Blank Verse: A Comprehensive Study for UGC NET

 Blank Verse: A Comprehensive Study for UGC NET

Introduction

Blank verse is unrhymed iambic pentameter, widely regarded as the most influential verse form in English drama and poetry, particularly during the Renaissance and Elizabethan period. It combines the formal structure of meter with the natural rhythms of speech, making it ideal for both theatrical dialogue and serious poetic reflection.

Definition and Structure

·         Meter: Iambic Pentameter (each line has five iambs, i.e., ten syllables in total; unstressed followed by stressed syllables)

·         Rhyme: None (unrhymed)

Example (from Paradise Lost by Milton):

"Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit"

Each foot follows the iambic pattern:
of MAN’s / first DIS / oBE / diENCE / and THE / fruit

Historical Development

1. Introduction by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

·         First used blank verse in English for his translation of Virgil’s Aeneid in the 1540s.

·         Set the foundation for its literary adoption.

2. Christopher Marlowe

·         Gave poetic beauty and dramatic force to blank verse.

·         Known for its mighty line (Ben Jonson).

·         Example:

"Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships / And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?" (Doctor Faustus)

3. William Shakespeare

·         Mastered blank verse in drama.

·         Used it to differentiate characters, convey psychological states, and elevate tone.

·         Varied line lengths and stresses to suit mood and context.

·         Example:

"To be, or not to be, that is the question." (Hamlet)

4. John Milton

·         Employed blank verse in epic poetry, notably in Paradise Lost.

·         Added grandeur and syntactic flexibility.

·         Example:

"Of man’s first disobedience, and the fruit / Of that forbidden tree..."

5. Later Usage

·         Romantic poets like Wordsworth used it in The Prelude.

·         Tennyson and Browning in Victorian era also adopted it.

·         Modern poets occasionally use it for dramatic monologues or meditative verse.

Significance of Blank Verse

1.      Dramatic Flexibility: Sounds close to natural speech; ideal for monologues, soliloquies.

2.      Poetic Elevation: Lends seriousness and dignity.

3.      Character Differentiation: Often used to signal nobility or seriousness (e.g., kings in Shakespeare speak in blank verse).

4.      Enjambment and Variation: Allows poets to break from rigid rhythm for dramatic effect.

Blank Verse vs Other Forms

Feature	Blank Verse	Free Verse	Rhymed Verse
Meter	Yes	No	Yes
Rhyme	No	No	Yes
Common Use	Drama, Epic Poetry	Modern Poetry	Lyric Poetry

Famous Examples of Blank Verse

1.      Shakespeare’s Macbeth:

"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day..."

2.      Milton’s Paradise Lost:

"Hail holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn,
Or of the Eternal coeternal beam..."

3.      Wordsworth’s The Prelude:

"Was it for this
That one, the fairest of all rivers, lov’d
To blend his murmurs with my nurse’s song..."

UGC NET-Oriented Focus

Key Concepts for MCQs

·         Originator of blank verse: Henry Howard

·         Master of blank verse in drama: Shakespeare

·         Epic blank verse: Milton’s Paradise Lost

·         Difference between blank verse and free verse

·         Technical features: iambic pentameter, unrhymed, enjambment

UGC NET Previous Year Questions & Sample MCQs

Q1. Who introduced blank verse into English poetry?
A. Thomas Wyatt
B. Henry Howard
C. Geoffrey Chaucer
D. Edmund Spenser
Answer: B. Henry Howard

Q2. Identify the correct definition of blank verse. (UGC NET June 2020)
A. Unrhymed trochaic tetrameter
B. Rhymed iambic pentameter
C. Unrhymed iambic pentameter
D. Rhymed dactylic hexameter
Answer: C. Unrhymed iambic pentameter

Q3. “Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships…” is an example of:
A. Free verse
B. Heroic couplet
C. Blank verse
D. Ode
Answer: C. Blank verse

Q4. In which of the following works is blank verse used?
A. Pope’s Rape of the Lock
B. Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales
C. Milton’s Paradise Lost
D. Donne’s The Flea
Answer: C. Milton’s Paradise Lost

Q5. Match the authors with their works in blank verse:

Authors	Works
A. Shakespeare	1. Macbeth
B. Marlowe	2. Doctor Faustus
C. Milton	3. Paradise Lost
D. Wordsworth	4. The Prelude

Answer: A–1, B–2, C–3, D–4

Tips for UGC NET Preparation

·         Memorize the definition and technical elements of blank verse.

