Renaissance Drama — Topics · seed 42

Topic 9 — Theatre talk: prologues, poets and players

Dominant work: Poetaster, or The Arraignment · genre mix of this topic (British Drama labels): comedy 58%; tragedy 11%; not in BritDrama 8%

132chunks
64,830words
76works
13works with ≥3 chunks
5 %dominant work
15 %top-3 works

All statistics on this page are on the representative editions (one per work). Including the other editions, placed after the fit: 156 chunks · 80 works · 76,722 words — those 24 chunks are listed at the end of the page and are not part of any figure above.

Classification cross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · confirmed by the researcher
Label (researcher): Theatre talk: prologues, poets and players
Original AI draft — before researcher review
draft label: Theatre talk: prologues, poets and players · pattern basis: thematic_discourse
132 chunks, 76 works, no work above 5 %. Plays about playing: prologues, inductions, epilogues, poets and their censurers, players and audiences (Jonson, Brome, Nashe, Rawlins, Glapthorne). Much of it is framing matter (prologue/epilogue) rather than plot; still comparable across works.
chunks read for the draft: 422_00002;1140_00037;1172_00002;396_00000;1135_00027;533_00004;1144_00000

In the analyses: author comparisons for this topic · this topic by decade.

Keywords

Class-TF-IDF (uniform rule)

playstagepoetprologueauthorwitplaysmusesceneplayers

KeyBERT-style (cosine of word to topic centroid)

mirthpoetshoracepoetplaysactorscomedygentlemenprologueact

MMR (diversified)

mirthpoetsprologuegentlemenplayshoracefaithmusewitcensure

Amber = capitalised in ≥80 % of occurrences (probable name). Keywords are computed on the unmasked text.

Most typical chunk of each of the leading works

Jonson, Ben, 1602 · comedy · 7 chunks of this work here
No Sir. Yes Sir. I hear of a Tragedy of yours coming forth for the common Players there, called Medea. By my household gods, if I come to the acting of it, I'll add one tragic part…
The Antipodes typ. 0.81
Brome, Richard, 1640 · not in BritDrama · 7 chunks of this work here
My Lord we are corrected. Go, be ready: But you Sir are incorrigible, and Take licence to yourself, to add unto Your parts, your own free fancy; and sometimes To alter, or diminish…
Jonson, Ben, 1640 · comedy · 6 chunks of this work here
They are no other but narrow, and shrunk natures; shriveld up, poor things, that cannot think well of themselves, who dare to detract others. That Signature is upon them, and it wi…
Jonson, Ben, 1600 · comedy · 5 chunks of this work here
Nay Asper. Peace Mitis, I do know your thought: You'll say, your audience will except at this? Pish: you are too timorous, and full of doubt: Then, he a patient, shall reject all P…
Jonson, Ben, 1616 · satire · 5 chunks of this work here
So, sir, this is all the reformation you seek? It is: do not you think it necessary to be practised, my little wag? Yes, where any such ill-habited custom is received. O (I had alm…
Marston, John, 1610 · moral · 5 chunks of this work here
My Lord hath sent request to see a play. Your Lord? what, shall our pains be soundly recompensed? With open hand of honours frank reward? Ye shall have four fair Angels gentlemen, …
Jonson, Ben, 1631 · comedy · 5 chunks of this work here
It is also agreed, that every man here, exercise his own judgement, and not censure by Contagion, or upon trust, from another's voice, or face, that sits by him, be he never so fir…
Shakespeare, William, 1623 · tragedy · 4 chunks of this work here
It shall do well. But yet do I believe The Origin and Commencement of this grief Sprung from neglected love. How now Ophelia? You need not tell us, what Lord Hamlet said, We heard …

Genre mix (chunks of this topic, British Drama labels)

comedy
76 (58 %)
tragedy
14 (11 %)
not in BritDrama
11 (8 %)
tragicomedy
10 (8 %)
moral
7 (5 %)
satire
5 (4 %)
pastoral
3 (2 %)
romance
2 (2 %)

This is the direction topic → genre, on the raw British Drama labels; the share of each genre group's text that falls in this topic is on the Genre page.

