William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Period

Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth I was 25 when she became Queen of England in 1558 and reigned until 1603 when she died. England emerged as a political power and a cultural center Elizabeth was a strong supporter of theater and the arts.

Elizabethan England Elizabeth was a popular monarch who set a tone for fashion, literature, music and thought. The era was characterized by great pageantry. England’s cultural renaissance opened a door to writers like William Shakespeare.

The Shakespeare Basics Born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon Married to Anne Hathaway in 1582 Anne was 26 and pregnant at the time After the 1585 birth of his twins, Hamnet and Judith, he disappeared from all records for 7 years Resurfaced in London in 1592 Shakespeare retired in 1610 Shakespeare died in 1616

The Rumors Shakespeare had to flee Stratford for illegally hunting on another man’s property Shakespeare worked in a nearby town as an assistant schoolmaster Shakespeare traveled to London and began to establish himself as an actor and playwright

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men A theater company Patronized by royalty Made popular by the theater-going public 1594: Shakespeare is writing, performing, and managing the acting troupe In 1608, the group became The King’s Men when King James I became their supportive patron. Other Major Players: Will Kempe – master comedian Richard Burbage – leading tragic actor

The Plague An infectious disease that produced neurological disorders, a foul odor and black and blue marks all over the body Severe epidemic from 1603-1604 London lost ¼ of its population to the plague The Lord Chamberlain’s Men closed down as a result

Shakespeare’s Style Creativity over originality He used already known plots The plot for Romeo and Juliet comes from Arthur Brooke’s The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Iuliet Scholars believe only 3 of his 38 plays were originally his idea He wrote comedies, tragedies, and histories

The Globe Theater Shakespeare wrote plays mainly for the Globe Theater Built in 1599 by the Chamberlain’s Company Built on the Thames River in London

The Globe Theater The most important structure to Shakespeare’s drama Most of Shakespeare’s plays were written to be performed on the stage of the Globe Some of those plays include: Julius Caesar Hamlet Othello Macbeth King Lear Anthony and Cleopatra Twelfth Night

The Tragedy of the Globe The original Globe burned down in 1613 due to a cannon shot used as a prop during a production of Henry VIII. The Globe was soon rebuilt, but was closed by the Puritans in 1642. The Globe II was torn down in 1644 to make room for housing. The Globe foundation remained buried until 1989 when a faithful reconstruction was built.

Appearance of the Globe and its Performers The stage was a platform that extended into a pit. Actors entered and left the stage from doors located behind the platform. There was no scenery in the theater. Settings were indicated by references in the dialogue The actors wore elaborate Elizabethan clothing. Usually a play lasted two hours. The acting companies were made up of only men and boys.

Who was seen at the Globe? Unlike other theaters in England, the Globe opened its doors to virtually all classes of people. The poorest people were known as groundlings; they paid a penny to stand up in front of the stage. A person could pay 2 pennies and sit on a bench with a cover over their head. Richer people paid as many as 12 pennies to sit right above and beside the stage. Plays were important to the people of London because they entertained and delivered messages.

The New Globe

The Tragedy of Hamlet The play was written between 1601 and 1603. Many believe that Hamlet is Shakespeare’s best work. The play tells the story of Prince Hamlet coming home to Denmark to attend his father’s funeral. He is shocked to find his mother, Gertrude, already remarried to his Uncle Claudius. Worse still, Claudius has had himself crowned King despite the fact that Hamlet was his father’s heir to throne.

Questions to Ask Yourself Does everyone put on different “masks” to fit into various situations with diverse groups of people? Is life just a game? Do people become evil, or are people born evil? Is killing out of revenge justifiable? Are people always who they seem to be? Do problems arise when a person acts before he/she thinks? Do parents always want the best for their children?