"Inviting a Friend to Supper" is a poem by English poet and playwright Ben Jonson. It was originally published in Jonson's first folio of collected works in 1616 as part of his poetry collection, Epigrams. The poem is written as a dinner invitation to Jonson's most loyal patron, William Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke. In describing the prospect of a delicious meal, the poem advocates for modesty and political privacy between the speaker and the guest.
Study Pack
The Inviting a Friend to Supper Study Pack contains:
The English playwright and poet Ben Jonson (1572-1637) is best known for his satiric comedies. An immensely learned man with an irascible and domineering personality, he was, next to Shakespeare, the ...
Read more
Biography EssayBy turns turbulent and weighty, scatological and refined, boisterous and delicate, Ben Jonson's works have always excited strong reactions among his readers and his playgoing audiences,...
Read more
By turns turbulent and weighty, scatalogical and refined, boisterous and delicate, Ben Jonson's works have always excited strong reactions among his readers and his playgoing audiences, just as his pe...
Read more
Although Ben Jonson is still best known as a dramatist, his significance as a poet is hard to overestimate. His influence helped transform English verse. His "plain style" made him a crucial figure in...
Read more
Ben Jonson
Ben(jamin) Jonson