Ben Jonson

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ben-jonson

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Ben Jonson born?Circa June 11, 1572
2. When did Ben Jonson die?August 18, 1637 (aged 65)
3. Where was Ben Jonson born?England
4. What is the career?Playwright, poet, literary critic, actor
5. Who was Ben Jonson?Ben Jonson was a famous English writer who lived from about 1572 to 1637. He wrote funny plays, poems, and gave advice about good writing. He was known for being very smart and learning a lot from Greek and Roman books.
6. What is the comedy of humours?The comedy of humours is a type of play that Ben Jonson liked to write. It says people act because of four body fluids, and the plays show exaggerated characters that make us laugh and think about real life. It helped people see how silly some habits can be.

Comedy of Humours: A dramatic theory and genre where characters embody exaggerated bodily fluids ('humours') influencing their personality and behavior.
Satire: The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
Lyric Poetry: A genre of poetry that expresses personal emotions or feelings, typically spoken in the first person, often characterized by its musicality and subjective nature.
Epigram: A short, clever, and often witty statement or poem expressing a single thought or observation, frequently satirical.