Works

Poetaster, or The Arraignment (7), The Antipodes (7), The Magnetic Lady, or Humors Reconciled (6), Every Man Out of His Humor (5), Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Sel (5), Histriomastix, or The Player Whipped (5), Bartholomew Fair (5), Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (4), The Isle of Gulls (4), Satiromastix, or The Untrussing of the H (3), What You Will (3), Technogamia, or The Marriages of the Art (3), The Staple of News (3), Summer's Last Will and Testament (2), Antonio and Mellida (2) …

Excerpts

Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love (1616) · typ. 0.85
…tom is received. O (I had almost forgot it too) they say, the umbrae, or ghosts of some three or four plays, departed a dozen years since, have been seen walking on your stage here: take heed, boy, if your house be haunted with such hobgoblins, 'twill fright away all your spectators quickly. Good, sir, but what will you say now, if a Poet…
The Magnetic Lady, or Humors Reconciled (1640) · typ. 0.85
…y should come to hear, and see Plays, and say nothing for their money. O, yes; say what you will: so it be to purpose, and in place. Can any thing be out of purpose at a Play? I see no reason, if I come here, and give my eighteen pence, or two shillings for my Seat, but I should take it out in censure, on the Stage. Your two shilling wort…
The Isle of Gulls (1606) · typ. 0.85
…head of Poetry, and the very Crystal fount of Parnassus. Chaste ears would never endure it sir. Chaste ears, now deafness light upon 'em, what should chaste ears do at a play. 'tis strange now, I am of neither a both your opinions, I like neither railing nor bawdry: no, give me a stately penned history, as thus, The rugged winds, with rud…
The Magnetic Lady, or Humors Reconciled (1640) · typ. 0.85
…y standing as you can: Fly every thing (you see) to the mark, and censure it; freely. So, you interrupt not the Series, or thread of the Argument, to break or pucker it, with unnecessary questions. For, I must tell you, (not out of mine own Dictamen, but the Authors,) A good Play, is like a skeene of silk: which, if you take by the right …
Epicene, or The Silent Woman (1616) · typ. 0.84
…is Muse be true, Who commends her to you. THe ends of all, who for the Scene do write, Are, or should be, to profit, and delight. And stilled hath been the praise of all best times, So persons were not touched, to tax the crimes. Then, in this play, which we present to night, And make the object of your ear, and sight, On forfeit of yours…
The Isle of Gulls (1606) · typ. 0.84
…l sit out the play, and be but to avoid that sheepish imputation, but see it be bawdy, or by this light I and all my friends will hiss. You should not deal gentlemanlike with us else. The misery that waits upon the pen Of the best Writers, judge it gentlemen, Let them express the very soul of wit, And want Opinions voice to countenance it…
The Lover's Melancholy (1629) · typ. 0.84
TO tell ye (Gentlemen) in what true sense The Writer, Actors, or the audience Should mould their judgements for a Play, might draw Truth into Rules, but we have no such law. Our Writer, for himself would have ye know, That in his following Scenes, he doth not owe To others' Fancies, …
Aglaura (1638) · typ. 0.84
I'Ve thought upon't; and cannot tell which way Ought I can say now, should advance the Play. For Plays are either good, or bad; the good, (If they do beg) beg to be understood. And in good faith, that has as bold a sound, As if a beggar should ask twenty po…
The Magnetic Lady, or Humors Reconciled (1640) · typ. 0.84
…et? Which of 'hem? Sir we have divers that drive that trade, now: Poets, Poet'accios, Poetasters, Poetitoes— And all Haberdashers of small wit, I presume: we would speak with the Poet o' the day, Boy. Sir, he is not here. But, I have the dominion of the Shop, for this time, under him, and can show you all the variety the Stage will afford…
A Fine Companion (1633) · typ. 0.84
ARe you the Author of this Play? What then? Out o' this Poetry, I wonder what You do with this Disease, a seed of Vipers Spawned in Parnassus' pool, whom the world frowns on, And here you vent your poison on the Stage. What sa…
Ram Alley, or Merry Tricks (1611) · typ. 0.83
Homebred mirth our Muse doth sing, The satires tooth and Waspish sting, Which most do hurt when least suspected, By this Play are not affected; But if Conceit with quick-turned Scenes, Observing all those ancient streams, Which from the Horsefoot fount do flow, As Time, Place, Person, and t…
Histriomastix, or The Player Whipped (1610) · typ. 0.83
…ld be feasted in Apollo's hall; But (Lords) the chaps of wide-paunched gluttony, Have wasted all the dainties of the land. Servant Philarchus, what, no mask too night? A Play, a Mask, a Banquet, we'll have all. My Lord, the Players now are grown so proud, Ten pound a play, or no point Comedy. What? insolent with glib prosperity? Faith Gen…

