What was Elizabeth I really like?
Learning objective – to explore sources that help explain Elizabeth I character and to prepare for forthcoming assessment. I can select information from sources and use to describe what Elizabeth I was like. Levels 3 and 4 I can use sources to help explain the character of Elizabeth I and think about why she was like this. Level 5 I can use nature, origin and purpose to help explain and challenge what is said about Elizabeth I in sources. Levels 6 and 7
Starter- list as many sources as you can think of that historians use to find out about Elizabeth I.
Propaganda Propaganda means any material that is produced that aims to persuade people about a particular message. Look at the poster – what do you think the message is?
Portraits as propaganda Elizabeth I used portraits as propaganda. They not only aimed to show what she looked like but had other messages as well. What do you think this portrait’s message was?
Handling sources When handling sources, you should look to find out as much about them as possible and applying what you already know about the period, person or event the sources are talking about. To do this you should consider the following information about each source – What is its nature? What is its origin? What is its purpose?
Nature The nature of the source refers to what the source is. Is it a cartoon, a portrait, a speech, a diary entry or a book for example. This is important because knowing the nature of a source can tell us the audience the source is intended for. For example, if it is diary entry, then this might be intended for no one but the author.
What is the nature of this source?
Origin The origin of the source refers to when and who produced the source. This is important because knowing the origin of the source, this can tell us what relation the source was to the event, person or time it is about. Was the source produced at the time it is talking about? Was the person who produced the source close to the person or event being described? All this can help us find out and explain whether the source is biased or not.
What is the origin of this source?
Purpose The purpose of the source refers to why the source was produced. To help us do this we might need to know about the origin and nature of the source beforehand. This is important because knowing the purpose of the source can help us explain why the source was produced and by finding out this we can explain rather than describe what the source is saying.
What is the purpose of this source?
What is the NOP of this source? No painter, printer or engraver shall draw Her Majesty’s picture until some especially able painter might be permitted access to Her Majesty to make a natural representation. The painter shall finish a portrait after which Her Majesty will be content that all other painters shall follow the same pattern in their portraits. Order issued in 1563 by William Cecil, Elizabeth’s Secretary of State, the most important political position in the country after the monarch.
Source task There are three broad questions you should ask the content and provenance of any source. These questions are – INFORMATION – What does this source definitely tell me? INFERENCES – What can I work about from the source? QUESTIONS – What does this source not tell me? These questions get harder as you work through them. On the source sheets in front of you, write down the answers to each of these questions for each source. Try to give as much detail as you can and stick these sheets into your exercise book once you have finished them. Use the nature, origin and purpose of the sources to help you do this.
Plenary – My Brain Subheading – My Brain Draw an outline of your brain. Fill your drawn brain with all the things you have learnt in this lesson. This can be in the form of key words, drawings, bullet points, lists – anything you like so long as it summarises your learning and that others can understand it.