John Marston (poet) facts for kids
John Marston (baptised 7 October 1576 – 25 June 1634) was an English poet, playwright, and satirist. He lived during the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean times in England. This means he wrote when Queen Elizabeth I and King James I were ruling. His writing career was quite short, lasting only about ten years. People remember his work for its lively and sometimes a bit hard-to-understand style. He also helped create a unique writing style for the Jacobean period. Marston was known for using many unique words in his poems and plays.
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Who Was John Marston?
John Marston was a creative writer who lived a long time ago. He was born in 1576 and passed away in 1634. During his life, he became known for three main types of writing. He wrote poetry, which are often rhyming or rhythmic pieces. He also wrote plays, which were performed on stage. Lastly, he was a satirist. This means he wrote stories or poems that made fun of society's problems or silly behaviors.
Early Life and Education
John Marston was baptised on October 7, 1576. He grew up in a time when England was full of new ideas and exciting changes. He went to Brasenose College, Oxford, which is a famous university. After that, he studied law at a place called the Middle Temple in London. Even though he studied law, his real passion seemed to be writing.
His Writing Career
Marston's career as a writer was quite intense but short. He wrote for about ten years, mostly at the end of the 1500s and the beginning of the 1600s. This was a very exciting time for theater and literature in England. Many famous writers, like William Shakespeare, were also active then. Marston's plays were often performed in London theaters.
What Kind of Plays Did He Write?
John Marston wrote different kinds of plays. Some of his plays were comedies, which were meant to make people laugh. Others were tragedies, which told serious stories with sad endings. He was especially good at writing satires. In these plays, he would use humor and sharp wit to point out things he thought were wrong with society. He often made fun of greedy people or those who acted foolishly.
Working with Other Writers
Sometimes, writers would work together on plays. John Marston did this too. He even worked with other famous writers of his time. One notable play he co-wrote was Eastward Ho!. He worked on this play with George Chapman and Ben Jonson. Ben Jonson was another very famous playwright and poet. Marston and Jonson sometimes had disagreements, but they also respected each other's work. They were like friendly rivals.
Why His Writing Is Remembered
John Marston's writing style was very distinct. It was full of energy and sometimes used words that were not common. This made his work unique and interesting. He helped to shape the way plays and poems were written during the Jacobean era. His use of satire was also very important. He showed how writers could use humor to comment on the world around them.
Later Life
After his busy decade as a writer, John Marston decided to change his path. He stopped writing plays and poems. Instead, he became a clergyman, which means he worked for the church. He was ordained as a priest in 1627. He spent the rest of his life serving in the church until he passed away on June 25, 1634.
See also
In Spanish: John Marston (poeta) para niños
Images for kids
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Ben Jonson: a famous writer who worked with Marston.
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George Chapman: another writer who co-authored Eastward Ho! with Marston.
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