Early Modern English (c.1450-1750)

Hello, readers! Today I’ve decided to give you a little bit of history, as you might have understood by the title of this article. BUT, this won’t be as boring as history classes - I promise! Ready?

The change from Middle English to Early Modern English represented the beginning of a more standardized language and also established literature (oh, my dear Shakespeare, LY!), but it also may lead us to think of queen Elizabeth I, aka “The Virgin” (was she?!), once The Elizabethan Era lasted since 1558 until 1603. This era was characterized by the dominance of drama in literature, but also, in the queen’s life.

Queen Elizabeth never got married, despite having many, many suitors. She was in love with Robert Dudley, her old friend. Dudley’s wife fell from a flight of stairs and died (an accident? Hum…) and, by that time, the virgin seriously considered to marry her big love. However, she wasn’t allowed to do it, due to her peers’ clear disapproval, and Robert would end up remarrying. The queen (as a real woman), obviously reacted with hatred scenes towards his new wife (go Elizabeth! Show her what you are made of!) – she once said «I will make you shorter by the head», so…Dudley’s new wife, you shall be afraid!

Despite all this scenes, their love never disappeared and after Elizabeth’s death, in 1603, “His last letter” (as she wrote) was found among her personal goods.

Hope you liked this brief but deep article.

                                                                                                                                                             XOXO, Oh My Gossip!,

Filipa