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The article presents dramatic criticisms of the play "Cynthia's Revels," by Ben Jonson. A summary of the play is presented. Often compared to John Skelton's "Magnificence," the play was criticized by G. Gregory Smith as dated and lifeless. The play was highlighted by the songs which contain some of Jonson's best lyrics according to Robert C. Evans.

The article presents criticisms of "Volpone," a play by Ben Jonson. A summary of the play is presented. Critics considered it as Jonson's best work along with "The Alchemist" and is described as a powerful study of avarice. According to the article, the play offers moral satire of modern greed and is Jonson's successful attempt to fuse comedy and satire. The play also showed Jonson's skill of using hyperbole for comic irony.

The article presents criticisms of the play "A Tale of a Tub," by Ben Jonson. A summary of the play is presented. The play is compared to other late Elizabethan writings and is described by a critic as a farcical comedy of real merit. A departure from the influences of Plautus and Terence, the play contains four major plot lines and various characters.

The article presents criticisms of Ben Jonson's play "The Staple of News." A summary of the play is presented. According to the article, the play is considered one of Jonson's four best. Critics pointed out its blatant moral symbolism and diminishing interest of Jonson in writing lyrics. Themes covered are avarice, drunkenness and Puritans.

The article presents criticisms of Ben Jonson's play "Sejanus His Fall." A summary of the play is presented. The play is seen as Jonson's attempt to rival Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." According to a critic, although the play is less flawed compared to Jonson's other works, it lacks the passion of the great comedies. Another critic claimed that the play is highlighted by its lean language, clear exposition, logical plotting and effective metaphors.

The article presents criticisms of Ben Jonson's play "The Sad Shepherd." A summary of the play is presented. Though touted as a masterpiece, the play, according to a critic, contains flaws and is described as too incoherent as a play. The play was perhaps Jonson's attempt to rewrite the lost "May Lord." Witchcraft plays as an important theme. Another critic described the play as an appealing, folkloric and anti-Puritan tragicomedy.

The article presents criticisms of Ben Jonson's play, "Poetaster." A summary of the play is presented. One critic described that the play's strengths are surprising and is highlighted by vivid and credible characterizations. Lust plays as an important theme. The play is also described as Jonson's best and most intriguing comical satire according to the article.

The article presents criticisms of Ben Jonson's play, "The New Inn." A summary of the play is presented. Written to mock neoplatonic romanticism, the play surprisingly showed sympathy to its original target according to Eric Linklater. The play, according to C. G. Thayer, is helped by good writing and highlighted by its many puns. The play is influenced by Philip Massinger's play "The Parliament of Love."

The article presents criticisms of the play "The Magnetic Lady," by Ben Jonson. A summary of the play is presented. The play is described by a critic as allegorical and is compared to Latin comedies in its plotting. Avarice is the central theme. The four-part plot structure can be traced to Torence and Machiavelli.

The article presents dramatic criticisms of the play "Every Man Out Of His Humour," by Ben Jonson. The play is compared with the works of George Chapman, John Marston and especially Thomas Nashe. Weakened by too much exposition, the play was described by a critic as an excessively harsh satire. It is also criticized in the article as too didactic, lacks focus and movements. Themes covered by the play are avarice, drunkenness and lust.

The article presents criticisms of the play "Every Man In His Humour," by Ben Jonson. The play is a satirical presentation of London manners whose themes cover avarice, lust and drunkenness. Compared to his other plays, "Evert Man In His Humour" is more light-hearted, tolerant, and emphatic, according to Robert E. Knoll. L. A. Beaurline said that the play is a successful attempt to integrate ideals of morality and poetry into comedy.

The article presents criticisms of the play "Epicoene" or "The Silent Woman" by Ben Jonson. According to critics, the satire is a comedy of manners and is strengthened by its well constructed farce. Its depiction of women traces its influence to Plautus. The critics added, that though the characters are well drawn, the plot lacks much interest. John Palmer claimed that the highlight of the play is its well-crafted ending.

The article presents criticisms of the play "The Devil Is An Ass," by Ben Jonson. A summary of the play is presented. According to Eleanor Patience Lumley, the play is heavily influenced by Plautus. Though well-written, A. C. Swinburne said that its satire is described outdated and its plotting weak. To attack greed, Jonson used exaggeration and realism, according to Knights. The play's themes cover avarice, lust, devil lore and demonic possession.

