London in the 1590s was a vibrant and expanding town London in the 1590s was a vibrant and expanding town. It was most famous for theatre, as many composers like Shakespeare broke free of England’s past style of theatre. The Elizabethan Era, 1558- 1603

KWL What do I know about the Elizabethan era? What do I want to know about the Elizabethan era?

Interesting facts ! Shakespeare introduced nearly 3000 words into the English language! He was writing during what is considered the ‘golden age’ in English history Queen Elizabeth 1 was the daughter of the murderous King Henry VIII (daughter of Anne Boleyn) Elizabethan society was divided into a strict social order that included six classes, and law dictated what colour and kind of clothes each class would wear so they would be identifiable. Nobody drank water – it was contaminated, unsafe to drink so many drank alcohol instead Witch hysteria was prevalent Superstitions ran high during this era

Key values, concerns and beliefs Women were raised to believe they were inferior to men. Women of nobility were allowed an education. Women were mostly confined to domestic duties and to the household. Men were responsible for working for the family and they generally held all of the power. Women were their ‘property’. The Protestant religion was regarded very highly and had strict regulations. Hierarchy of social classes ensured less rights for peasants in particular. Punishment: Torture, exile and violent forms of punishment were most common for an assortment of crimes. Humanism: A movement that had great influence during Shakespeare’s time – Humanists believed that man has the ability to shape his own future and destiny, and thus man has choice. They were against the religious teachings of the time (God has a plan that is controlled only by him). Fate: Life is predestined and controlled by God or other forces. This contrasts to Humanism, and was a popular belief by religious thinkers.

What Shakespeare sought to challenge Shakespeare lived in a time where many old and accepted ideas were being questioned, examined and interpreted. He both reinforced many ideas, while challenging others, including: Honour: One could be challenged to duel over a perceived lie, a physical hurt or a slight insult. Justice and revenge: It was commonplace in this period to believe that it was necessary to defend oneself and get true justice if one was mistreated. Child-parent relationships: Children were absolutely subject to the decisions of their parents, including who and when to marry. Obedience, hierarchy and order: Were prized and expected of all good citizens Romantic, personal love: Shakespeare tried to challenge societal norms and expectations surrounding ‘correct’ parent matchmaking Gender roles and expectations of men and women

Gender roles and expectations Perception of females: Women were emotional, and not capable of logical thought They were to be beautiful and for others to enjoy They were submissive to their husband’s or father’s rule. Perception of males: Leaders in society (patriarchal society) Natural capacity for rational thought Should be ‘manly’, dominant, strong, a defender of honour Page 11 – Questions at the bottom

Elizabethan culture – love and marriage Let’s read pages 12 and 13 of your ‘Romeo and Juliet’ booklets

Elizabethan era vs. 2017

Going back to our KWL thinking tool… What do I know about the Elizabethan era? What do I want to learn about the Elizabethan era? What did I learn today about the Elizabethan era that I didn’t know before?

Key themes Write these down! Power of love Love vs. lust Individual vs. society Fate vs. choice/chance Family and relationships Societal expectations Role of women Conflict – internal, verbal and physical Justice/revenge Youth vs. age

Key motifs/symbols Write these down! Light and dark (light = hope, love, happiness, but also easily burnt out vs. dark = secrecy, troubles, danger, etc) Celestial imagery – related to the heavens/stars, usually a symbol of fate or destiny Nature – to represent beauty, value, youth and potential

Individual task Due next Friday 3rd for homework: Spelling (week 1 list) and sentences (10) Conduct your own independent research into Shakespeare’s life in the Elizabethan period and create an A3 poster that visually depicts information about Shakespeare, and the Elizabethan period, including: Historical/ Social/ cultural context – customs, marriage, punishment, hierarchy, religious beliefs, social values and expectations of men and women Other interesting facts Images