·         Understand its differences from free verse and heroic couplet.

·         Study blank verse passages from Shakespeare, Milton, and Marlowe.

·         Practice passage-based comprehension and figure of speech identification.

Elizabethan Drama (UGC NET - Unit I Drama)

Elizabethan Drama

Introduction

Elizabethan Drama refers to the body of English plays written and performed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). This era marks the Golden Age of English drama, characterized by the emergence of the professional theatre, the flowering of poetic drama, and the establishment of great playwrights like William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, and Thomas Kyd.

Key Features of Elizabethan Drama

1.      Humanism and Renaissance Influence:

o    Revival of classical Greek and Roman ideals.

o    Emphasis on individualism, secular themes, and exploration of human nature.

2.      Blank Verse:

o    Marlowe popularized blank verse; Shakespeare perfected it.

o    Helped elevate the poetic quality of drama.

3.      Tragic Heroes and the Concept of the Overreacher:

o    Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus is a classic example.

o    Influenced by Senecan tragedy.

4.      Revenge Tragedy:

o    Popular genre introduced by Thomas Kyd’s The Spanish Tragedy.

o    Led to plays like Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

5.      Mix of Comedy and Tragedy:

o    Shakespeare frequently blended tragic elements with comic relief.

6.      Use of Soliloquy and Aside:

o    Helped reveal the inner workings of a character’s mind.

o    Widely used by Shakespeare and Marlowe.

7.      Violence and Supernatural Elements:

o    Ghosts, witches, and prophecy figure prominently (Macbeth, Hamlet).

o    Appeals to the imagination and fear of the audience.

8.      Public Theatres and Acting Companies:

o    The Globe Theatre, The Swan, The Rose were significant.

o    Companies like The Lord Chamberlain’s Men became popular.

Major Elizabethan Dramatists

William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

·         Prolific playwright of tragedies (Hamlet, Othello), comedies (As You Like It, Twelfth Night), and histories (Richard III).

·         Innovations in character depth, plot structure, and language.

Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593)

·         Known for Tamburlaine, Doctor Faustus, Edward II.

·         Introduced the “Marlovian Hero”—ambitious, daring, tragic.

·         Called “the father of English tragedy”.

Ben Jonson (1572–1637)

·         Famous for comedies of humours: Volpone, The Alchemist.

·         Advocated classical unities and satire.

Thomas Kyd (1558–1594)

·         The Spanish Tragedy laid the foundation for the revenge tragedy.

Relation to UGC NET Questions

1. Frequently Asked Topics

·         Match the Following: Plays and authors.

·         Chronological Order: Publication or performance dates of Elizabethan plays.

·         Assertion-Reason Questions: Literary significance of blank verse, soliloquies, Senecan influence.

·         Thematic MCQs: Themes in Doctor Faustus, Hamlet, Volpone.

·         Passage-Based Questions: Extracts from Elizabethan plays asking about character, context, or poetic devices.

2. Previous Year Sample Questions

Q1. Match the following playwrights with their works (UGC NET June 2013)
A. Marlowe – 1. Edward II
B. Kyd – 2. The Spanish Tragedy
C. Jonson – 3. The Alchemist
D. Shakespeare – 4. Measure for Measure
Answer: A–1, B–2, C–3, D–4

Q2. Who is considered the first tragedian of the Elizabethan stage? (UGC NET June 2019)
A. Shakespeare
B. Thomas Kyd
C. Marlowe
D. Ben Jonson
Answer: C. Marlowe

Q3. Which among the following is NOT a feature of Elizabethan tragedy? (UGC NET Dec 2017)
A. Chorus
B. Revenge theme
C. Comic relief
D. Use of prose only
Answer: D. Use of prose only

Elizabethan Drama in Contemporary Criticism

Modern literary critics have interpreted Elizabethan drama in terms of:

·         Power and politics (Stephen Greenblatt’s New Historicism)

·         Gender and performance (Judith Butler on gender roles in Shakespeare)

·         Psychoanalysis (Freudian readings of Hamlet’s indecision)

·         Postcolonial interpretations (e.g., The Tempest and colonial discourse)

Tips for UGC NET Preparation

·         Read summaries and critical analyses of major plays.

