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Elizabethan Theater. E. E. The Elizabethan Era Queen Elizabeth I's reign (1558–1603). During this period, England developed into one of the leading European colonial powers, with men such as Sir Walter Raleigh taking part in the conquest of the New World.
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The Elizabethan EraQueen Elizabeth I's reign (1558–1603) • During this period, England developed into one of the leading European colonial powers, with men such as Sir Walter Raleigh taking part in the conquest of the New World. • Culturally and socially, the royal court played a prominent part in the cultural Renaissance taking place in Europe. • Major turbulence between two religions, Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, resulted in many deaths on both sides.
Drama in the Elizabethan Age Once a playwright sold his manuscript, he had no personal right to it. Plays were written to be acted , not read. Playhouses become popular destinations for all walks of life: peasants, prostitutes, merchants, laborers, wealthy citizens, and lords and ladies.
Playhouses • Private – small, roofed buildings for the wealthy people • Public – usually the backyards of inns • Famous theaters – the Rose, the Swan, the Globe, and the Fortune
The Globe Theater • Built in 1599 by Cuthbert Burbage. • Shakespeare put on most of his plays there. • The Globe Theatre was a huge success and it had been built in close proximity to the Bear Garden.
The Bear Garden? Bear-baiting was popular in England until the nineteenth century. From the sixteenth century, many herds of bears were maintained for baiting. In its best-known form, arenas for this purpose were called bear-gardens, consisting of a circular high fenced area, the "pit", and raised seating for spectators. A post would be set in the ground towards the edge of the pit and the bear chained to it, either by the leg or neck. A number of well-trained hunting dogs would then be set on it, being replaced as they tired or were wounded or killed. In some cases the bear was let loose, allowing it to chase after animals or people.
The Globe Theater: Reborn http://youtu.be/b9uDK3xsLYk
Costumes • Many of the clothes actors wore on stage were made of fine materials such as silk, velvet and taffeta. • Costumes helped the audience identify the characters: a clown, a nurse, a shepherd or a king would be instantly recognizable.
Dialogue • The playwright used poetic dialogue • to: • paint a picture of the scene • establish the time and the place of • the action • familiarize the audience both with • the characters’ identities and their • physical appearances • Soliloquies and asides were also • used to compensate for the absence • of an elaborate stage.
Understanding the Language We are used to the word order: Subject, Verb, Object. I lost my homework. Re-write this sentence 4 times, placing the words in a different order each time.
Re-ordered sentences: I my homework lost. My homework I lost. Lost I my homework. My homework lost I. Has the meaning of the original sentence changed? Consider Yoda from Star Wars, are you still able to understand what he is saying (most of the time)?
Understanding the Language Grammatical forms: Second Person (you) *By the time of Shakespeare, you had developed the number ambiguity it retains today, being used for either singular or plural ** thou / thee were used by people of higher rank to those beneath them, and by the lower classes to each other; also, in elevated poetic style, in addressing God, and in talking to witches, ghosts, and other supernatural beings. There were also some special cases: for example, a husband might address his wife as thou, and she reply with you.
Shakespearean Insults: Using “thou” and “thee” toward a superior would be considered an insult and would emphasize the anger/contempt of the speaker toward that individual. Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all! The Comedy of Errors (4.4.100) Go to English12 -> Shakespeare-As You Like It -> Shakespearean Insults
Shakespeare was a pretty punny guy! "The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work." A pun is a humorous play on words. Homographic – words that look alike but have multiple meanings Homophonic – words that sound the same but have different meanings Example: Two peanuts were walking down the street; one was assaulted. "assaulted" sounds like "a salted"
Your Turn: Go to: BosseEnglish11and12.com -> Shakespeare – As You Like It -> Fun in the Pun Complete: Fun in the Pun For Homework: Create two original puns. One homographic pun and one homophonic pun. Due: Next Class Period