All 132 chunks of the representative editions (chronological; click a header to sort)

chunkplayauthorpublishedgenrewordstypicality
83_00000Ralph Roister DoisterUdall, Nicholas1566comedy4880.646
100_00000Damon and PithiasEdwards, Richard1571comedy5070.747
135_00000Sappho and PhaoLyly, John1584comedy4290.724
238_00006The Cobbler's ProphecyWilson, Robert1594moral5140.668
365_00003Every Man Out of His HumorJonson, Ben1600comedy4580.831
365_00038Every Man Out of His HumorJonson, Ben1600comedy5020.810
396_00002Summer's Last Will and TestamentNashe, Thomas1600comedy4410.790
365_00005Every Man Out of His HumorJonson, Ben1600comedy4660.778
365_00001Every Man Out of His HumorJonson, Ben1600comedy4800.746
365_00004Every Man Out of His HumorJonson, Ben1600comedy4670.742
396_00000Summer's Last Will and TestamentNashe, Thomas1600comedy3040.721
364_00001Old FortunatusDekker, Thomas1600romance4870.714
422_00003Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1602comedy5070.831
418_00002Antonio and MellidaMarston, John1602comedy5050.828
422_00006Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1602comedy4970.822
444_00042Satiromastix, or The Untrussing of the Humorous PoetDekker, Thomas1602comedy5100.795
422_00001Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1602comedy4930.785
418_00000Antonio and MellidaMarston, John1602comedy4470.772
422_00028Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1602comedy5020.754
422_00004Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1602comedy4890.731
444_00041Satiromastix, or The Untrussing of the Humorous PoetDekker, Thomas1602comedy5110.709
422_00045Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1602comedy4710.707
444_00039Satiromastix, or The Untrussing of the Humorous PoetDekker, Thomas1602comedy4860.674
422_00002Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1602comedy5060.666
518_00000All FoolsChapman, George1605comedy4680.791
501_00000The Dutch Courtesan (Cockle de Moye)Marston, John1605comedy4650.746
555_00001The Isle of GullsDay, John1606comedy5090.847
555_00002The Isle of GullsDay, John1606comedy4890.842
533_00004The Gentleman Usher (Vincentio and Margaret)Chapman, George1606comedy4870.785
555_00033The Isle of GullsDay, John1606comedy5040.757
548_00000Wily BeguiledAnonymous1606comedy4600.747
555_00000The Isle of GullsDay, John1606comedy5020.727
533_00003The Gentleman Usher (Vincentio and Margaret)Chapman, George1606comedy4890.694
577_00000The Woman Hater (The Hungry Courtier)Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John1607comedy4730.797
592_00001What You WillMarston, John1607comedy4540.765
592_00000What You WillMarston, John1607comedy4560.751
562_00000Lingua, or The Combat of the Tongue and the Five SensesTomkis, Thomas1607comedy; allegory4830.731
562_00032Lingua, or The Combat of the Tongue and the Five SensesTomkis, Thomas1607comedy; allegory5510.722
592_00008What You WillMarston, John1607comedy4920.688
573_00039The PhoenixMiddleton, Thomas1607comedy5500.681
651_00030A Mad World, My MastersMiddleton, Thomas1608comedy5160.720
651_00032A Mad World, My MastersMiddleton, Thomas1608comedy5120.719
663_00001The Case Is AlteredJonson, Ben1609comedy4690.813
663_00014The Case Is AlteredJonson, Ben1609comedy4780.763
681_00012Histriomastix, or The Player WhippedMarston, John1610moral5000.832
681_00008Histriomastix, or The Player WhippedMarston, John1610moral5070.825
681_00007Histriomastix, or The Player WhippedMarston, John1610moral5070.780
681_00005Histriomastix, or The Player WhippedMarston, John1610moral5090.777
673_00000The Turk (Muleasses the Turk)Mason, John1610tragedy4950.759
681_00017Histriomastix, or The Player WhippedMarston, John1610moral4870.686
683_00000Ram Alley, or Merry TricksBarry, Lording1611comedy4450.834
696_00000The Roaring Girl, or Moll CutpurseDekker, Thomas / Middleton, Thomas1611comedy4800.748
707_00000If It Be Not Good, the Devil Is in It (If This Be Not aDekker, Thomas1612comedy4830.710
724_00000The Knight of the Burning PestleBeaumont, Francis1613comedy4940.803
710_00005The Revenge of Bussy D'AmboisChapman, George1613tragedy4880.732
751_00000The Four Prentices of LondonHeywood, Thomas1615romance4640.795
413_00003Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-LoveJonson, Ben1616satire4920.853
704_00000Epicene, or The Silent WomanJonson, Ben1616comedy5220.843
413_00002Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-LoveJonson, Ben1616satire5180.827
413_00012Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-LoveJonson, Ben1616satire5440.779
606_00000Volpone, or The FoxJonson, Ben1616comedy5040.775
413_00025Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-LoveJonson, Ben1616satire5040.759
413_00029Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-LoveJonson, Ben1616satire5180.671
704_00013Epicene, or The Silent WomanJonson, Ben1616comedy5180.590
