Poetaster (Revels Plays) [Paperback]

Ben Jonson (Author), Tom Cain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1996 | Series: Revels Plays

Set in Ancient Rome, "Poetaster" offers one of the first and most subtle statements in English of the Augustan cultural ideal. Jonson contrasts Augustus' wise rule with an English polity dominated (like the stage) by malice, intrigue and envy. This text examines these different strands so skilfully interwoven by Jonson, and argues for a reassessment of "Poetaster" as one of the most ideologically interesting of all early modern plays. The accompanying explanatory notes guide the reader through the personal and political illusions which gave the play its immediate satirical impact.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This duo represent a hit and a miss by Jonson. The Devil has been produced successfully in modern times, while the more experimental Poetaster has remained largely in obscurity. These paperbacks are the most affordable editions available.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Manchester University Press (October 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0719016371
• ISBN-13: 978-0719016370
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,433,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fierce, funny comedy from the age of Shakespeare, June 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Poetaster (Revels Plays) (Paperback)

Shakespeare's friend and rival, Ben Jonson, shows off his classical learning and comic brilliance at the same time with a satire about the Roman poets. Lovesick Ovid and honest Horace are the heroes, with a pack of liars, slanderers, and terrible amateur poets (or "poetasters") as the villains. This play isn't as popular as Jonson's best known works, like _Volpone_ and _The Alchemist_, but there aren't many playwrights who can get laughs both from literary criticism and from vomiting, let alone get laughs from both at the same time. Jonson can. If you like Shakespeare's grittier works (say, _Troilus and Cressida_) or the comedies of Thomas Middleton, this is definitely for you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ovid, Virgil, Horace and Two Inept Poets, May 9, 2004

By 

Michael Wischmeyer (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Poetaster (Revels Plays) (Paperback)

Poetaster - one of Ben Jonson's earliest plays - was first staged in 1601, the same year as Hamlet. A poetaster is a trivial rhymester, a writer of doggerel, at best an inferior poet. A poetaster is pretentious, and places undue value on his own work. Apparently, the first occurrence of this term is in this play.

Ben Jonson was an exuberant individual that was often in trouble, with perhaps the most public example being the so-called War of the Theatres (1599-1601). Somehow he had managed to become entangled in an acrimonious exchange with two rival playwrights, John Marston and Thomas Dekker, and this satirical play, Poetaster, was a return volley from Jonson. Despite its setting in ancient Rome, the audience quickly recognized that the two rather mean-spirited, envious, inept poets, Crispinus and Demetrius, represented Marston and Dekker.

Poetaster is less scholarly than some of Jonson's plays, and consequently is easier going, but good footnotes are still to be valued. Although Jonson's ridicule of Crispinus and Demetrius comprises a significant number of scenes, this play is more about the Roman poets Ovid, Virgil, and Horace and their relationship with governmental authority.

Contrary to his father's urgings that he study law, Ovid pursues poetry; Ovid evens transcribes his law notes into poetry. Ovid loves and is loved by Julia, the only daughter of Emperor Augustus Caesar. Ovid has great talent, but exercises poor judgment leading to conflict with the Augustus himself.

Virgil, a commoner by birth, is a favorite of Augustus. The emperor seats Virgil by his side and asks him to read from the Aeneid. In contrast to Ovid, Virgil symbolizes the unity of poetry with the state.

Horace is a younger, less-experienced poet that has become the innocent victim of envy and libel by Crispinus and Demetrius. Vindicated by Roman law, Horace is allowed to select an appropriate punishment. Horace's (that is, Jonson's) punishment for Crispinus (that is, Marston) is memorable.

If you are new to Jonson, I suggest beginning with his better known comedies like The Alchemist and Volpone. But don't neglect his lesser known plays. Poetaster is quite good, and it is interesting for its insight on the Elizabethan theatre.