Who was Ben Jonson? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In June

Also Known As: Benjamin Jonson

Died At Age: 65

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Ann Lewis

father: bricklayer

Poets Novelists

Died on: August 6, 1637

place of death: Westminster, London, England

epitaphs: Underneath this sable herse, Lies the subject of all verse,—, Sydneye's sister, Pembroke's mother., Death, ere thou hast slaine another,, Faire and learn'd and good as she,, Tyme shall throw a dart at thee.

More Facts

education: Westminster School

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1

What are some famous works by Ben Jonson?

Some of the most famous works by Ben Jonson include "Volpone," "The Alchemist," and "Bartholomew Fair."
2

What is Ben Jonson known for in the literary world?

Ben Jonson is known for his contributions to English literature as a playwright, poet, and literary critic during the Renaissance period.
3

How did Ben Jonson impact the theater scene in his time?

Ben Jonson played a significant role in shaping the theater scene of his time by introducing new forms of comedy and satirical plays that influenced later playwrights.
4

What was Ben Jonson's relationship with William Shakespeare?

Ben Jonson had a friendly but competitive relationship with William Shakespeare, and both playwrights respected each other's work despite occasional disagreements.
5

What are some characteristics of Ben Jonson's writing style?

Ben Jonson's writing style is known for its sharp wit, intricate wordplay, and satirical humor that often critiqued societal norms and conventions.

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Childhood & Early Life

Ben Jonson was born in Westminster, London, England. His father was a clergyman, who died before he was born. His mother married again after two years.

He went to a school located in St. Martin's Lane for some time, after which his education was funded by a family friend and he thereby continued his studies at the Westminster School.

After he graduated from Westminster, he was forced to work under his step-father, who was a bricklayer. He later went to Netherlands, where he served as a soldier with the English regiment.

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Career

He co-wrote the play, ‘The Isle of Dogs', which was performed in 1597 at The Swan theatre in London. It is believed that due to satirical elements in the play, it was immediately supressed.

Performed around 1597, his play titled, ‘The Case is Altered’, was not printed for publication until a decade after. The following year, his play, ‘Every Man in His Humour' was published.

Performed in 1599, the satirical comedy play, ‘Every Man out of His Humour', was a sequel to his earlier play, ‘Every Man in His Humour'. His subsequent plays include, ‘Cynthia's Revels', ' The Poetaster' and 'Sejanus His Fall'.

In 1603, he wrote the masques for the ‘Stuart Court’ titled, ‘The Entertainment at Althorp', which is also referred to as ‘The Satyr'. This was one of his first works for the European royal house.

In 1604, his masque, ‘The Coronation Triumph’, a literary piece written for the coronation of King James I was performed. The same year, he also authored ‘A Private Entertainment of the King and Queen on May-Day’.

Performed and printed in 1605, his satirical comedy play, ‘Eastward Ho' was co-written with George Chapman and John Marston. The same year, his other comedy play, ‘Volpone' was performed.

From 1605 onwards, he wrote several works of entertainment for the royal European house. Some of which include, 'The Masque of Blackness', 'Hymenaei' 'The Masque of Beauty', 'The Masque of Queens' and 'The Hue and Cry After Cupid'.

In 1609, his comedy play, ‘Epicœne, or The Silent Woman' was performed. His subsequent plays include, 'The Alchemist', 'Catiline His Conspiracy', 'Bartholomew Fair' and 'The Devil is an Ass'.

In 1625, his play titled, ‘The Staple of News' was performed at the Blackfriars Theatre. This play was only published in later years and is regarded as one of his finest works.

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In 1633, 'A Tale of a Tub', a comedy play, was performed at the Cockpit theatre in London. This was one of the last of his plays that was performed during his lifetime.

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Major Works

His most popular play, ‘Volpone’ is one among his most performed plays. It has been adapted several times all over the world, including on Broadway. It has also been made into motion picture in several languages.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1594, he married Ann Lewis. The couple lived together all through their life.

He and William Shakespeare shared a very close relationship. However, there are many legends about his rivalry to him.

In the 1620s his health began to decline which coincided with his dwindling career.

He died at the age of 65 in Westminster, London, England. He was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey.

In 2012, after many years of research the Cambridge University Press came out with an edition of his complete works spanning over a period of almost 60 years.

Facts About Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson was known for his sharp wit and humor, but he was also a talented bricklayer and often took on construction projects in addition to his writing.

He had a reputation for being a bit of a rebel and was once jailed for killing a fellow actor. However, he later received a royal pardon and continued to thrive in the literary world.

Jonson was a big fan of animals and kept a pet fox, which he often used as inspiration for his writing.

Despite his tough exterior, Jonson was also known to be a very loyal friend and had a close circle of literary colleagues who he supported and collaborated with throughout his career.

In addition to his plays and poetry, Jonson also dabbled in the art of masques, which were elaborate performances combining music, dance, and drama that were popular in the royal courts of the time.

Ben Jonson Biography

You wanted to know

What are some famous works by Ben Jonson?

What is Ben Jonson known for in the literary world?

How did Ben Jonson impact the theater scene in his time?

What was Ben Jonson's relationship with William Shakespeare?

What are some characteristics of Ben Jonson's writing style?