794_00000Technogamia, or The Marriages of the ArtsHolyday, Barten1618comedy5070.779
794_00016Technogamia, or The Marriages of the ArtsHolyday, Barten1618comedy5270.753
794_00035Technogamia, or The Marriages of the ArtsHolyday, Barten1618comedy4960.658
453_00026Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkShakespeare, William1623tragedy5280.798
453_00020Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkShakespeare, William1623tragedy5270.782
453_00022Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkShakespeare, William1623tragedy5150.771
453_00019Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkShakespeare, William1623tragedy5180.745
868_00017As You Like ItShakespeare, William1623comedy5160.708
852_00002Time Vindicated to Himself and to His HonorsJonson, Ben1623masque5280.702
907_00000Apollo ShrovingHawkins, William1627comedy5120.761
914_00000The Lover's MelancholyFord, John1629tragicomedy4690.842
917_00000The Deserving FavoriteCarlell, Lodowick1629tragicomedy5130.758
957_00040Sicelides (The Sicilians)Fletcher, Phineas1631pastoral4800.823
971_00002Bartholomew FairJonson, Ben1631comedy3920.806
972_00010The Staple of NewsJonson, Ben1631comedy4790.806
972_00000The Staple of NewsJonson, Ben1631comedy4800.798
971_00000Bartholomew FairJonson, Ben1631comedy5000.788
971_00061Bartholomew FairJonson, Ben1631comedy4900.787
964_00000Rhodon and IrisKnevet, Ralph1631pastoral4700.745
952_00003The Spanish Bawd (Calisto and Meliboea) (Celestina)Mabbe, James / Rojas, Fernando de1631tragicomedy; literary 5660.722
972_00032The Staple of NewsJonson, Ben1631comedy4670.717
971_00001Bartholomew FairJonson, Ben1631comedy4810.706
971_00003Bartholomew FairJonson, Ben1631comedy5590.695
954_00000The School of Compliment (Love Tricks)Shirley, James1631comedy5520.675
975_00000The Courageous Turk, or Amurath the FirstGoffe, Thomas1632tragedy4520.794
980_00000Changes, or Love in a MazeShirley, James1632comedy5180.771
977_00000The Emperor of the EastMassinger, Philip1632tragicomedy4910.730
979_00015Holland's LeaguerMarmion, Shackerley1632comedy4820.703
987_00032The Jealous LoversRandolph, Thomas1632comedy5050.702
1004_00000A Fine CompanionMarmion, Shackerley1633comedy5310.836
1002_00020The Bird in a Cage (The Beauties)Shirley, James1633comedy4890.821
1007_00000The English TravellerHeywood, Thomas1633tragicomedy5050.808
993_00000All's Lost by LustRowley, William1633tragedy4770.744
998_00000The Jew of MaltaMarlowe, Christopher1633tragedy4950.708
1018_00000The Two Noble KinsmenShakespeare, William / Fletcher, J1634tragicomedy4920.715
1030_00001Adrasta, or The Woman's Spleen and Love's ConquestJones, John1635tragicomedy4510.786
1030_00000Adrasta, or The Woman's Spleen and Love's ConquestJones, John1635tragicomedy4480.759
1028_00000The Shepherds' HolidayRutter, Joseph1635pastoral4720.755
1039_00000The Wonder of A KingdomDekker, Thomas1636comedy5110.776
1040_00000A Challenge for BeautyHeywood, Thomas1636tragicomedy4640.723
1041_00000The Vow Breaker, or The Fair Maid of CliftonSampson, William1636tragedy5110.670
1054_00000The ExampleShirley, James1637comedy4910.786
1044_00000Hannibal and ScipioNabbes, Thomas1637tragedy5150.769
1078_00000AglauraSuckling, John1638not in BritDrama4980.842
1073_00002The Conspiracy (Pallantus and Eudora)Killigrew, Henry1638tragedy5080.762
1087_00033The Muses' Looking GlassRandolph, Thomas1638moral5070.695
1101_00000The Lady's TrialFord, John1639not in BritDrama4770.788
1121_00000The Royal SlaveCartwright, William1639tragicomedy4150.777
1118_00000The City MatchMayne, Jasper1639comedy5010.756
1118_00040The City MatchMayne, Jasper1639comedy4590.737
1172_00019The Magnetic Lady, or Humors ReconciledJonson, Ben1640comedy4870.851
1172_00002The Magnetic Lady, or Humors ReconciledJonson, Ben1640comedy4330.847
1172_00000The Magnetic Lady, or Humors ReconciledJonson, Ben1640comedy5080.837
1140_00012The AntipodesBrome, Richard1640not in BritDrama4910.813
1172_00010The Magnetic Lady, or Humors ReconciledJonson, Ben1640comedy4820.813
1140_00006The AntipodesBrome, Richard1640not in BritDrama4850.808
1140_00000The AntipodesBrome, Richard1640not in BritDrama4850.804
1147_000001 Saint Patrick for IrelandShirley, James1640not in BritDrama4970.795
1144_00000The Ladies' Privilege (The Lady's Privilege)Glapthorne, Henry1640not in BritDrama4740.774
1140_00011The AntipodesBrome, Richard1640not in BritDrama5020.766
1140_00018The AntipodesBrome, Richard1640not in BritDrama5180.755
1135_00027The RebellionRawlins, Thomas1640tragedy4890.748
1125_00000The CoronationShirley, James1640tragicomedy5090.747
1172_00001The Magnetic Lady, or Humors ReconciledJonson, Ben1640comedy4930.746
1172_00018The Magnetic Lady, or Humors ReconciledJonson, Ben1640comedy4720.733
1131_00000Messalina, the Roman EmpressRichards, Nathaniel1640tragedy5060.716
1140_00037The AntipodesBrome, Richard1640not in BritDrama5080.715
1140_00014The AntipodesBrome, Richard1640not in BritDrama5010.708

