Historical Context (Week 1 & Week 2)

WEEK 1 - SETTING THE SCENE – LIFE IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England is a documentary that first aired on the BBC in 2013. It gives insights into life in Elizabethan England. Below is a link to a series of clips on the BBC website which you should watch to gain an insight into life in this period. As you watch the clips and make notes bear in mind the question below.

QUESTION: What sense do you get of what life was like in Elizabethan England? Try to include information on: The population, entertainment, religion, superstition, money, jobs, medicine, theatre.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01d4279

In the Elizabethan times, it was very clear to people whether you were poor or rich depending on the area you lived in. The richer people lived closer to the centre of the town/city, whereas the poor people lived in villages or were living in rural areas such as the countryside. Getting jobs and earning money was a struggle for the poor because they earned about 4d (4 pennies) for a day’s work. This was enough to feed a husband and wife but not enough to feed a family, buy new clothes and pay for expenses towards the house. It was highly unlikely going to cover the costs of medicine.

Living in a poor person’s house was difficult because there would only be one room being shared with 8 family members on average. There would be a lit fire in the centre of the room, there would be a few holes for windows on the wall and 1 on the roof to let the smoke from the fire out. There would be a few kitchen utensils, a pot a basket and a bench. Candles were expensive so the house would be very dark to live in. For the rich they would closer to the city/town/village. Some people would own farms and employ the poorer labourers. They earned enough to afford the luxuries such as, meats, wine, health care etc.

The amount of jobs available in those times were very limited considering the population was less than it is now. This was due to less medical care, and a high recurrence of illnesses and diseases. Elizabethan illnesses were similar to the illnesses of the Modern age - but before causes had been identified and cures identified. In addition to this there were outbreaks of terrible diseases such as the Bubonic Plague and Typhoid. Broken bones, wounds, abscesses and fractures were treated in unsanitary environments making the condition even worse. The only cure for toothache was having the tooth pulled - without anaesthetics. Amputations were performed by surgeons - the stump was cauterised with pitch. Poor living conditions and poor diet led to many illnesses suffered by both the wealthy and the poor. Some illnesses and diseases had medicines such as:

• Bubonic Plague ( the Black Death )

Bubonic Plague was treated by lancing the buboes and applying a warm poultice of butter, onion and garlic. Various other remedies were tried including tobacco, arsenic, lily root and dried toad.

• Head Pains

Head Pains were treated with sweet-smelling herbs such as rose, lavender, sage, and bay.

• Stomach Pains and Sickness

Stomach pains and sickness were treated with wormwood, mint, and balm.

• Lung Problems

Lung problems given the medical treatment of liquorice and comfrey.

• Wounds

Vinegar was widely used as a cleansing agent as it was believed that it would kill disease.

These medicines were not always shown as effective so if they didn’t show a sign of any improvement then citizens would be locked away in their homes with their families until recovery or death.

Entertainment back in those times was varied depending on your public status. This was to do with expenses and usually the upper class and royalty did not like to associate themselves around lower class people. For the richer audience they would usually have a reason to celebrate because betrothals, weddings, victories and festivals so they would be placed in large but private areas to be entertained by music and dancers whilst they enjoyed their feast/ banquets/ jousts and much more.

However, the poorer people were usually spotted in big, public places were performances or fights broke out. Entertainment that they would see on a regular were acting troupes, tournaments, dancing trained animals, dancers, mystery plays, jugglers and strolling players. Most of these entertainment things were reasonably affordable to the public, but that was only because the plague was around and the life expectancy and population was low, nobody wanted to be around if people were becoming ill so quickly.

WEEK 2 - SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND BIOGRAPHY

RESEARCH: Research Shakespeare’s life, ensuring you include information about his origins, family, relationships, the world he lived in and questions surrounding his work.

Visit the Folger Shakespeare Library Website and working from the ‘Discover Shakespeare’ Tab you work through the information regarding Shakespeare’s Life. http://www.folger.edu/Content/Discover-Shakespeare/Shakespeares-Life/

You can also read the ‘William Shakespeare Fact Sheet’ on the Globe website.

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/education/discovery-space/fact-sheets

It is estimated that William Shakespeare was born on 23rd April 1564. He was the oldest surviving child of John and Mary Shakespeare. John was a leatherworker and a highly respected citizen of society.  Because of his father’s status he was eligible to attend Stratford's Grammar School. William had two older sisters that died, three younger brothers and two younger sisters.

In November 1582 at the age of 18 William married Anne Hathaway, who was 26 at the time. In may 1583 she gave birth to their first child who was called Susanna. Two years later, they had twins named Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet died at age 11. It was guessed that the family had some sort of separation due to Anne and the children living in Stratford and William working in London. But this was never confirmed due to lack of evidence. However, it was Shakespeare was mentioned as an actor and playwright in the year 1592.

During his career Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets. The earliest play he wrote was one of the three parts of King Henry VI. Parts 1, 2 and 3 were all written between the years 1589-1591. The last play he ever wrote was The Two Noble Kinsmen that co-wrote along side John Fletcher around the year 1613.