Question

Who among the following were known as the University Wits?
(A). John Lyly
(B). Ben Jonson
(C). Thomas Nashe
(D). Thomas Middleton
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A), (B) and (D) only
• B. (A) and (C) only
• C. (B), (C) and (D) only
• D. (A) and (D) only

Hint:

To remember the University Wits, focus on the key figures who attended Oxford or Cambridge in the late 16th century. The main members are Christopher Marlowe, Robert Greene, Thomas Nashe, John Lyly, Thomas Lodge, and George Peele. Knowing this core list helps eliminate incorrect options like Ben Jonson.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The "University Wits" were a group of late 16th-century English playwrights and pamphleteers who were educated at the universities of Oxford or Cambridge. [3, 13, 24] They are significant for introducing classical themes and sophisticated literary styles to the English stage, paving the way for William Shakespeare.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
We need to identify which of the listed authors were part of this group.
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{(A) John Lyly: He was educated at Oxford and is a well-known member of the University Wits. [3, 13] His prose style, known as euphuism, was highly influential. } \\ \bullet & \text{(B) Ben Jonson: Although a major playwright of the same era, Ben Jonson was not a University Wit. He was largely self-educated and did not attend a university. } \\ \bullet & \text{(C) Thomas Nashe: He was educated at Cambridge and is considered a prominent member of the University Wits, known for his satirical prose and plays. [3, 13, 24] } \\ \bullet & \text{(D) Thomas Middleton: Like Ben Jonson, Thomas Middleton was a significant Jacobean playwright but is not classified as one of the University Wits. He attended Oxford but is not typically included in the core group. } \\ \end{array}\] Based on this analysis, John Lyly (A) and Thomas Nashe (C) are the University Wits from the given options.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct choice includes only (A) and (C), which corresponds to option (2).