Contemporaries - Quotations - 2 Quiz

Answer: John Donne

From "The Bait" by John Donne (1571-1631). Although published in 1633 it was probably written in the lat 1590s. It is a parody of "The Passionate Shepherd" by Marlowe, as is "The Nymph's Reply" by Sir Walter Raleigh.

Answer: William Shakespeare

This is from "Sonnet 73" by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), probably written in the late 1590s. Incidentally, it is one of my favourite lines from the sonnets, as it epitomizes late autumn.

Answer: Sir Philip Sidney

The line is from "Sonnet 31" in the "Astrophil and Stella" sonnet cycle (108 sonnets and 11 songs), begun about 1576 during his courtship of Penelope Devereux by the diplomat courtier and poet, Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586), a great hero to the Elizabethans possibly because he died young. He was lauded "the worthiest knight that e'er liv'd".

Answer: John Donne

In his "Devotions" 17, written when he was dean of St Paul's (1621-1631.) His was an unusual history for a distinguished Anglican dean. He was raised a Catholic and educated at both Oxford and Cambridge (though prevented from graduation because of his religion), studied law at Lincoln's Inn, and accompanied the Earl of Essex on his forays to Cadiz and the Azores (1596-1597). Upon his return he became Thomas Egerton's secretary, marrying Egerton's niece Anne More in 1601 against her uncle's wishes.

His poetry in his early life was earthy and sensual but matured to a more considered view after the death of his wife in 1617.

Answer: Edmund Spenser

From "The Faerie Queen" book 2, canto 8, stanza 2 by Edmund Spenser (1552-1599), probably begun around 1588 (at the time of the Spanish armada).

Answer: John Donne

This is from "The Canonisation" by John Donne written in about 1594. Its Catholic imagery would have made it unpopular at the time.

Answer: William Shakespeare

From "Sonnet 109" by William Shakespeare written about 1597 in defence against a charge of infidelity (possibly).

Answer: Edmund Spenser

From his "Prothalamion" written about 1596. The title is related to "epithalamion" a song preceding the wedding ceremony. (See "Epithalamion" by John Donne).

Answer: Sir Philip Sidney

Saying this, he passed his water bottle to an injured soldier (at the battle of Zutphen in September, 1586). He died of an untreated musket wound (in his thigh) sustained in that battle, some twenty-two days later.

Answer: William Shakespeare

In "Sonnet 107" by William Shakespeare, written about 1605 (possibly). The fact that the world's greatest writer should have left scant information about his life, and no contemporary manuscripts, makes dating his work problematic (to say the least). As an example this sonnet has been dated as early as 1588 and as late as 1609, 21 years disparity.

Many of the plays (several of which are 'lost'), and most of his poetry can be attributed to several possible dates.