William Shakespeare• Parents - John & Mary

Shakespeare

• Born April 23, 1564; Died April 23, 1616

• Married Anne Hathaway (he was 18 years old, she was 26)

• 3 children - Susanna and twins Judith & Hamnet

• Helped form an acting company -Lord Chamberlain’s Men

• When London theaters closed (due to the Plague), he wrote sonnets

Beliefs About the Universe• Believed Earth was the center of universe & planets rotated

around it

• Believed stars rotated outside planets

• Believed planets made musical notes as they rotated

• Believed planets had fluid that influenced people & affairs on earth

• Believed astrologers could predict future by knowing the placement of the stars

The Almanac•A small book with black print for text &

red print for titles, special days, and notable items

• The almanac included church feast days & a calendar

• The almanac contained notes on planting, law terms, predictions, & weather forecasts

The Humors• Believed everything in the

universe consisted of earth, air, fire & water

• Believed the human body also consisted of these 4 elements: Earth = black bile Air = blood Fire = bile Water = phlegm

Marriage Customs•A formal betrothal (engagement) was private

• The Banns were published after the betrothal

• The wedding was an all day celebration with a full ceremony

• Everyone came to the bride’s house & then went to church from there

•After the bride & groom left the guests still celebrated

Funeral Customs• Dead people were carried to

their grave by pall bearers dressed in black

• Mourners followed in procession wearing hooded cloaks

• The dead person’s coat of arms was painted on flags & carried in procession after the funeral

• Mourners feasted & money was given to the poor

• Bodies of famous people were buried in church

• The most elaborate funeral was for Queen Elizabeth I

The Mail•There was no postal service for the public

•Only messengers on horseback were used for business & royalty

•Messengers are frequently used in Shakespeare’s plays

Bells•Church bells rang constantly in fearful times (example: The Plague)

•When someone died a single bell sounded

Alchemy•An alchemist was an

early version of a chemist

• They believed all matter was made up of the 4 humors

•Pure gold was considered a perfect metal. It contained the elixir of life (the cure for all diseases)

• There was a quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone -it could change other metals to gold

Dances

•Puritans thought dancing was of the devil•Some popular dances were: the

Measure (slow & solemn), the Galliard (quick & lively), the Pavan (a dignified processional), the Capriol ( jump in the air & feet click), and the Brawl & Jig

Sports & Hunting• Fencing matches were a

favorite sport

•Betting occurred at fencing matches

•Hawking was popular with gentlemen

Elizabethan Education

•Only wealthy children went to school

• Teachers used a cane and whip to discipline students

•Girls did not go to school

• Students lived at their school

• Teachers would hit students for: not being neat, not doing work, being tardy

Crime and Punishment

•A common crime was cut pursing

•Another common method of stealing was called hooking

•Other crimes involved dishonest horse dealers & gamblers

•Laws were passed against witchcraft

The Elizabethan Stage

• The Globe theater burned down in 1613

•No women or girls were actors

• There were no lights, no scenery, and few props

•Wealthy people sat in benches above the stage

•Groundlings were theater-goers who sat on the ground around the stage

FlagUpper Stage

The Heavens

Galleries

Tiring House

Main Stage

Open yard

Trap DoorColumn

Viewer entranceBrick Foundation

Inner Stage