Age Quote by Ben Jonson
“Soul of the age! The applause, delight, the wonder of our stage! My Shakespeare , rise; I will not lodge thee by Chaucer or Spenser , or bid Beaumont lie A little further, to make thee a room; Thou art a monument, without a tomb, And art alive still, while thy book doth live, And we have wits to read , and praise to give .”
About This Quote
Source Play: Volpone, Act 5, 1606
The poet celebrates the timeless vitality of Shakespeare’s work, urging respect beyond older writers.
In simple terms: Shakespeare’s art lives on, unmatched.
Key Takeaway
Honor true greatness.
Themes
literature
legacy
artistic merit
Mood
admiring
reflective
Type
literary
historical
When to use this quote
- theater criticism
- academic study
- public lectures
Key Concepts
canon formation
cultural memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance reverence for classics with new voices?
- What criteria should guide literary canon formation?
A Different Perspective
Older works may be unfairly eclipsed.