The article presents criticisms of the play by Ben Jonson, "Catiline." The play is described by a critic as well written but too simplistic and is weakened by slow pacing, unclear motives and conflict. Historical details of the play bring back the 1605 Gunpowder Plot to mock papist fanaticism of that era. Another critic cites that the play is a clear condemnation of political and social subversions.

The article presents criticisms of the play "The Case Is Altered," by Ben Jonson. According to one of the critics, the play is heavily influenced by Plautus and often compared to Shakespeare's early comedies, especially "Two Gentlemen of Verona." Various themes are highlighted in the play including avarice, drunkenness, and Puritans. Rosalind Miles described that the play is unfocused, poorly structured and is weakened by its romantic sub-plot.

The article presents dramatic criticisms of Ben Jonson's play "Bartholomew Fair." One of the critics describes that the humor of this play is crude but full of heart and tolerant and is considered one of the minor and coarser masterpieces of comic art. According to the article, the play presents the best-drawn Puritan in English whose anti-Puritan farce is livelier and better constructed.

The article presents criticisms of Ben Jonson's play, "The Alchemist." One of the critics states that the play is superb in plot and characterizations and very ingenuous. Often compared to works of Plautus, "The Alchemist," according to the article, is considered as Jonson's best drama because of its great imaginative creation. Another critic cites the play's tactics, including irony, over-blown and language of war.

Chapter 3 of the book "Ben Jonson and the Poetics of Patronage" is presented. It argues that although the appearance of independence was pragmatically important, the actual freedom of Jonson was necessarily limited. It discusses a selection of his works in which he tackles the issue directly. A number of poems and incidents in which Jonson seems to assert his independence are also discussed.

Chapter 6 of the book "Ben Jonson and the Poetics of Patronage" is presented. This chapter discusses various works of Johnson whose themes include anxiety, self-promotion, competition and power. These themes are prevalent in his poems on friends and friendship. These friendship poems are closely examined not by looking at them as expressions of the poet's self-confidence and ideals but as competitive devices. Notions of friendship were also surveyed to suggest how they are formed to examine and elevate friendship.

Chapter 8 of the book "Ben Jonson and the Poetics of Patronage" is presented. This chapter also discusses how the patronage system affected the themes and tones of his dramas and plays. It is described that his dramas gave him an easy platform for self-advertisement to showcase his poetic gifts and enhance his social status. Stagings of his plays are just presentations of an implicit image of himself. Though Jonson satirizes characters from his society, they were presented not as an indifference but the opposite.

Chapter 7 of the book "Ben Jonson and the Poetics of Patronage" is presented. It discusses how the patronage system influenced the tones, themes, and tactics of masques and entertainments of his plays. The masques behind his works were often seen not only as artistic but also philosophical and political. They are designed to present the best ideals of Renaissance moral philosophy. The politics behind his masques are often depicted in the specifics of domestic or foreign policies and were designed to glorify British power.

Chapter 5 of the book "Ben Jonson and the Poetics of Patronage" is presented. It stresses that rivals were Jonson's attentive readers. It elaborates on the significance of patronage competition to the so-called poetomachia. Among his works discussed include "Tribe of Ben," and satires on Inigo Jones. It discusses that the elegies written to commemorate his death emphasizes the competition with which Jonson and his contemporaries had to deal with.

Chapter 4 of the book "Ben Jonson and the Poetics of Patronage" is presented. It discusses the critical fact that Jonson's poetry was written mainly for his patrons. Jonson could never afford to forget that his first responsibility was to his readers. His preoccupation with his audience, far from enhancing his creativity, remained a challenge for him. His commissioned works like "A Private Entertainment" and "Panegyre," were written mainly for the nobles who supported him.

Chapter 2 of the book "Ben Jonson and the Poetics of Patronage" is presented. It discusses the brush of Ben Jonson with patronage. He had been put to school by a friend since he had been brought poorly after the death of father, a month before his birth in 1572. His tutor William Camden taught him the intrinsic value of a humanist education. After his marriage, he began working in the theatre and then after started writing. He became the most successful patronage poet of his era through royal grants.

People that the author would like to thank for their assistance in the creation of his book, "Ben Jonson's Major Plays: Summaries of Modern Monographs" are mentioned.