1. William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Period

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. The New Globe

15. 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.

16. 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?