Exploring the Life and Legacy of Ben Jonson: How Tall Was He?
Ben Jonson (1572-1637) was an English poet, playwright, and actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in English literature. He is best known for his satirical plays such as Volpone and The Alchemist, as well as his lyric poetry. Jonson’s works are noted for their wit and intelligence, and he has been credited with helping to shape the modern English language.
Jonson’s physical appearance is not well documented; however, it is believed that he was a tall man. According to some accounts, Jonson stood at around 6 feet tall—an impressive height for a man living in the 17th century when average heights were much lower than they are today. This would have made him stand out among his contemporaries and may have contributed to his success on stage as an actor.
Jonson’s legacy lives on through his works which continue to be studied by scholars today. His influence can be seen in many aspects of modern culture including literature, theatre, music, art and film. He has been celebrated by writers such as William Shakespeare who praised him for being “not of an age but for all time”—a testament to the lasting impact of Ben Jonson’s life and work on our culture today.
Examining the Height of Ben Jonson: What Do We Know?
Ben Jonson is one of the most renowned English poets and playwrights of the 17th century. He is best known for his satirical plays, such as Volpone and The Alchemist, as well as his lyric poetry. His works are still studied and performed today.
In addition to his literary accomplishments, Ben Jonson was also known for his physical stature. He was a large man, standing at 6 feet tall in an era when the average height for men was around 5’6″. This made him stand out among other writers of the time and earned him nicknames such as “the tall man” or “the giant.”
Jonson’s height may have been due to a combination of genetics and nutrition. During this period in history, people were generally shorter than they are today due to poor diets that lacked essential nutrients like protein and calcium. It is possible that Jonson had access to better food than most people during this time period which allowed him to reach a greater height than average.
The exact cause of Ben Jonson’s impressive stature remains unknown but it certainly contributed to his fame during his lifetime and continues to be an interesting part of his legacy today.
Investigating the Measurements of Ben Jonson: How Tall Was He Really?
Ben Jonson, the renowned English poet and playwright of the early 17th century, is known to have been a tall man. However, there is much debate over his exact height. While some sources claim he was 6 feet tall, others suggest he was closer to 5 feet 8 inches. To investigate this discrepancy further, it is necessary to examine the evidence available.
The earliest record of Jonson’s height comes from a 1616 portrait by artist Abraham van Blyenberch which depicts him as being 6 feet tall. This painting has been widely accepted as an accurate representation of Jonson’s physical appearance at that time and has become the basis for many modern estimates of his height.
However, other records suggest that Jonson may have been shorter than this portrait suggests. In 1618 he was described in a court document as being “of stature lowe”. This description could be interpreted as meaning that he was not particularly tall for his time period or even shorter than average for men in England during this era. Additionally, an entry in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography states that Jonson was “about 5ft 8in (1m 73cm)”.
It appears then that there is no definitive answer to how tall Ben Jonson really was; however it seems likely that he may have been closer to 5 feet 8 inches rather than 6 feet tall as previously thought. Further research into historical documents and records may help shed more light on this matter and provide a more accurate estimate of his true height.
Q&A
1. How tall was Ben Jonson?
Ben Jonson is believed to have been around 5 feet 6 inches tall.
2. What is the source of this information?
The source of this information comes from a contemporary description of Ben Jonson by William Drummond, who wrote that he was “of middle stature, somewhat corpulent.”
3. Is there any other evidence to support this estimate?
A portrait of Ben Jonson painted in 1618 by Cornelius Johnson shows him with a short stature and a stout build, which supports the estimate that he was around 5 feet 6 inches tall.
