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Overview
Synopsis
Christopher Marlowe’s 1588 play Tamburlaine the Great Part I was so popular among London audiences that Marlowe wrote a sequel to continue the conqueror's grisly exploits. The second part takes place several years after the events of the first part, and primarily concerns Tamburlaine’s assault on the kingdoms of Mesopotamia: Trebizond, Soria, Jerusalem, and Amasia. While on the war-path, Tamburlaine’s beloved queen Zenocrate succumbs to illness, and her death spurs Tamburlaine on to even greater acts of savagery. Meanwhile, Callapine, the son of slain Turkish Emperor Bajazeth, has sworn revenge on the conqueror, and is gathering an army of tributary kings to help him in his vendetta.
The Tamburlaine plays were loosely based on the historical conquests of Timur in the 14th Century, events which Marlowe likely would have learned about during his studies in Cambridge. The play is considered by scholars to be one of the first truly popular pieces of English language theatre, and Marlowe’s use of verse defined the genre for the next century.
Show Information
- Book
- Christopher Marlowe
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1590
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Asia and Europe, Renaissance
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Diverse Cast, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen, Early Teen, Mature Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
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Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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