A Day in Shakespeare's Life
The age of Shakespeare was a great time in the History of England. During Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) reign England grew as the biggest naval and commercial power of the Western Hemisphere. England gained its position with the defeat of the Spanish Army in 1588. Elizabeth firmly established the Church of England. Sir Francis Drake navigated the world and became the most celebrated English sea captain of his generation. Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh sent colonists eastward in search of profit. In trade, power, and art, England established an place in the world. At this time, London was the heart of England, reflecting all the vibrant qualities of the Elizabethan Age. This atmosphere made London a leading center of culture as well as commerce. Its dramatist and poets were among the leading literary artists of the day. In this environment is in which Shakespeare lived and wrote.London in the 16th century underwent a transformation. Its population grew 400% during the 1500s, growing to nearly 200,000 people in the city and its surrounding region. Many people started businesses which made the economy thrive. In the 1580s, the writings of the University Wits made the London's theatre. These men produced new dramas and comedies using Marlowe's styling of blank verse. Shakespeare outdid them all; he combined the best traits of Elizabethan drama with classical sources,
enriching the admixture with his imagination and wit.
enriching the admixture with his imagination and wit.
The Elizabethan Age and What followed
Shakespeare lived during an incredible time during the history of England. Elizabeth I became the Queen of England in 1558, six years before Shakespeare's birth. During her 45-year reign, London became a cultural and commercial center where learning and literature thrived. When Queen Elizabeth came into power, there were violent fights throughout Europe between Protestant and Catholic leaders and their followers. Though Elizabeth honored many of the Protestant people of her father, King Henry VIII, she made friendly relationships with the Catholic people which kept them from attempting rebellion. But when peace was not possible, she was a determined leader who was not afraid to fight. With the naval defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, England was firmly established as a leading military and commercial power in the Western world. Elizabeth supported and later knighted Sir Francis Drake, the first sailor to navigate the globe. She also funded Sir Walter Raleigh's exploration of the New World, which brought new wealth to her country in the form of tobacco and gold from Latin America.Queen Elizabeth also recognized the importance of the arts to the life and legacy of her nation. She admired the theater, and many of England's greatest playwrights were active during her reign, including Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, and William Shakespeare. With her permission, professional theaters were built in England for the first time, attracting 15,000 people per week in London, a city of 150,000 to 250,000. After the death of Elizabeth, King James I rose to power in England. A writer himself, he displayed a great love of learning, particularly theater. At the king's invitation, Shakespeare's theater company, Lord Chamberlain's Men, became known as the King's Men, and they produced new works under his supervision. King James also allowed the translation of the Bible from Latin into English so that it might be more readily available to those who had not studied the language of the educated class. Completed in 1611 by a team of scholars and monks, the King James Version of the Bible has become the bestselling and arguably the most-influential book in the world.Unfortunately, King James surrounded himself with untrustworthy advisors, and his extravagant lifestyle strained the royal finances and the patience of the Puritan-controlled Parliament. When James died in 1628, his son Charles I ascended to the throne, and tensions between Parliament and the Crown increased. King Charles I eventually lost a bloody civil war to the Puritans, who executed the King (his son Charles II fled to France). For a twelve years, the Puritans were responsible for many reforms which included closing the theaters. The Commonwealth lasted until Charles II returned from France, claimed the throne, and put in affect the Restoration. King Charles II also reopened the theaters, but England's theatrical highpoint had passed.
Religion and Education
Religion in the Elizabethan Age Religion was central to the society in which Shakespeare wrote. Queen Elizabeth made attendance at Church of England services mandatory, even though many people had to travel long distances. People who did not attend—for any reason except illness—were punished with fines.While it was not a crime to be Catholic in Elizabethan England, there was no legal way for Catholics to practice their faith. It was illegal to hold or to attend a Mass. Powerful people, however, were less likely to be punished than others. Many of the upper classes were excluded from the new laws that were made in the favor of the Church of England, even though very often wealthy Catholic families secretly maintained private services. Elizabethan policy allowed freedom of belief as long as English subjects did not openly defined the law.
Boys were educated to be literate members of society. Teaching techniques relied heavily on memorizing and reciting. The language of literacy throughout Europe was Latin, and students were expected to be proficient in it. Boys started grammar school at the age of six or seven. Their typical school day ran from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Classroom discipline was strict, and often involved physical punishment. In the lower grades, boys studied Latin grammar and vocabulary. In the upper grades, they read the poetry and did more challenging things.
Formal schooling was not encouraged for girls unless they were the children of nobility. For those who were educated, schooling focused primarily on chastity and the skills of being a house wife. Young girls from wealthy families were often placed in the households of freinds where they would learn to read, write, keep accounts, and manage a household and estate. They were also trained in leisure skills such as music and dancing.
Boys were educated to be literate members of society. Teaching techniques relied heavily on memorizing and reciting. The language of literacy throughout Europe was Latin, and students were expected to be proficient in it. Boys started grammar school at the age of six or seven. Their typical school day ran from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Classroom discipline was strict, and often involved physical punishment. In the lower grades, boys studied Latin grammar and vocabulary. In the upper grades, they read the poetry and did more challenging things.
Formal schooling was not encouraged for girls unless they were the children of nobility. For those who were educated, schooling focused primarily on chastity and the skills of being a house wife. Young girls from wealthy families were often placed in the households of freinds where they would learn to read, write, keep accounts, and manage a household and estate. They were also trained in leisure skills such as music and dancing.
Fun During the Elizabethan Age
During the elizabethan age people had to find ways to entertain themselves. This includes plays,annual fairs, biblical play, festivals, jousts tournaments, games and sports included archery, bowling, cards, dice, hammer-throwing, quarter-staff contests, troco, quoits, skittles, wrestling and mob football, card games,animal sports which include bull, bear hunting, and dog and cock fighting, and , and hunting.
Ranks During Elizabethan Age
The system of British Peerage in Shakespeare's time (which still exists—although altered—in modern day Great Britain) determined one's position in society. many of Shakespeare's characters carried titles that would have immediately told audience members a lot about that person's rank, importance, and authority over his peers. Today's audiences will be less familiar with the British Peerage and Nobility, below is a qiu
Duke: The highest rank in British Peerage; from the Latin dux, meaning leader. The female counterpart to a Duke is a Duchess.
Marquess: Second-highest rank, from the French marquis, meaning march. The female counterpart is the Marchioness.
Earl: This title comes from an old English term that referred to a military leader, and the rank corresponds to a Count in continental Europe. the female counterpart of an Earl is the Countess.
Viscount: A Latin-derived word that translates to vice-count.
Baron: The lowest rank of British Peer; someone who holds land directly from the King or Queen.
Duke: The highest rank in British Peerage; from the Latin dux, meaning leader. The female counterpart to a Duke is a Duchess.
Marquess: Second-highest rank, from the French marquis, meaning march. The female counterpart is the Marchioness.
Earl: This title comes from an old English term that referred to a military leader, and the rank corresponds to a Count in continental Europe. the female counterpart of an Earl is the Countess.
Viscount: A Latin-derived word that translates to vice-count.
Baron: The lowest rank of British Peer; someone who holds land directly from the King or Queen.
Work cited
Pressley , J M. "Elizabethian England ." Shakespeare resource center. 10 Feb. 1997-2011. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bardweb.net/england.html>.
"Elizabethan Age." Shakespeare in our Communities. National Endurance of the Arts, Web. 1 Nov. 2012. <http://www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org/education/elizabethan-age>.
"Elizabethan Age." Shakespeare in our Communities. National Endurance of the Arts, Web. 1 Nov. 2012. <http://www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org/education/elizabethan-age>.