Chunks from other editions (24; placed after the fit, not in the statistics)

chunkplayauthorpublishedgenrewordstypicality
449_00016Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkShakespeare, William1603tragedy5010.794
449_00014Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkShakespeare, William1603tragedy4740.786
449_00018Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkShakespeare, William1603tragedy4970.744
470_00001The MalcontentMarston, John / Webster, John1604tragicomedy5150.853
470_00000The MalcontentMarston, John / Webster, John1604tragicomedy5140.776
423_00001Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1616comedy4900.844
405_00000Every Man in His HumorJonson, Ben1616comedy5130.837
368_00003Every Man Out of His HumorJonson, Ben1616comedy4580.837
702_00000The AlchemistJonson, Ben1616comedy5040.812
423_00003Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1616comedy5180.777
368_00004Every Man Out of His HumorJonson, Ben1616comedy4690.765
423_00056Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1616comedy4650.746
368_00001Every Man Out of His HumorJonson, Ben1616comedy4710.727
423_00004Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1616comedy5170.694
423_00048Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1616comedy4700.690
423_00002Poetaster, or The ArraignmentJonson, Ben1616comedy5080.680
705_00000Epicene, or The Silent WomanJonson, Ben1620comedy4510.792
705_00011Epicene, or The Silent WomanJonson, Ben1620comedy5160.579
387_00028A Midsummer Night's DreamShakespeare, William1623comedy5200.772
556_00001The Isle of GullsDay, John1633comedy5100.859
556_00002The Isle of GullsDay, John1633comedy4860.841
556_00000The Isle of GullsDay, John1633comedy5000.751
556_00034The Isle of GullsDay, John1633comedy5040.718
853_00002Time Vindicated to Himself and to His HonorsJonson, Ben1641masque5210.702