Poets of the Elizabethan era in the 16th century built upon the traditions put in place during the English Renaissance a hundred years earlier when classic poetic forms from the Greek and Latin were adapted to suit the accentual style of English. Well known poets and playwrights such as Ben Jonson and William Shakespeare were active during the Elizabethan era, and produced poetry that is still widely read and admired in English. The Elizabethan sonnet of 14 lines was developed during this time and is one of the most enduring forms.
