Which two of the following plays were written by Thomas Heywood?

(1) Gorboduc
(2) The Play Called the Four P.P.
(3) The Play of the Weather
(4) The Spanish Tragedy

Choose the correct option:

Correct option is C

Explanation:
The correct answer is "The Play Called the Four P.P." and "The Play of the Weather".

The Play of the Weather (1607): This is one of Thomas Heywood’s important works, a play in the Jacobean era that blends political satire and dramatic comedy.

It tackles the issues of power, social structures, and political instability, common themes in Heywood’s work. The play is often noted for its complex commentary on the nature of leadership and its moral implications.

The Play Called the Four P.P. (1609): Another comedy by Heywood, this play deals with love, marriage, and the complications of personal relationships.

It is part of Heywood's larger body of work that focuses on humorous examinations of social norms and the intersection of personal desires with societal expectations.

Information Booster:

Thomas Heywood (1574–1641) was one of the most prolific and versatile writers of the English Renaissance period.

With over 220 plays to his name, Heywood is known for his wide-ranging contributions to both stage comedies and tragedies.

His plays often dealt with social, political, and moral issues of the time, incorporating a rich blend of historical events and personal struggles.

Genre: Heywood’s works spanned a wide range of genres. He wrote tragedies, comedies, tragicomedies, and historical plays.

His works are notable for their exploration of human emotions, social justice, and moral dilemmas, often reflecting the concerns of the Jacobean and Elizabethan audiences.

While he was prolific in his writing, Heywood’s works were often overshadowed by other playwrights such as Shakespeare and Jonson, but he has come to be appreciated for his insight into the human condition and his creative storytelling.

Summary of the Texts:

The Play of the Weather is an example of a political play that uses the weather metaphorically to comment on the changing tides of political power and the instability of leadership.

It delves into the social and political concerns of the time and critiques the shortcomings of authority figures.

The Play Called the Four P.P. is a comedic work that takes a more lighthearted approach to relationships and social issues.

The plot involves characters dealing with love and marriage, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals in adhering to societal expectations.

Additional Knowledge:

Gorboduc (1561) was written by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville, not Thomas Heywood. It is one of the first English tragedies to be written in blank verse, making it historically important, but not related to Heywood’s body of work.

The play concerns the downfall of a mythical king, Gorboduc, and was influential in shaping the genre of English tragic drama.

The Spanish Tragedy (1592) by Thomas Kyd is one of the key works of Elizabethan revenge tragedy, and is not connected to Thomas Heywood. It tells the story of Hieronimo's quest for revenge for the murder of his son, and its influence can be seen in later tragic works.

The Spanish Tragedy and Gorboduc are both significant works in the development of English drama, but they do not belong to the corpus of work produced by Thomas Heywood.