·         Focus on dramatic devices, genres, and evolution of theatre.

·         Learn timelines: when was each play written/performed?

·         Study theatre history: Globe Theatre, acting companies, censorship.

·         Practice MCQs on authorship, characters, themes, and quotations.

  Note: A detailed analysis of each part of this article along with UGC NET questions and Sample Questions has been separately published. Please visit those pages to have a comprehensive study.

Morality Plays & Allegory (UGC NET Unit I - Drama), PYQs & MCQs

 

Morality Plays and Allegory

Introduction

The medieval period of English drama is characterized by its religious foundations and didactic purposes. Among the various forms of early drama, Morality Plays hold a significant position due to their use of allegory to convey Christian ethics and moral lessons. While evolving from Liturgical and Mystery Plays, morality plays represent a transition from strictly Biblical representations to more abstract, symbolic explorations of good and evil within the human soul. These plays are crucial for understanding the development of character, symbolism, and thematic complexity in English drama.

1. Origin and Historical Background

Morality plays flourished in Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries, particularly in England during the 15th century. Rooted in Christian theology, they emerged as a response to the Church’s effort to educate the largely illiterate population through engaging theatrical performances.

·         The genre evolved from religious sermons, Biblical pageants, and didactic traditions of the Church.

·         As opposed to Miracle and Mystery plays (which dramatized the lives of saints or Bible stories), morality plays featured fictional protagonists representing Everyman—an archetype of the common human being.

2. Features of Morality Plays

a. Didactic Purpose

The core function was moral instruction—teaching the audience how to live a virtuous life and avoid sin. The overarching theme was the salvation of the soul.

b. Use of Allegory

Allegory is the defining element of morality plays. Abstract qualities such as Virtue, Vice, Death, Knowledge, Good Deeds, and the Seven Deadly Sins were personified and brought to the stage.

c. Psychological Drama

They often dramatize the inner conflict of the soul, focusing on the choices an individual must make between good and evil.

d. Symbolism

Characters, settings, and actions were symbolic representations. For instance, the journey of the protagonist often symbolized the journey of life toward death and judgment.

e. Universality

The protagonist usually represented Everyman, making the lessons applicable to all individuals regardless of social or economic class.

3. Structure of Morality Plays

The typical morality play follows a chronological and spiritual journey:

1.      Introduction of the protagonist (often called Everyman, Mankind, or Humanum Genus).

2.      Temptation and fall into sin via encounters with characters representing vices or worldly distractions.

3.      Realization and repentance, often aided by allegorical figures like Good Deeds or Knowledge.

4.      Final judgment, usually death, where the protagonist’s fate is determined based on his actions.

4. Famous Morality Plays

i. Everyman (Anonymous)

·         The most famous morality play, likely written in the late 15th century.

·         Explores the inevitability of death and the need for spiritual readiness.

·         Major allegorical characters: Everyman, Death, Fellowship, Goods, Good Deeds, Knowledge, Confession.

·         Theme: Only Good Deeds accompanies a person after death.

ii. Mankind (Anonymous)

·         A more comic and energetic play, often featuring humorous vice characters.

·         Illustrates the struggle of a Christian man against temptation.

·         Demonstrates the balance between entertainment and didacticism.

iii. The Castle of Perseverance (c. 1425)

·         One of the earliest complete morality plays.

·         Set in a symbolic castle, it represents the human soul’s battle between good and evil over a lifetime.

5. Allegory: Concept and Significance

Definition

Allegory is a narrative technique in which characters, settings, and events symbolize abstract ideas or moral qualities.

Functions in Morality Plays

·         Makes complex theological ideas accessible to lay audiences.

·         Creates a multi-layered meaning—literal and metaphorical.

·         Enhances the emotional and spiritual engagement of the audience.

Literary Importance

·         Allegory paved the way for later literary traditions, including:

o    The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser

o    Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

·         Prefigures modern psychological and existential drama where internal dilemmas are externalized through dramatic form.

6. Legacy and Transition

Morality plays declined with the rise of Renaissance Humanism and secular theatre, especially after the emergence of the Interludes and Elizabethan drama.

However, their legacy remains in:

·         The symbolic characterization seen in works by Shakespeare and Marlowe.

·         The moral questioning and inner conflict central to modern drama.

·         The thematic influence in 20th-century existential plays, such as Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral.

