1. Introduction to Shakespeare and Shakespearean England

2. Elizabethean times….  Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603)  Renaissance era  Plays, poetry, classical ideas  “Golden Age”

3. Shakespeare …  Born in Stratford-on- Avon 1564  Married at 18 and had three children  Created the acting troupe “Lord Chamberlain’s Men” (later called “The King’s Men)  Died at 52  Wrote 16 comedies, 10 histories, and 12 tragedies as well as poems

4. The Globe Theatre…. Built in 1599, destroyed by fire in 1613, rebuilt in 1614, closed in 1642 3 story, open air amphitheater, 100 m in diameter, seat 3 000 people Pit (cheap seats) Stadium seating (for the “rich”) Apron stage had a trap door, three doors at the back with columns on either side The Globe Theatre.docx

5. Shakespearean England Belief system…  “Chain of Being”  Everything in the world is connected  There is an hierarchy  No movement between levels

7. Elizabethean Temperament…. Temperament is a result of the liver Food is converted to 4 liquid substances and these are related to the “humours” Melancholy (sadness) Phlegm (apathy) Blood (passion) Choler (irritability)

8. Shakespearean Comedy… A movement “upward” – starts where tragedy leaves off Everything ends perfectly –High Comedy – appeals to the intellect –Low Comedy - “slapstick”, clowning, etc.. –Romantic Comedy – beautiful heroine, obstacles, reconciliation, happy endings

9. Courtly love… Noble passion Lovesick Send messengers with pleas of love Agony, and self-questioning When accepted, lady and knight pledge themselves eternally