The Development of Comedy in English Literature up to 1590
The evolution of English comedy from medieval folk traditions to the sophisticated theatrical productions of the late 16th century reflects broader cultural and literary transformations. By 1590, comedy had established itself as a vital dramatic genre, paving the way for Shakespeare's masterpieces.
1. Medieval Roots (12th–15th Century)
Early English comedy emerged from:
Folk plays featuring rustic humor, disguise, and mock battles
Interludes (short, humorous plays performed between courses at feasts)
Mystery and Morality plays that included comic elements (e.g., Noah's wife in Chester Cycle)
These forms blended satire, physical humor, and social commentary, often targeting human vices.
2. Early Tudor Comedy (Early 16th Century)
The Renaissance brought classical influences:
Nicholas Udall's Ralph Roister Doister (1550s) – The first true English comedy, modeled after Roman playwright Plautus, featuring a foolish braggart and clever wordplay.
Gammer Gurton's Needle (1560s) – A bawdy farce about village life, using rustic dialects and slapstick.
These works introduced stock characters (the braggart, the trickster) and plot devices (mistaken identities, clever servants).
3. Elizabethan Innovations (1570s–1590)
Professional theaters (like The Theatre, 1576) spurred comedy's growth:
John Lyly's Endymion (1588) – Courtly comedy blending mythology and witty dialogue.
George Peele and Robert Greene – Romantic comedies with adventure, love plots, and pastoral settings.
Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus – Though a tragedy, it included comic scenes with Faustus's servant, Wagner.
By 1590, English comedy had evolved from crude farce to refined, multi-layered entertainment, mixing classical structure, native humor, and social satire—setting the stage for Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors (1594) and beyond.