William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Era Grade 10 English Virtual Shakespeare Tour   1. On what date, and where, was Shakespeare born? William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-uponAvon, allegedly on April 23, 1564. 2.a. Where is it believed Shakespeare attended school?  It is surmised by scholars that Shakespeare attended the free grammar school in Stratford.    b. Did Shakespeare have a university education? What is certain is that William Shakespeare never proceeded to university schooling. c. Why do you think his education has raised some controversy?   3 a. Who did Shakespeare marry? Anne Hathaway  b. How old was Shakespeare when he married?  William was 18 at the time c. How old was his wife?  Anne was 26 4. How many children did Shakespeare have and what were their names?  Three. Their first daughter, Susanna, was born on May 26, 1583. The couple later had twins, Hamnet and Judith, born February 2, 1585     5. In what city did Shakespeare establish himself as an actor and when did he arrive there? London, 1592. 6.a. What was an acting troupe? Who were the Lord Chamberlain's Men? An acting company. They were a favorite London troupe  b. What name did they take on in 1603?  8. On what date did Shakespeare die?  The King’s Men.   7. a. When did Shakespeare leave London to retire in Stratford? William Shakespeare allegedly died on his birthday, April 23, 1616.  *Bonus question: Besides plays, do you know what else Shakespeare is famous for writing? Poems.  1611 b. How long had he spent in London ?  19 years.   Elizabeth’s England The Renaissance 2. Weddings & Betrothals:  a) What was a betrothal? At a betrothal, the two people join hands. He gives her a ring to be worn on the right hand. It changes to the left at the wedding. They seal the contract with a kiss.  b) After a betrothal was a couple considered married?  No. 3. Marriage & Family:   c) What is considered a foolish reason to marry? It is generally considered foolish to marry for love, although love may occur in marriage d) What kind of relationship existed between parents and their children? Children are the property of their parents, and give them the respect a servant gives his master. Or else.  e) What kind of relationship existed between husbands and wives?  Wives are the property of their husbands. 4. Education   c) Describe a typical school day? The school day begins at 7:00am in winter or 6:00am in summer. After prayers, they work till about 9:00 when they are permitted breakfast, then they work till 11:00. Dinner is from 11:00 to 1:00. The school day ends at 5:00 or 5:30pm.   : d) Were students treated similarly to how they are today? Explain. No. It is understood that students must have their education beaten into them, like their manners and deportment. e) Would you have wanted to attend school during the 16th century? Why or why not? 5. Occupations:   Who would you obtain the following items from a) books: stationer or bookseller b) hats: Milliner or Hatter. c) shirts/smocks: Seamstress d) drugs: Apothecary  If you were noble, what would the following servants on your staff do? e) Steward: Oversees the running of your estates f) Nurse: Takes care of infants and young children g) Wet nurse: Breast feeds the baby (maybe as long as the first 2 years.) h) Tutor: Educates your children 6. Heirs & Inheritance:   b) What is an heiress? An heiress is a daughter with no brothers and no clear male heirs. If there are several girls, they will be co-heiresses.     7. Masters & Servants: c) What is a valet? Valet is "a man-servant performing duties chiefly relating to the person of his master; a gentleman's personal attendant." d) What is the female equivalent of a valet called? Female equivalents are waiting gentlewoman or maid, depending on the rank of the relevant parties    e) What does one's reputation depend on? Credit, or reputation, has to do with one's personal dignity or honor. f) Who do servants take money from? Servants take money from anyone 8. Filling the Time: a) What were three common pastimes during the 16th century?  Gossip, tennis, attend the theatre. b) Why were theaters only attended during the day?  There is no artificial lighting  9. Religion:    a) What was the official established state religion? The official established state religion is the Church of England. b) Puritanism. What did Puritans believe in? The puritans "believed that a person by nature was wholly sinful and could achieve good only by severe and unremitting discipline. 10. Titles:  a) Who gets addressed as "your grace'?  Your Grace belongs properly only to royal blood: the queen, dukes, and visiting princesses.   b) How do children address their parents? Children are taught to address their parents as Sir and Madam, or my lord and my lady. A noble child refers to my lady mother and the lord my father 11. Money:     a) What were all coins made of? All coins are silver or gold, including the pennies b) What were the basic denominations of currency? The basic denominations are pounds, shillings, and pence. c) What makes up a pound? 20 shillings make a pound 12. Duels:    a) What actions were considered a challenge? Calling someone a liar, or otherwise impugning his honor, his courage, or his name is a challenge in itself. b) Why did dueling often take place "out of the way"? Dueling is illegal, so you take the fight out of the way, and sometimes out of the country. 13. The City of London:    a) How did people cross the Thames River? You crossed normally by boattaxi b) Describe the streets in London? The streets were narrow, cobbled, slippery with the slime of refuse. Houses were crammed together, and there were a lot of furtive alleys.    c) What was emptied out of windows? Chamber pots, or jordans, were emptied out of windows. d) Why was everyone "tipsy" all the time? Nobody drank water, and tea had not yet come in. Ale was the standard tipple, and it was strong. 14. The Plague:   The plague was a terrible disease that spread throughout Europe in the middle ages. Within five years (between 1347-1352) it had killed 25 million people. Because smaller outbreaks of the disease continued, Europe lived with the fear of the plague for centuries until it disappeared in the 1600's.    a) How were humans infected? Human beings were infected through bites from the fleas that lived on these rats. b) How could it be avoided? Fleeing form the cities and towns was common, especially by wealthy families who had country homes   c) How did it affect the theaters during this time? Why do you think they would do this? Most public assemblies were outlawed. All taverns, plays, and alehouses were ordered closed. The prevent people from socializing and spreading the disease.  15. Jesters and Fools: b. Describe artificial fools. Artificial, weren’t really foolish at all. They often used quick wit and jokes t reveal deeper insights  c. What were the jesters/fools like in Shakespeare's plays?  He is most often an artificial fool. d. What sort of things did they do to entertain?  They would entertain the royal courts with their wit, singing and performing, but they were most valued for their ability to point out the foolishness in others.   The Globe 1. Where and when was the original Globe theater built?  London in 1599.  2. Why is the Globe associated with William Shakespeare?  He had shares in the theatre.   3. While watching a performance, where did the wealthy patrons sit?  Tiered galleries around the open area accommodated the wealthier patrons who could afford seats.     4. Who were "groundlings" and where did they locate themselves during a performance? Those of the lower classes--the "groundlings"--stood around the stage during the performance of a play. 5a. When was the globe torn down? 1644 b. When was the New Globe rebuilt?  September 1999.  6a. What was the name of the first theatre in London and when was it built? The Theatre in 1576.  b. Name 3 other theaters which existed during Shakespeare's time.  The Rose, Swan, Globe and Fortune. 