Introduction

In order to fully understand the works of Shakespeare it is important to gain insight  into his life and the times in which he lived.   Studying Elizabethan England at the end of the sixteenth century gives you the information you need to appreciate the works of one of the most famous poets and playwrights in history.

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• In preparation for reading Romeo and Juliet you will work in groups to find information about the following aspects of Shakespeare's life and times.

• You will use the Web to obtain information on the following topics: 

1. Shakespeare's Life 
2. Historical and Social Context   
3. Intellectual and Religious Life of the 1500s and 1600s 
4. The Elizabethan Theater
5. Medieval and Renaissance Marriage Customs 
6. Literary Terms for Techniques Applied in Shakespearean Works

You will be assigned to a group that will plan a presentation to instruct your classmates about your particular topic of study. Your presentation may include role playing, costumes, panel discussions, Power Point, or any other effective method.

Your group will also be responsible for submitting three questions that can be used on a quiz about your topic.

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The Process

Group 1 Shakespeare's Life
Answer the following questions about William Shakespeare.

1. When and where was Shakespeare born?
2.  Describe his upbringing and education.
3. What were the four types of plays he wrote?
4. Where were his plays performed and by whom?
5. Besides writing plays, what other skills made Shakespeare a "jack of all trades?"
6. When and where did Shakespeare die?
7. Why do we still read his works today?  (Hint: think of theme)
8. Use Bartlett's familiar quotations to find several famous quotes that originated in Shakespeare's works.  Mention the works  from which they come.

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Group 2  Historical and Social Context
Answer the following questions about events and people in the Elizabethan Era.

1. Who was Queen of England during the time Shakespeare began to write?  Who ruled after her?
2. Give the approximate dates of the Elizabethan period.
3. Identify the social classes during Shakespeare's time.
4. Describe the status of women.  How would a young woman respond to a request from her father?
5. What is primogeniture?
6. What was the Bubonic Plague and how did it affect society during Shakespeare's time?
7. Describe these aspects of Elizabethan life.
a. food
b. socialization
c. city life, hygiene, crime
d. homes

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Group 3 Intellectual and Religious Life
Answer the following questions about life in Elizabethan England.

1.  Describe the four elements thought to compose the universe.
2. Describe the four humours and their relationship to personality.
3. What was the relationships between humours and illnesses.
4. What type of medicine was administered and by whom was it dispensed during this time period?
5. Describe the religious climate during this time.
6. What was considered to be the center of the universe at this time?  Who controlled it?
7. Describe the hierarchy of beings or "chain of beings"  believed in by Shakespeare and his contemporaries.

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Group 4 The Elizabethan Theater

1. Where were most theaters built? (in or out of the city)?  Why?  Why is the Globe Theater so famous?
2. What time of day did performances take place?  How was the public notified about performances?
3. Who played the female roles and why?
4. What type of scenery and props were used?
5. What were the costumes like?
6. What other skills did actors need besides acting ability?
7. What was the cost of standing room at the Globe?
8. Who was Richard Burbage?
9. Who were the King's Men or Chamberlain's Men?

1. Identify:

• Pit
• Groundling
• Heavens
• Trap door
• Tiring house

Globe Theater
More about the Globe Theater
Actors and Actresses
Shakespeare and his theater
Still more about the Globe

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Answer the following questions about medieval and Renaissance marriages.

1. Where did marriages take place during the Middle Ages? 
2. Why were marriage contracts arranged?
3. Who performed the marriage ceremony?
4. What was the common age for marriage?
5. What is a betrothal?
6. What was the goal of a Renaissance wedding?
7. Describe the common wedding attire during this period.
8. Describe what foods might be served at a wedding feast.

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• sonnet (Shakespearean)
• iambic pentameter
• blank verse
• soliloquy
• foreshadowing
• apostrophe
• oxymoron
• hyperbole
• irony (dramatic)
• irony (verbal)
• allusion
• motif
• pun
• personification
• couplet

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Evaluation

Your presentation will receive a group grade based on the following: 

•  Your presentation must answer all the questions your group has been assigned. 
• Your answers must be accurate and complete.
•  You should also show some creativity and maintain the interest of your classmates. 
• You will be graded on a scale of 20 points.

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When you have completed this assignment you should have some insight into the Elizabethan Era. It will further your appreciation of the works of William Shakespeare.
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