Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Era Created by E. Banathy-Adopted/Adapted by A.Short Bell Ringer #26

Before Elizabethan times…. -People worked long hours, with workers often living on the work premises with their masters. -Throughout the middle ages plays were performed by workers in towns and were based on religious issues, often retelling stories from the Bible. -However, this ended after Henry VIII’s break from Rome and formation of the Church of England in After this, playwrights took inspiration from the Roman theatre and writers like Seneca, who wrote about crime, revenge, witches and ghosts. -Elizabethan writers introduced audiences to horror, the supernatural and GORE

Elizabethan Age to 1603 (Elizabeth I's reign) -Time of exploration and discovery -Diffusion of knowledge (inventions...) -Renaissance -Male superiority - Return to Protestantism - Improvement of the educational system - English language gains importance - Literary movements and developments - Drama, theatres and Shakespeare

-Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn - Succeeded her half-sister Mary (daughter of Catherine of Aragon) -Received a humanist education -Spoke French and Italian fluently; could read Latin and Greek -Role as a monarch; timeless & absolute -Didn’t want to Marry because that would have taken away her power. Elizabeth 1

Queen Elizabeth I -Believed in royal absolutism -Rising against her and her laws was not only criminal but also a blasphemous act -Had an immense influence over the country; politically and socially -Reckless, unpredictable: - execution of Mary, Queen of Scots - imprisonment of Sir Walter Raleigh -Persecution of Catholics

The Globe

The Performances The theatres often had mechanisms that allowed angels and gods to be lowered down onto the stage. Stages were also equipped with a trapdoor leading to a basement beneath the stage. There was very little scenery available for theatres, so the writers often used to dialogue to explain to the audience where the scene was taking place. Costume was very important in Elizabethan theatre. Actors wore colourful and elaborate costumes that would tell the audience the characters status, family ties or profession. The emphasis that was given to a character’s clothing made the theme of disguise a common convention of Elizabethan theatre. In order to exchange places with another character or conceal his identity, all an actor needed to do was to change his costume. The Elizabethan theatre also used a variety of sound effects. Music played an important role in the setting the mood of the plays. Other sounds created were thunder, running horses, falling rain, and cannon blasts.

The Plague (Bubonic Plague) Ravaged London in 1564, in , 1603,1632 causing over 100,000 deaths The plague spread from the suburbs to the centre It was seen as God punishing the wickedness of the city and theatres were closed immediately there was an outbreak Houses were branded with a Red Cross and boarded up with the occupants sealed off from the outside world, whether they were ill or not

About Shakespeare The development of Elizabethan drama was primarily due to Christopher Marlowe( Tamburlaine, Faustus) but Marlowe’s early death ( stabbed in a tavern brawl) left the field open for another dramatist. Shakespeare was a member of Lord Strange’s Troupe performing in the Rose Theatre as actor and writer 1594, Shakespeare was a member of the company of Chamberlain’s Men based at the Theatre. From 1594 on, he wrote an average of two plays a year till 1608 and consolidated his place in the company and became, in his lifetime, the most highly sought after dramatist of the Elizabethan and Jacobean stage

About Shakespeare William born 23 rd April 1564, 3 rd of 8 children Born in Stratford upon Avon, son of John Shakespeare, a prosperous glove maker and meat/wool trader. Shakespeare attended local school in Stratford till age 13/14-Is considered by many historians to be illiterate by modern standards. Apprenticed as glove maker 1582 married Anne Hathaway ( daughter of farmer in Shottery) - they had 3 children The lost years till We know nothing else till Shakespeare is in London

#Shakespeare the writer Typically wrote one of three genres of play: tragedy, comedy or history Arguably, his most famous play Romeo and Juliet is about love, hate, and fate Romeo and Juliet is thought to be based on a third century Italian love story which was adapted into a poem in the 1562 by Aurther Brooke. Shakespeare then adapted it into a play circa 1595

#Understanding “The Play” Soliloquy-Sometimes it will seem like a character is giving a long speech to nobody. Playwrights use this technique as a way to let the audience into the mind of the character and how they are thinking and feeling Aside-This is similar to a soliloquy, but much shorter, and it is said aside to somebody in the scene, or to the audience to let them in on the character's intentions. Iambic Pentameter: Shakespeare wrote in this free verse that uses five beats of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables; ten syllables per line. Examples 'So fair / and foul / a day / I have / not seen' 'The course / of true / love nev/er did / run smooth'

What Are They Saying? I ate the sandwich. I the sandwich ate. Ate the sandwich I. Ate I the sandwich. The sandwich I ate. The sandwich ate I. When you are reading Shakespeare's plays, look for this type of unusual word arrangement. Locate the subject, verb, and the object of the sentence. Notice that the object of the sentence is often placed at the beginning (the sandwich) in front of the verb (ate) and subject (I). Rearrange the words in the order that makes the most sense to you (I ate the sandwich). This will be one of your first steps in making sense of Shakespeare's language.

#What Are They Saying? ay-Yes “ay, indeed” anon—right now, OR I come right away. “Anon, good nurse!“ art—are, OR skill……“Thou art dead!” dost or doth—does or do……“Dost thou know the time?” ere—before……“We must leave ere daybreak.” fain—gladly……“I fain would bake Mr. Short cookies for an A.” fie—an exclamation of dismay or disgust “Fie! Are you mad?” hark—listen……. “Hark to the owl,” hie—hurry……“Hie thee hence, or lose your life! hence—away…..“Get thee hence, beggar!” hath—has……… “He hath killed many a man.” ho—hey or sometimes now. “Lucius, ho!” marry—indeed “He says respond quickly; marry, I want to.” pray/prithee—a polite way of asking……“I prithee answer.” thee/thou—you..“When will I see thee?”; “Thou art a villain.” thy/thine—your……“Thy name is more hateful than thy face.” whence—from where…….. “Whence came that news?” wherefore—why……“Wherefore dost thou leave?”

#Meet the Characters Romeo-Romeo is a Montague, one of two very rich and influential families in Verona. He is the only son of Lord and Lady Montague. He is a very emotional and impulsive young man, probably about 16. Juliet-Juliet is a Capulet, one of two very rich and influential families in Verona. She is the only daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet. She is a very naïve but sought after young woman, probably about 13. Nurse-The nurse is Juliet’s friend and nursemaid. She raised Juliet, as was usually the custom in royal families of the time period. The nurse also helps Juliet and Romeo meet with each other. She always does what she thinks is best for Juliet. Friar Lawrence- The Friar is a local pastor/priest who functions as a sort of father figure for Romeo. Early in the story, Romeo seeks his advice and counsel about his romantic interests.