Elizabethan Age

William Shakespeare1564-1616

Elizabethan

• Named for Queen Elizabeth I – Rose to power in 1558, ruled for 45 years– London became a cultural mecca under her reign

Lots of violent clashes between Protestant and CatholicsChurch attendance was mandatoryPunished with finesCatholicism was not illegal, but could not practice it publicly

Theatre

• Theatre thrived under her reign– Famous playwrights • Christopher Marlowe (Dr. Faustus)• William Shakespeare (38 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 poems)• Ben Johnson (Isle of Dogs)• Edmund Spenser (Faerie Queen)• Professional Theatres built – 15,000 theatre-goers per

week

Death of Elizabeth• King James I rose to power (also a lover of theatre/arts)• Shakespeare changed his theatre company from Lord Chamberlain’s Men

to The King’s Men• Commissioned the King James bible translation (Latin and English)• Surrounded himself with untrustworthy advisors – led to a strain with

Parliament• Died in 1628, son Charles I became King and tensions increased• Civil War with Puritans – Charles I executed and Charles II fled to France\• Theatres closed, highpoint of theatre passed and King Charles II returning

could not resurrect it.

Elizabethan Life• Boys began school at ages 6-7• Typical school day was from 6am -5pm• Discipline was strict – harsh, corporal punishment • Latin and Grammar studied from a young age• Poetry and Prose at an older age• Boys began apprenticeships following grammar school• Sons of nobility attended University• Formal School not encouraged in women unless noble• Skills focused on chastity and housewifery • Girls placed in houses to learn to read, write, keep books, manage

households, make salves – Leisure skills –singing/dancing

Elizabethan Life…Theatre

• Theatre was central to social life• Attracted criticism, censorship and scorn\• Plays were often boisterous and course – actors/bohemian

class• Fear of overcrowded theatre/spread of disease• Parliament censored plays for profanity, heresy or politics• Royals offered protection that helped theatre to survive• Theatres started being constructed outside of the city to

please Parliament/Puritans – underground theatres popped up

Theatre Life

• Richard Burbage – best known actor (leading actor for Shakespeare)• Shakespeare acted in many of his own plays• Women could not be actors• Young boys played women• Costumes were elaborate (consistent with upper class dress)• Sets were minimal – painted panels• Audiences large, rowdy and dirty – 3,000• Afternoon performances – 2-3 hours• Sections of theatre – different pricing – lowest/closest was cheapest and

standing room.• Audiences were vocal! Theatre etiquette was not the same!

William Shakespeare

• Born April 23, 1564 (baptism was proof)• Born in Stratford-Upon-Avon• Born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden• Not born into nobility or wealth, father was a

glove maker• One of eight children• Did not continue formal education at

University

William Shakespeare

• Did not marry in wealth or apprentice with a senior artist

• His success was based on royal patronage• Married Anne Hathaway at age 18– She was 26 and already pregnant– Daughter Susanna born in 1583– Twins Hamnet and Judith born in 1585– Hamnet died in 1596 at age 11 (possibly from

plague)

Shakespeare’s Works

• Lost years – 7 years of incomplete records (1585-1592)

• 1590-1592 – Henry IV, Richard III, Comedy of Errors

• 1593 – Theatres are closed due to plague– This time led to his two poems Rape of Lucrece

and Venus and Adonis and 154 sonnets (speculated)

Shakespeare’s Works

• 1594 - Lord Chamberlain’s Men formed (1603 changed to The King’s Men in honor of King James)

• 1597 – Purchased 2nd largest home in Stratford, but lived in London

• King James’ reign – power plays – King Lear, Macbeth, Anthony and Cleopatra

• 1609 – Sonnets are published• Wrote in and established Iambic Pentameter (10 syllables)• 38th play? Two Noble Kinsmen (collaboration with John

Fletcher)

Shakespeare’s Death

• 1616 – Will is revised as his health is declining• Left bulk of estate to daughters, sister, theatre

partners, friends and poor in Stratford• 2nd best bed to wife• Died a month after revision – April 23 1616• Left behind a legacy of 38 plays, 154 sonnets

and 2 narrative poems• Known as the greatest playwright of the English

language

Sonnets

• 14 lines• Iambic Pentameter - Each line has 10 syllables• First 12 lines divided into 4’s or Quatrains• Each Quatrain has its own rhyme scheme• Last 2 lines – Couplet (rhymed pair)• Often contains metaphors• 1-126 sonnets – Handsome Nobleman• 127-154 – Dark Lady