Elizabethan England

What life was like in Shakespeare’s day.

•The age in which Shakespeare lived is known as the Elizabethan age.

• Queen Elizabeth I ruled during most of Shakespeare’s life.

•Elizabeth belonged to the House of Tudor and was the daughter of one of England’s most famous kings, Henry VIII.

Henry VIII was

considered to be quite handsome,

and his exploits and lineage are notorious.

Elizabethan England:

• Queen Elizabeth ruled England from 1558-1603

• During her reign, England was a prosperous, powerful nation.

• Agriculture-based economy, with a strong military.

• Social classes determined status.

• Lowest class: the peasants. Very poor, unskilled masses.

Elizabethan England:

• The next highest class was the laborers. These people worked on various farms that were owned by others. They were paid very little for their work.

• The next highest class was the gentleman class. These people were merchants, vendors and business owners. Some of these people did very well.

• The highest class of all was the noble class. These people were landowners and royalty. Money was never a problem for these people.

Elizabethan England:

• During this time, there was a huge gap between those who had and those who had not.

• This inequality resulted in a rising number of slums in London and peasant riots in the countryside.

• Prostitution was rampant and police protection was minimal.

• England’s population grows to 5 million people during Elizabeth’s reign.

Elizabeth’s Elizabeth’s nickname was nickname was “The Virgin “The Virgin Queen” because Queen” because she never married. she never married. Instead, she used Instead, she used her beauty to gain her beauty to gain power over the power over the leaders of other leaders of other powerful powerful countries. She countries. She was able to fill was able to fill England’s England’s treasuries and treasuries and accumulate accumulate personal power by personal power by stringing along the stringing along the crown princes of crown princes of Europe!Europe!

Elizabethan England:• The bubonic plague brought an end to Glorianna’s (Elizabeth’s) golden age.

• The disease, transmitted through fleas and a lack of hygiene, killed one third of Europe’s population between 1500 and 1600!

William Shakespeare

The Background of Literature’s Most Widely Known Author.

William Shakespeare:

• Was born in Stratford-on-Avon, England, in 1564.

• His exact date of birth is not known, but it is celebrated on April 23, the Feast of St. George.

• He was the third of seven children born to John and Mary Shakespeare.

• His father was a tanner and glove-maker, and was also a prominent political figure in Stratford.

• His father died in 1601 and left very little to William.

Shakespeare’s Family Shakespeare’s Family HomeHome

William Shakespeare:• Attended a very good grammar school, where he studied Latin, some Greek, and science, but no ENGLISH!

• Married Anne Hathaway in 1582, while he was 18.

• Anne was at least 7 or 8 years older than Willy!

• First daughter, Susanna, was born 1583.

• Twins, Judith and Hamnet, were born in 1585.

• By 1592, William was an established playwright in London – one problem, though – theaters were closed most of the time because of the Plague!

There is a significant period of time in Shakespeare’s life, before There is a significant period of time in Shakespeare’s life, before he becomes an established playwright, that remains a mystery he becomes an established playwright, that remains a mystery

to modern historians. Where did Wild Bill go?to modern historians. Where did Wild Bill go?

Little Willy’s Schoolroom

William Shakespeare:• Did most of his theater work in northeast London at theaters owned by a man named James Burba

•In 1599, Burbage built the Globe Theater in London, which William bought stock in.

• Around 1598, he applied for and was granted a coat of arms.

• This is important because it gave him the standing of a gentleman.

• Actors were considered in the same class as vagrants and criminals.

Shakespeare Shakespeare wrote 37 plays wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets. and 154 sonnets. The plays were The plays were comedies, comedies, tragedies, and tragedies, and histories, or a histories, or a mixture of these mixture of these three with a little three with a little romance thrown romance thrown in for good in for good measure.measure.

Most of Shakespeare’splays, including his famous tragic romanceRomeo and Juliet,were performed atLondon’s Globe theater.

The Globe was built across the Thames river from London proper in 1599.

The Globe theatre burneddown in 1613 when a cannon was fired on stageduring a production of King Henry VIII.

William Shakespeare:• In 1603, his company was taken under the patronage of King James I, ensuring is place in society and above all else, financial well-being.

• Remember one thing, Shakespeare wrote plays for one reason: MONEY!

