exam is may 11

ben johnson pres
never had university training
was a bricklayer
married before 1594
first son and daughter both died, daughter at 6mo, son at 7 years
killed a fellow actor, got out of it
charged with treason, mocked king of scots
wrote for public mass
was a spy for privy council on catholics
had a stroke
continued to write plays until he died
friends of shakespeare and donne

some of these may be on the test: DID get college educated eventually, was spared because he could read latin, used his wit to get ahead
rose above because he was intelligent
up until the 20th century, not really any plays being put on, considered the last great playwright
king lear was darkest of shakespeare's tragedies
nation went into period of mourning after elizabeth's death and king james' rise to power

commentary on to the memory of my beloved, the author, mr william shakespeare, and what he hath left us
several of the lines from this will be ON THE TEST
johnson is self-aware about writing this
accompanied the printed version of his plays
what has to be in the poem? accomplishments, good characteristics, anecdote
pay attention that it takes until line 17 to actually get started

for all time, not just then
not good with greek or latin, but still manages to be great
for a good poet's made as well as born.

hobbes
was philo and mathematician
called catholic church kingdom of darkness
aligned with charles II, but equally happy with cromwell

from leviathan
first 2 para: when push comes to shove, mankind is mostly equal, pessimism, no better than anyone else
dog eat dog world
2 who compete for the same thing become enemies
live in an era of distrust, so must be ruled over by someone with power
3 causes of anger: competition, mistrust, glory
common power prevents these from leading to war
nothing good happens during war
humanity doesn't develop during war, survival only
all distrust others, lock doors, travel with bodyguards, etc.
if no common power to fear, would have civil war all the time
says an evil ruler is better than none at all