George Chapman: Life and Works

George Chapman was born in 1559 and he died in 1634. He was another Elizabethan writer, poet, and playwright, who competed with the genius of University wits including Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Kyd and the rising star William Shakespeare during the Elizabethan era and continued to produce worthy pieces of literature during the Jacobean and Caroline era. He was a proficient poet, prose writer, and dramatist and he is most remembered for his translations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. His translation of Homer contains passages of great power and beauty and his translation inspired John Keats to compose his sonnets of ‘On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer’ which was published in 1815. His translation of Homer titled ‘Crown of All Homer’s Work’ also influenced T. S. Eliot and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Poems: The Shadow of Night (1594), Ovid's Banquet of Sense (1595), De Guiana, Carmen Epicum’ or ‘An Epic Poem About Guiana (1596), Hero and Leander (Marlowe's 1598), Euthymiae Raptus or The Tears of Peace (1609), Andromeda Liberata or the Nuptials of Perseus and Andromeda (1614). Plays: The Blind Beggar of Alexandria (1596), An Humorous Day’s Mirth.(1597), Eastward Ho (1605), The Tragedy of Bussy D’Ambois (1609), The Revenge of Bussy D’Ambois (1613), The Tragedy and Conspiracy of Charles, Duke of Byron, Caesar and Pompey (1612), The Memorable Masque of The Middle Temple, and Lincoln’s Inn (1613). We have discussed all his major works. We will continue to discuss the literature of the Jacobean and Caroline era as we intend to cover a thorough course for the preparation of competitive exams like UGC NET English, GATE English literature, TGT PGT English, PG TRB English, SET English, and others. Stay connected with the Discourse. Thanks and Regards!