Who was Christopher Marlowe?
Poet and Dramatist.
Date and Place of Birth:
26th February 1564, Canterbury, Kent, England.
Family Background:
Second child and eldest son of John Marlowe,
a shoemaker.
Education:
King’s School, Canterbury. Corpus Christi College,
Cambridge.
Chronology/Biography of Christopher Marlowe:
1587: Worked on
"Tamburlaine the Great" which was to set a new high standard
for English tragedy of the period and used blank verse to great
effect. "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus was probably
written soon afterwards although not all the scenes are by Marlowe
himself.
1588: First production
of "The Jew of Malta".
1590: First printing
of "Tamburlaine". First production of "Edward the
Second" which is one of his most well worked plays. It is likely
that he contributed material for some of William Shakespeare's
plays, in particular "Henry the Sixth" and "Titus
Andronicus". He was also an obvious influence on Shakespeare's
early work.
(1598): First publication
of his unfinished poem "Hero and Leander".
Written Works:
- 1587: “Tamburlaine
The Great” Part One.
- 1588:
“Tamburlaine The Great” Part Two.
- 1589:
“The Jew of Malta”.
- 1590:
“Dido, Queen of Carthage”.
- 1592: “Doctor
Faustus”. “Edward the Second”.
- 1593:
“The Massacre at Paris”. “Lucains Pharsalia”.
- 1598:
“Hero and Leander”.
Marriage:
Never married.
Places of Interest:
LONDON:
British Library
St. Nicholas's Church, Deptford
Date and Place of Death:
30th May 1593, Deptford, London, England. Killed
after a brawl over a tavern bill with Ingram Friyer.
Age at Death:
29.
Site of Grave:
St. Nicholas's Church, Deptford, London.
Further Information:
Marlowe Society
c/o Fred Barker
7 Richmond House
Rushival Close
Cheltenham
GL51 0JR
