| | Before leaving Cambridge, Marlowe had already completed two plays, ''Tamburlaine'' and the tragedy of ''Dido, Queen of Carthage''. He was one of the leading proponents of English drama at this time, employing devices such as blank verse, which would be built upon by his successors such as Shakespeare. Indeed, his play ''Tamburlaine the Great'' was so successful that he went on to write a sequel to it. Along with his plays, he wrote a number of poems, including a translation of the ''Amores'' by [[Ovid]] while still at university. Because of its lascivious subject matter and disregard for the proprieties of chastity and piety, this work was condemned and burned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. | | Before leaving Cambridge, Marlowe had already completed two plays, ''Tamburlaine'' and the tragedy of ''Dido, Queen of Carthage''. He was one of the leading proponents of English drama at this time, employing devices such as blank verse, which would be built upon by his successors such as Shakespeare. Indeed, his play ''Tamburlaine the Great'' was so successful that he went on to write a sequel to it. Along with his plays, he wrote a number of poems, including a translation of the ''Amores'' by [[Ovid]] while still at university. Because of its lascivious subject matter and disregard for the proprieties of chastity and piety, this work was condemned and burned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. |
| − | Besides his contribution to literature, Marlowe became known for his [[blasphemy]] and [[homosexuality]]. At a time when both were capital offences, this brought him into conflict with the authorities.<ref>Richard Baines' report (MSS BL Harleian 6848, fos. 185-6) as cited in Honan, 'Christopher Marlowe: Poet and Spy' (Oxford 2005)</ref> He most likely avoided prison due to his government connections.<ref name="Marlowe"/> | + | Besides his contribution to literature, Marlowe became known for alleged [[blasphemy]] and [[homosexuality]]. At a time when both were capital offences, this brought him into conflict with the authorities.<ref>Richard Baines' report (MSS BL Harleian 6848, fos. 185-6) as cited in Honan, 'Christopher Marlowe: Poet and Spy' (Oxford 2005)</ref> He most likely avoided prison due to his government connections.<ref name="Marlowe"/> |
| | In 1593 he was arrested in connection to a collection of xenophobic libels published in London, attacking Protestant refugees from the Continent. His name had been discovered in notes confiscated from the home of author Thomas Kyd, listing Marlowe as the source for some of the libels.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/players/player24.html In search of William Shakespeare: Christopher Marlowe]</ref> | | In 1593 he was arrested in connection to a collection of xenophobic libels published in London, attacking Protestant refugees from the Continent. His name had been discovered in notes confiscated from the home of author Thomas Kyd, listing Marlowe as the source for some of the libels.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/players/player24.html In search of William Shakespeare: Christopher Marlowe]</ref> |