[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-319863-105":59,"doc-detail-319863-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","the-school-of-abuse-by-stephen-gosson","THE SCHOOL OF ABUSE BY STEPHEN GOSSON","","Stephen Gosson (April 1554 – February 13, 1624) is presented as a major Elizabethan satirist and literary critic whose most influential work, The School of Abuse, argues against plays, poetry, and artistic expression. His critique is driven by Puritan ideals emphasizing moral rectitude and spiritual duty. The text summarizes Gosson’s central polemical points: poetry wastes time, functions as the mother of lies by distorting truth and expectations, and serves as a nurse of abuse by nurturing vice and immoral behavior.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":15,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/literature/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/the-school-of-abuse-by-stephen-gosson/319863/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/the-school-of-abuse-by-stephen-gosson/319863.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Quinn","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-31","2026-09-20",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",27,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"Who was Stephen Gosson and why is he important in literary criticism?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"Stephen Gosson is portrayed as a notable English satirist and a significant figure in Elizabethan literary criticism, especially known for opposing plays and poetry through The School of Abuse.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What Puritan viewpoint shapes Gosson’s criticism of the arts?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"As a Puritan, Gosson emphasizes moral rectitude and avoidance of activities he sees as sinful or distracting from spiritual duties, arguing that poetry and drama corrupt society.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What are Gosson’s main arguments against poetry?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"The text highlights arguments that poetry wastes time, distorts truth as the “mother of lies,” and spreads immoral behavior as a “nurse of abuse,” encouraging vice over virtue.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},319863,1790068976,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":14,"category_name":15,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":29,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":44},962075114765,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_a8503ba1806abce46bf441b54a3ca4cd","THE SCHOOL OF ABUSE BY STEPHEN GOSSON  \nStephen Gosson (April 1554 – February 13, 1624) was a notable English satirist and a significant figure in the realm of literary criticism during the Elizabethan era. He is primarily known for his strong opposition to plays, poetry, and various forms of artistic expression, particularly through his seminal work, The School of Abuse. His critiques were written in response to the flourishing of poetry and drama during this time, and he engaged directly with the arguments put forth by poets such as Sir Philip Sidney in An Apology for Poetry and Thomas Lodge’s defenses ofthe art form.  \nBACKGROUND  \nAs a Puritan, Stephen Gosson held a distinct viewpoint that emphasized moral rectitude and the avoidance of activities he deemed sinful or distracting from one's spiritual duties. His background played a crucial role in shaping his criticism of the arts, particularly poetry and drama, which he believed corrupted society and diverted individuals from their moral and religious obligations. This Puritan ethos fueled his disdain for the theatrical performances and poetic works that thrived in the vibrant cultural landscape of the Elizabethan Age.  \nTHE SCHOOL OF ABUSE  \nStephen Gosson’s most famous work, The School of Abuse, was published in 1578 and is often regarded as a critical manifesto against the arts of the time. In this pamphlet, Gosson dedicated his efforts to arguing against the  \nlegitimacy and moral value of poetry, drama, and other artistic expressions. His polemical approach was characterized by a vehement condemnation of what he perceived as the moral decay fostered by these art forms. He believed that they led people astray, encouraging vice rather than virtue.  \nCritique of Poetry: Four Main Arguments  \nGosson articulated several key arguments against poetry, which he believed demonstrated its harmful effects on individuals and society.  \n1. Poetry as a Waste of Time  \nStephen Gosson's assertion that poetry is a waste of time stemmed from his Puritanical values and his concern for the moral and intellectual development of individuals. He believed that time spent engaging with poetry detracted from more significant and  \nproductive activities that contribute to personal growth and societal improvement.Gosson viewed poetry as a frivolous pursuit, offering entertainment but lacking substantive value. To him, the enjoyment derived from reading or writing poetry was superficial and ultimately unfulfilling. He argued that poetry could be seductive, drawing individuals away from the hard work of self-improvement, education, and spiritual reflection. This sentiment reflected a broader Puritan disdain for activities perceived as indulgent or hedonistic, which were believed to lead to moral decay.  \n--------------------------------------------  \n--------------------------------------------  \nGosson advocated for devoting time to pursuits that would yield moral and intellectual benefits. He believed individuals should engage in activities fostering deeper understanding, such as religious study, philosophy, or practical arts that enhance character and  \ncontribute to society. Poetry, in his view, did not fit this mold. Instead, it distracted from essential duties and responsibilities, particularly those associated with faith and moral obligations.By labeling poetry as a waste of time, Gosson also warned of its potential consequences. He believed excessive engagement with poetry could lead individuals to neglect their responsibilities, family duties, and community involvement. His concern extended beyond individuals to society as a whole; he feared that if many people adopted this mindset, the collective moral fabric of society would weaken, ultimately leading to chaos and disorder.  \n2. Poetry as the Mother of Lies  \n--------------------------------------------  \n--------------------------------------------  \nStephen Gosson argued that poetry is inherently deceptive and distorts  \nthe truth. Th","cbCailGSc5EKavFN","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCailGSc5EKavFN","pdf",481480,"English","# Background\n# The School of Abuse\n# Critique of Poetry: Four Main Arguments\n## Poetry as a Waste of Time\n## Poetry as the Mother of Lies\n## Poetry as a Nurse of Abuse","[{\"question\":\"Who was Stephen Gosson and why is he important in literary criticism?\",\"answer\":\"Stephen Gosson is portrayed as a notable English satirist and a significant figure in Elizabethan literary criticism, especially known for opposing plays and poetry through The School of Abuse.\"},{\"question\":\"What Puritan viewpoint shapes Gosson’s criticism of the arts?\",\"answer\":\"As a Puritan, Gosson emphasizes moral rectitude and avoidance of activities he sees as sinful or distracting from spiritual duties, arguing that poetry and drama corrupt society.\"},{\"question\":\"What are Gosson’s main arguments against poetry?\",\"answer\":\"The text highlights arguments that poetry wastes time, distorts truth as the “mother of lies,” and spreads immoral behavior as a “nurse of abuse,” encouraging vice over virtue.\"}]","THE SCHOOL OF ABUSE BY STEPHEN GOSSON | PDF",1789947567]