7. Relevance to UGC NET

Understanding morality plays is essential for:

·         Tracing the development of English drama from religious to secular.

·         Appreciating the interplay of literature, theology, and philosophy.

·         Examining how allegory informs structure and characterisation.

·         Analyzing the didactic function of early literature.

UGC NET aspirants should be able to:

·         Compare morality plays with miracle/mystery plays.

·         Identify the function of allegory.

·         Contextualize morality plays within medieval religious and cultural life.

·         Draw parallels with later dramatic and literary forms.

Conclusion

Morality plays represent a vital moment in the evolution of English drama, where theatre served both spiritual edification and public entertainment. Their use of allegory to explore the eternal battle between virtue and vice offers enduring insights into human nature. For students and scholars, especially those preparing for the UGC NET English exam, these plays offer a foundation for understanding how drama evolved as a literary form, influencing both content and structure of later dramatic traditions.

I. PREVIOUS YEAR UGC NET QUESTIONS 

1. Which of the following is a famous morality play?

(UGC NET – 2015)
A. The Wakefield Second Shepherds' Play
B. Everyman
C. The Mystery of Adam
D. Noah’s Flood

Answer: B. Everyman

2. In the play Everyman, who finally accompanies Everyman to the grave?

(UGC NET – 2013)
A. Fellowship
B. Knowledge
C. Good Deeds
D. Beauty

Answer: C. Good Deeds

3. Morality plays are chiefly characterized by:

(UGC NET – 2018)
A. Realistic representation of human life
B. Biblical dramatizations
C. Allegorical characters representing moral qualities
D. Historical figures in conflict

Answer: C. Allegorical characters representing moral qualities

4. Which of the following is NOT a morality play?

A. Everyman
B. Mankind
C. The Castle of Perseverance
D. Doctor Faustus

Answer: D. Doctor Faustus
(Doctor Faustus is a Renaissance tragedy influenced by morality elements but not a morality play in the strict sense.)

II. Newly Framed MCQs for Practice

5. What is the primary theme of morality plays?

A. The struggle for political power
B. The journey of the soul toward salvation
C. Romantic entanglements of nobility
D. Satirical depiction of society

Answer: B. The journey of the soul toward salvation

6. In morality plays, the central character often represents:

A. A saint or biblical figure
B. The monarch
C. An abstract idea
D. Everyman or humanity as a whole

Answer: D. Everyman or humanity as a whole

7. The vice character in morality plays was primarily meant to:

A. Teach legal doctrines
B. Provide comic relief and temptation
C. Represent historical villains
D. Narrate the plot

Answer: B. Provide comic relief and temptation

8. Which of the following best defines allegory?

A. A narrative using regional dialect
B. A story with one literal and one symbolic meaning
C. A historical retelling of factual events
D. A dialogue-heavy dramatic form

Answer: B. A story with one literal and one symbolic meaning

9. Which play is considered the earliest complete extant morality play?

A. Mankind
B. Everyman
C. The Castle of Perseverance
D. The Pride of Life

Answer: C. The Castle of Perseverance

10. The structure of morality plays typically follows:

A. Political rise and fall
B. Conversion and fall of a religious figure
C. Temptation, fall, repentance, and salvation
D. Satirical commentary on society

Answer: C. Temptation, fall, repentance, and salvation

11. The character ‘Knowledge’ in Everyman plays what role?

A. Judge
B. Guide toward salvation
C. Tempter
D. Comic relief

Answer: B. Guide toward salvation

12. Allegory as a literary device is primarily used to:

A. Entertain through suspense
B. Reveal hidden meanings through symbolic characters and events
C. Present a straightforward narrative
D. Showcase historical truths

Answer: B. Reveal hidden meanings through symbolic characters and events

13. Which of the following Renaissance plays draws heavily from the tradition of morality plays?

A. The Spanish Tragedy
B. Doctor Faustus
C. The Duchess of Malfi
D. Tamburlaine the Great

Answer: B. Doctor Faustus

14. What feature distinguishes morality plays from mystery plays?

A. Use of Latin
B. Biblical events
C. Allegorical characters and universal themes
D. Satirical tone

Answer: C. Allegorical characters and universal themes

15. In morality plays, the ultimate concern is with:

A. Justice and legal reformation
B. Human comedy and irony
C. The fate of the soul and life after death
D. Class-based conflicts

Answer: C. The fate of the soul and life after death