Shakespeare. This listserv has been a
>gold mine of information.
>
>I'm looking for web sources for several pieces of information:
You need to go to paper sources on this for serious data. Relying solely
on web sources on Shakespeare is asking for trouble.
>1) What was the perception of Elizabeth I writings by her peers and
>successful and/or acknowledged writers of her reign? Were her
>letter, poems, speeches, etc., considered well-written? Was
>Elizabeth I judged to be an accomplished writer (given her
>education), or was there no criticism/scrutiny of her work for fear
>of reprisals?
I believe Roger Ascham, one of her teachers, discusses her wonderful
education somewhere, and might yield some data. Puttenham's Art of
English Poesy (1589) speaks repeatedly of her skill as a poet, though
his meaning is tricky, as here, for instance, in an introductory statement:
But you, Madam my most Honored and Gracious: if I should seem to offer
you this my device