1. History of Elizabethan England and Shakespeare

2. The Renaissance and Art

3. The Renaissance and Its Art

5. Qualities of Renaissance Art 1. Realism 2. Beauty 3. Experience of Individuals 4. Mythology and Religion 5. Human Nature and Human Experiences

6. Queen Elizabeth I (Ruled England 1558-1603) Supported the arts England also became a military force -Defeat of the Spanish Armada 1588 Never married, so known as the “Virgin Queen”

7. Life in Elizabethan England Public Life Gossip: Those who are “in the know” are popular. Crowds and public squares were dangerous No free discussion of rulers = High treason! Spies everywhere Punishments: Upper class = beheading Lower class = drawing and quartering

8. Life in Elizabethan England Family Life Children and parents = very formal –Never disobey –Children raised by nurses Women had no legal rights –All their money and possessions went to the husband –Literacy Rate was Low (W-10% M-30%) –Single wealthy women were fought over –Married at the age of 11 or 12 –Father had the right to choose husbands for daughters -- negotiated for power Marriage = crucial to a woman –No legal rights without it LOVE Romantic Love was ALWAYS discouraged -- a good match was more important HONOR = very important! Defend family

9. London: Center of It All Horrible! Streets were filthy –No sewers or drains –Gutters were in the middle of the street –Garbage & chamber pots emptied in the streets --piled up until a rain The Plague = incurable Overcrowding led to slums, filth Plague carried by fleas on rats -- not known then Thought to be God’s wrath on wicked people Two outbreaks killed 1/4 of the population in Shakespeare’s time Life expectancy = 48 years Time to travel to “New World” = 1-2 months

10. Theater’s Place in the World: The Other Side City Officials Time of Puritanism = Very conservative Thought theater was evil, satanic, and destroyed public morals

11. Theater’s Place in the World Therefore: Theater was not allowed in London proper, within the official city limits Instead, all theaters were in Southwark, just across the Thames, and outside city lines

12. A Tour of the Globe STAGE TOUR

13. William Shakespeare: The Bard Himself

14. Shakespeare: Early Life Vital Stats: Born April 23, 1564 Dies April 23, 1616 Early Life: Stratford on Avon, England Marries Anne Hathaway (said she saved his life) They have three kids: –Susanna, Hamnet and Judith He moves to London in 1590s

15. Shakespeare in London All male actors, women not allowed on stage Close to Queen Elizabeth and often performed at court Changed the face of theater/drama because he had several unique qualities: PUNS and language skill, saw the reasons people DO the things they do, and great sense of comedy and tragedy