An Elizabethan Introduction

1. An Elizabethan Introduction

2. Shakespeare’s Language • Shakespeare did NOT write in “Old English.” • Old English is the language of Beowulf: “In the dark night the shadow-goer came stalking. The warriors slept, those whose duty it was to guard the building, all but one. It was known to me that, if the Ruler did not wish it, the injurer could not draw them into the shadows, but Beowulf, awake and fiercely angry, awaited the battle’s result, enraged in heart.”

3. Shakespeare’s Language • Shakespeare did NOT write in “Middle English.” • Middle English is the language of Chaucer, the Gawain-poet, and Malory: • And it is don, aftirward Jesus made iourne bi cites & castelis prechende & euangelisende þe rewme of god, & twelue wiþ hym & summe wymmen þat weren helid of wicke spiritis & sicnesses, marie þat is clepid maudeleyn, of whom seuene deuelis wenten out & Jone þe wif off chusi procuratour of eroude, & susanne & manye oþere þat mynystreden to hym of her facultes —Luke ch.8, v.1–3 • Shakespeare wrote in “Early Modern English.”

4. Shakespeare’s Language • Shakespeare coined many words we still use today: • Critical • Majestic • Dwindle • And quite a few phrases as well: • One fell swoop • Flesh and blood • Vanish into thin air

5. The Renaissance 1500-1650 “Rebirth” of arts, culture, science Discovery of “New World” King Henry VIII = renaissance man (ideal) Reformation of Catholic Church

6. Rulers of Note King Henry VIII 17 when crowned 6 marriages 1530—broke with the Catholic church and created Church of England (a.k.a. Anglican Church)

7. King Henry VIII

8. Queen Elizabeth I Daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (2nd of his 6 wives) Henry had Anne beheaded for “treason” Younger sister of “Bloody Mary” “Virgin Queen”?

9. Renaissance A.K.A. Elizabethan Era • Elizabethans considered drama a lower form of literature than poetry • English women had limited rights. • Commoners suffered from poor diet and crowded living conditions. • The people were vulnerable to outbreaks of the bubonic plague. • In 1564, the plague killed nearly 1/3 of the people in Shakespeare’s hometown. • Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, and King James of Scotland assumed the English throne. • He was a supporter of the arts and literature. • He renamed Shakespeare’s theater company the King’s Men.

10. Theatrical Conventions of Shakespeare's Theatre *A theatrical convention is a suspension of reality. • No electricity • Women forbidden to act on stage • Minimal, contemporary costumes • Minimal scenery These control the dialogue.

11. Theatrical Conventions of Shakespeare's Theatre • Soliloquy • Aside Types of speech Audience loves to be scared • Blood and gore • Use of supernatural

12. Theatrical Conventions of Shakespeare's Theatre • Use of disguises/ mistaken identity • Last speaker—highest in rank (in tragedies) • Multiple murders (in tragedies) • Multiple marriages (in comedies)

13. Theatre in London Traveling troupes of actors performed in courtyards of inns The Theatre-first public theater-1576 Daytime/open air Limited set design Relied on music, sound, costumes, props and great description

14. The Globe Theatre Built in 1599 Across the Thames River- “Wrong side of town” King’s Men - Shakespeare’s company Rebuilt Globe Theatre

15. The Globe Theatre Capacity 2,000- 3,000 spectators The theatre stood until the 29 of June, 1613. The thatched roof was set ablaze by a cannon firing during Henry VIII; 1614 reconstructed, shut down in 1642, and torn down in 1644

17. Admission 1 shilling to stand 2 shillings to sit in the balcony 3 shillings to sit in the Lord’s Rooms 1 shilling was 10% of their weekly income Broadway today: $85 Orchestra $60 Balcony 10% of a teacher’s weekly salary

18. The Groundlings Poor audience members Stood around stage in “the pit” Theatre was open-air; pit became mud when it rained Women not allowed (had to dress up as men to attend) Threw rotten vegetables at bad performances

19. Actors All men; theatre/acting considered too “dangerous” for women Actors looked down upon in society Female parts played by young boys who had not yet hit puberty No actual kissing or hugging on stage

20. Tragedies End in the death of one or more of the main characters. Most of Shakespeare’s tragedies involve historical individuals and events

21. Tragic Hero Often a man of high rank, such as a king or prince Creates, or is put into, a difficult situation which he must try to resolve.

22. Tragic Hero A combination of bad luck and bad decisions lead to his death. Often a relatively sympathetic figure. His soliloquies show his feelings and motives, and show the audience how easy it would be to make similar mistakes.

23. Doom and Destiny Many people believed in fate, or destiny, and in the power of the stars to foretell the future. Shakespeare uses the idea of fate or destiny to add excitement and anticipation to the tragedies Uses a prophecy as a way of holding the audience’s interest, because everyone wants to see if it will be fulfilled.

24. Tragic Endings Tragedies give a very bleak view of the world. At the end, the hero (and usually several other characters) are dead, and the survivors are left to start again without them. Although most tragic heroes are partly to blame for their own fates, death can be a very high price to pay for what may have seemed initially like a small failing.

25. Tragic Endings In most tragedies, there is also a feeling that some good may have come out of the terrible suffering. At the end of Romeo and Juliet, because the families’ fighting has partly caused the tragedy, they finally resolve to end their feud.