Ben Jonson

Facts about Ben Jonson Born: June 11, 1572, Westminster Died: August 6, 1637, Westminster His first major success was Every Man In His Humour (1598). Jonson went to prison twice. Once, for writing bad things about Queen Elizabeth the first. Second, for killing one of the actors in his play "The Isle of Dogs"

Context Ironically, although "William Shakespeare" is by far the better-known name today, we know a great deal more about the life of his fellow Elizabethan dramatist Ben Jonson. Unlike William Shakespeare, he had a heavy involvement in the royal entertainments of both King James I and Charles I.

Language Jonson uses religious language and images to explore his thoughts on the death of his son. Jonson creates an extended metaphor of his son having been "lent" to him by God, so that he has to "pay" him back on the named day. The image is a powerful one that suggests that while Jonson is grief-stricken he acknowledges that having had "seven years" with his son was a gift from God. The assonance on the sound ‘o’ emphasises the grief that the poet feels, particularly in lines such as "oh, could I lose all father now!". Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds

Dialogue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X4Q3Mm7zYk

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