ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND 1485-1625

LIFESTYLE ADVENTURE is the word that sums up the Elizabethan Period. Physical Adventure— discovering new worlds Intellectual Adventure— rediscovering Latin and Greek literature Literary Adventure— discovering new ways of writing

Lifestyle Renaissance —a slowly developing group of related ideas and attitudes which brought about the end of the Middle Ages Medieval idea of man was one of action and contemplatio n. The monk devoted his life to the service of God. The knight fought the infidels or rescued damsels in distress. The Renaissance Man was the complete man---he was courtly, learned, a scholar, a poet. He combined a life of action with a life of contemplatio n. The best models of the day lay in Greek and Latin literature, philosophy, and art.

Brief History 1485— Henry VII— first Tudor King of England. Defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth which ended the War of the Roses and began the modern English nation. Henry VIII established the Church of England(Ang lican Church) and made himself the head. Fighting among religious groups continued until the end of the 1600s. 1588— Elizabeth I becomes queen. United country in spite of religious problems with her public relations, personality, and tact. Defeat of the Spanish Aramada increased English patriotism. 1599—The East India Company was chartered and world trade and colonization began. 1603— Elizabeth died and the throne passed to her cousin, James the VI of Scotland who became James I of England, thus uniting England, Scotland, and Wales. 1625— Because many writers were still producing works typical of Elizabeth I’s lifetime, rather than ending the Elizabethan age with her death, Literary Historians include the reign of James I.

Lifestyle Elizabethans enjoyed entertainment in all forms: music, dancing, drama, card games, wrestling, golf, horse racing, fox hunting, hawking, tennis, bowling, fencing, dueling, and cricket.

Theatre “This Wooden O” Globe Theatre opened on the south banks of the Thames River in 1599. Accommodated an audience of 3,000 from all social classes. Groundlings stood on the 3 wides of the stage and paid about a penny admission. More prosperous patrons sat or stood in the galleries.

Theatre Globe was opened to the sky, so groundlings often got wet. Favorite food of the audience was chestnuts. Audience expected actors to sing, dance, fence, and know their lines. A poor performance could be stopped with a basket of rotten fruit thrown at the actors. Men and young boys played all roles...women were not allowed to be actors.

Theatre Scenery was minimal. Sound effects created with sheet metal, buckets with beans, bowling balls, etc. Men and boys played all roles. Many young boys died of lead poisoning because of the quantities in their make-up. Flags advertised type of play...black-- tragedy, white-- comedy, red—history.

Theatre Globe owned by actors who were part of Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Shakespeare’s plays were performed here. Globe burnt to the ground on June 29, 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII. A spark from a canon used for sound effects caught the thatched roof on fire. Rebuilt in 1614 with a tile roof. Closed by Puritans in 1642.

Theatre Site of the old Globe Theater rediscovered in the 20th century and a new one was reconstructed. The Globe was also used for gambling and bear baiting. Sometimes as many as 11 performances of 10 different plays were produced in 2 weeks.