Step 1: About English drama.
English drama flourished during the Elizabethan era, and the most prominent dramatist of that time was William Shakespeare, whose plays combined deep human emotion, philosophy, and artistic brilliance.
Step 2: Achievements of Shakespeare.
Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, including comedies, tragedies, and histories such as “Hamlet,” “Othello,” “King Lear,” “Macbeth,” and “Romeo and Juliet.” His work profoundly influenced the English language and literature.
Step 3: Analyzing the options.
- (a) Geoffrey Chaucer: Known as the father of English poetry, not a dramatist.
- (b) Wycliff: A religious reformer, not a playwright.
- (c) William Langland: Author of “Piers Plowman,” a poetic allegory, not a dramatist.
- (d) Shakespeare: Correct — regarded as the greatest dramatist in English literature.
Step 4: Conclusion.
William Shakespeare is universally recognized as the greatest English dramatist.