elizabethan br

-Elizabethan Era--Shakespeare-

-Romeo and Juliet-

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Elizabethan England• Known as the English Renaissance (rebirth)• England was ruled by Queen Elizabeth I,

daughter of King Henry VIII, from 1533-1603.

• The Queen had a love for theater and the arts, so during this period, the arts (poetry, plays, painting, etc.) flourished.

Life in the Elizabethan EraClothing/Fashion• Certain fabrics, textures, and colors of

clothing indicated which social class a person was a part of.

• If a person dressed out of his/her social class, they would be punished because it was against the law.


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Life in the Elizabethan EraMarriages• A woman didn’t choose

husband.• Marriages were usually

arranged by the families of the bride and the groom in order for both sides to benefit from one another.

• Once married, women had practically no rights; they could not work outside the home.


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Life in the Elizabethan EraHealth• Many members of a family,

often 4-8 people, would live in the same room.

• There was no sanitation, no indoor plumbing, no concept of germs or sterilization.

• The streets were filled with waste, both human and animal.

• There were two outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague


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Life in the Elizabethan EraOther interesting facts:• Only boys were allowed to attend formal education• Going to the dentist was deadly• Punishment for crimes was VERY harsh

– Robbers would have limbs cut off by a saw, have fingers torn off, eyes dug out with hot pinchers, or death sentence

– Women gossips had sharp device put in mouth and, with any movement, the tongue would be cut or damaged

– For adultery, one would be attached to stool and continuously dunked under water until death


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Life in the Elizabethan Era• The lower class would bathe a couple times

A YEAR, and the upper class bathed once every couple of weeks.

• Instead of toilet paper, clumps of grass or hay was used.

• Pale skin was considered beautiful, so they avoided the sun.

• A high forehead was a sign of intelligence, so many women would shave a portion on top of their head.


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William Shakespeare• The most famous

playwright of all time• Born: 1564 in

Stratford-upon-Avon; Died: 1616

• At 18, he married 26 year-old Anne Hathaway

• Had 3 children, one of which died at 11


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William Shakespeare• 1585 – 1592 were

considered his lost years. No one knew of his whereabouts.

• By 1592, he had become well known in London theatrical circles.

• In his lifetime Shakespeare wrote 37 plays


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William ShakespeareTypes of Plays• 1. comedy – a funny

problem that occurs that must be fixed by the end of the play

• 2. history – a retelling of the history of England

• 3. tragedya. a hero has a high positionb. hero falls (causes his own fall)


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The Globe Theatre• Famous theatre of the

time• Plays were held at

2:00 pm because there was no lighting in the theaters. And in good weather because it had no roof

• Few props were used; language focused on imagery


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The Globe Theatre• Both poor and rich

people alike attended plays in Shakespeare’s time.

• It had several levels of seating– Lowest level, or pit,

was the cheapest; the “groundlings” stood here


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The Globe Theatre• During this time,

women were NOT allowed to be actors

• ALL roles were played by men/boys

• The character of Juliet would have been played by a boy


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The Globe Theatre• In the 1590s, the

theaters had to close a few times due to outbreaks of the Plague

• Germs were EASILY spread at the theaters


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Romeo and JulietWilliam Shakespeare


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“Star-crossed lovers”

Romeo and Juliet


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•The play is set in

Verona, Italy

Juliet’s Balcony• Although Juliet is a fictional

character, this actual building in Verona (built around the 13th century) is said to have been the home to a prominent family in Italy back then. The Capuleti was a family that actually existed, and some believe that Shakespeare based his fictional family, the Capulets, on them.

• Pictured here is Juliet’s balcony. Some couples even get married there today.


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Basics of Romeo and Juliet• Written around 1595• Involves two major

families who hate each other

• Entire play takes place over 5 days

• Fate of Romeo and Juliet is given at the beginning of play


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Romeo and Juliet - Characters

The Montagues• Romeo - first loves Rosaline;

sees Juliet and forgets Rosaline.

• Lord Montague - Romeo’s father

• Lady Montague - Romeo’s mother

• Benvolio - nephew of Montague and friend of Romeo

• Balthasar - servant of Romeo• Abram - servant of Montague;

enjoys fighting with Capulets

The Capulets• Juliet – daughter of

Capulet; happy, innocent girl who loves Romeo

• Lord and Lady Capulet - Juliet’s parents

• Tybalt - Juliet’s cousin; likes to fight

• Nurse - Juliet’s nanny and friend

• Peter - servant to the Nurse• Sampson and Gregory –

servants(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL

RIGHTS RESERVED.19

Romeo and Juliet - Characters


The Others•Prince Escalus - ruler of Verona; tired of the fighting in the city and threatens anyone who disturbs the peace with death•Mercutio - relative of the prince and friend of Romeo (sides with Montague); serves as comic relief •Friar Laurence - a Franciscan priest; helps Romeo and Juliet; good man•Friar John - another Franciscan priest•Count Paris - a young nobleman and relative of the prince (sides with Capulet); Juliet’s parents arrange for her to marry him

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