• When the Globe burned down, Shakespeare retired in 1613 and went home to Stratford.

• He died on April 23, 1616 a wealthy and famous playwright.

The Globe Theater

"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages." --From As You Like It

The Globe Theater:

• The original theater was built in 1599.

• It burned down in 1613 (did I say that already?)!

• The Globe was rebuilt and reopened 1616.

• It remained open until 1642 until the Puritans closed it.

• It was pulled down in 1644 because room was needed to build tenement dwellings!

The Globe Theater:• Was an 8-sided theater in which many of

Shakespeare’s were performed that could hold up to 2500 people.

• Seating areas consisted of 4 levels, with each level mirroring the audience’s socio-economic class.

• Admission to the first level, the “yard” or “pit” was 1 cent. This was where the poorest members of English society watched the play. The “groundlings” were very rowdy!!

The Globe Theater:

• Admission to the lowest level of seats was 2-3 cents. Usually reserved for those of the laborer class, only usually to separate themselves from the “groundlings.”

• Admission to the next-highest level of seats was 10 cents. Usually reserved for those of the gentleman class.

• Admission to the highest level of seats, the gallery, was 20 cents. Usually reserved for the noble class.

The Globe Theater:• The stage was split into 3 levels, with the main action occurring on the main stage, with the second and third levels serving as balconies and the heavens.

•The stage also had a trap door with a level beneath it, usually called “hell.”

The Globe Theater:

The Globe theater was rebuild in the 1990’sthanks to the hard work and determination of

American actor Sam Wanamaker.

Unfortunately, Sam died before the rebuildingwas finished.

The Globe Theater:

The Globe was also called the Wooden “O” because it was built

in a circle and, in the center ofthe building, the roof was open

to the sky.

This open roof design allowed natural light to illuminate the

stage. Plays were only held during the day.

Shakespeare died almost 400 years ago. Although , as Ben Johnson would later write of the Bard, “He was not of an age, but for all time,” his remains lie undisturbed in the Church of the Holy Trinity. Perhaps the words written on his tomb capture the continuing power of a master wordsmith, ensuring him at least a physical peace.

Good frend for Jesvs sake forbeare,

To digg the dust encloased heare.

Bles be ye man yt spares thes stones.

And curst be he yt moves my bones.

Shakespeare's epitaph

ROMEO AND JULIET

“A Tale of Two Star-Crossed Lovers…”

Romeo and Juliet

“A tale of Two Star-Crossed Lovers…”

ROMEO AND JULIET:

• Written in 1594.

• Setting: Verona, Italy

• Main characters:• Romeo Montague• Juliet Capulet• Friar Lawrence• Mercutio• Tybalt• Prince Escalus• Benvolio• Lord Montague• Lord Capulet

ROMEO AND JULIET:• Mercutio: Romeo’s quick-witted friend who happens to be related to the prince of Verona. Defends Romeo against Tybalt.

• Tybalt: The “fiery” cousin of Juliet. Hates Romeo and all Montagues with a passion.

• Prince Escalus: the Prince of Verona.

• Benvolio: Romeo’s cousin.

• Lord Montague: the head of the Montague family

• Lord Capulet: the head of the Capulet family.

ROMEO AND JULIET:

• Romeo Montague: a quiet, sensitive, love-sick teenage boy. Starts off the play in love with Rosaline, sees Juliet and falls in love with her.

• Juliet Capulet: the innocent object of Romeo’s desire. Falls in love with Romeo.

• Friar Lawrence: marries Romeo and Juliet in hopes that the feud between their families will cease. Tries to cover up his involvement and abandons Juliet.

ROMEO AND JULIET:

Main conflicts: • the conflict revolves around the age old-feud between the Montagues and the Capulets.

• all of the hate that is generated in the play comes from this initial conflict.

• each character experiences inner-conflict over what they think they should do.

• when their backs are against the wall, Romeo and Juliet have no one to turn to.

ROMEO AND JULIET:

Survival Tips for Reading Romeo and Juliet:

1. If you get stuck in a passage, re-read it.

2. If you’ve re-read the passage and still don’t get it , read it out loud.

3. If you’re really stuck, use an outside resource, like Cliff Notes or various internet sites.

4. Most folks struggle with the language at first but eventually pick it up. Stick with it!