1. Emphasis on Action: Elizabethan plays emphasized action, suspense, and exciting plot twists to keep the audience engaged. Action sequences, battles, and fights were common elements.
2. Use of Blank Verse: Blank verse, unrhymed iambic pentameter, was the predominant form of poetry used in Elizabethan drama. It allowed for a natural flow of language and increased the dramatic intensity.
3. Variety of Genres: Elizabethan drama encompassed various genres, including comedies, tragedies, histories, and tragicomedies. Each genre had its distinct conventions and themes.
4. Characters: Elizabethan plays often featured complex and multifaceted characters with distinct personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. Heroes were often flawed, and villains had redeeming qualities.
5. Themes: Elizabethan plays explored various themes such as love, honor, revenge, betrayal, power, ambition, and the role of fate. These themes reflected societal concerns and cultural values of the time.
6. Theatrical Conventions: Elizabethan theaters were characterized by open-air playhouses, minimal sets, and an imaginative use of props. Actors used symbolic gestures, facial expressions, and elaborate costumes to convey emotions and meaning.
7. Influence of Morality Plays: Elizabethan drama inherited certain elements from the earlier tradition of morality plays. Characters represented virtues or vices, and allegorical themes were often present.
8. Influence of Seneca: Classical Roman tragedies, particularly the works of Seneca, influenced the structure and style of Elizabethan plays. Revenge plots and exploration of human suffering were common elements.
9. Playwrights: The Elizabethan era produced renowned playwrights such as William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, John Webster, and Thomas Middleton. Their works continue to be studied and performed worldwide.
10. Legacy: Elizabethan drama had a profound impact on the development of modern theater and literature. Its innovations and themes influenced subsequent playwrights and continue to inspire artistic creation to this day.