The Elizabethan Age and Shakespeare

1
The Elizabethan Age and Shakespeare

• Gifted English I

2
The Time and What It Stood For

• This period is associated with Queen Elizabeth
  Is reign (1558-1603).
• England during this period had a centralized,
  well-organized, and effective government. They
  were also greatly profiting from trade with the
  colonies.
• This age also known as the English Renaissance
  -- is considered the GOLDEN AGE in English
  history
• ----- literature, poetry, and theatre all broke
  away from the past and expanded in new creative
  directions.

3
The Elizabethan Mindset

• The Protestant Reformation, the people focused
  more on humanism than religion as the subject of
  their writing. The arts became incredibly
  important at this time.
• Women were relatively unrestrained, torture and
  persecution were at an all-time low, the borders
  were open to travelers from other countries.
• Travel and exploration were important and most
  new inventions were related to travel of some
  sort.

4
Elizabethan Theatre

• Mystery plays complex retellings of legends
  formed from biblical stories
• University drama recreated Greek tragedies
• Masque plays told of ethics and myths included
  singing, dancing, and elaborate costumes.

5

• Tour troupes groups of professional players
  who traveled to perform. They were funded by
  wealthy patrons.
• These groups were first seen as vagabonds and the
  law tried to make them stop performing. But they
  became immensely popular. The miracle plays and
  masques died out.
• Tour troupes received better and better funding
  as Queen Elizabeth I showed her enthusiasm for
  them.

6
William Shakespeare

• Baptized 26 April 1564 in his hometown
• Stratford-upon-Avon.
• Englands National Poet
• At 18 he married Anne Hathaway, who bore him
  three children Susanna, and twins Hamnet and
  Judith.

7
William Shakespeare

• While in his twenties, Shakespeare lived in
  London and was a successful actor, writer, and
  part owner of a playing company called the Lord
  Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men.
• His early plays were comedies and histories. His
  later plays were mostly tragedies. His final
  works were tragicomedies, or romances, like The
  Tempest.

8
The Shakespeare Website/PPT Research Project

• You will create a powerpoint presentation of
  at least 8 slides (or a website) about the
  Elizabethan era
• Use at least three sources. One must be a book
  (NO WIKIPEDIA!). At least 10 summary cards should
  also be included.
• Consider each PPT slide as a paragraph of a
  normal research paper!! Pick your focus, give
  evidence, and analyze/reflect! You must have a
  title slide and a works cited slide.

9
Research Topics

• The Family Crime and
  Punishment
• Gender Roles  Education
• Theatre Sports and
  Leisure Activities
• Clothing Food and
  Nutrition
• Sickness and Health Care
• Science and Superstition
• Art and Architecture The Social
  Classes
• Town Life vs. Country Life
• Religion and the Church
• Politics and The Government  
• The Globe Theatre

10
Quick Research on Elizabethan England

• When did Queen Elizabeth I come into power? How
  long was she in power? Who was her father? Who
  succeeded her? What was her reign like?
• Describe the religious climate during this time.
  What was the main religion at the time? What were
  some of the changes (reformation) that took place
  in religion at the time?
• Describe the daily life of a peasant? A noble?
  What was the status/role of women within this
  era?