what did elizabethans do for fun (leisure) · pdf fileas always, it depended on your status...
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WhatdidElizabethansdoforfun(leisure)
Asalways,itdependedonyourstatuswhatyoucoulddo.
Sportforthenobilityandupperclasses
Huntingonhorseback,withhounds
Men&Women
Hawking
Men&Women
Fishing
Men&Women
FencingMen
Realtennis
Men
Somesportswereplayedbymenofallclasses,althoughnottogether(ofcourse):
Wrestling
Lowersclasseswouldwrestleforbets
Swimming
Workingpeople:Craftsmen,farmersandlabourers
FootballLowerclassesVeryviolent– menwerekilledduringmatches
Youcould:- Pickuptheballandrunwithit- Haveasmanyplayersasyouwanted- Youcouldtripuptheotherplayers- Haveanysizedpitch
Veryoften,thepitcheswouldbestreets,orthecountrysideifthematchwasbetweentwovillages
Cock-fightingAllclassesAgain,largebetswereplacedontheoutcomeofthecock-fightingandagain,arenaswerebuilttohousetheseevents
Noteveryoneenjoyedthesesports-Puritansopposedthem,butmoresobecausetheywereheldonaSunday
BaitingAllclasses,oftenlargeamountsofmoneybettedontheoutcome
Thebearsteethwerebrokensoitcouldn't bitethedogs,butthebearsstilloftenwonbypinningthedogsundertheirclaws.Thiswassopopular,theybuiltarenasforalltocomeandwatch
Theyalsousedbullsandthiswasafighttothedeath,againusingdogsagainstthechainedbulls,oftenthedogswouldbethrownhighintotheairbythebullshorns
SpectatorSports
TheatreAllclasses• DevelopedduetoProtestantism,whichinfluencedmuchofElizabethanlife.
Mysteryplayshadbeencommon,bringingthestoriesoftheBibletolife,butProtestantsbelievedthiswasawayfortheCatholicstocontrolinterpretationssotheywerebanned,replacedbynon-religiousplaysinstead.
• Comedieswerealsoverypopular,Elizabethansenseofhumour wasrudeandvulgar).Demandforthetheatregrewrapidlyandthenobilityestablishedtheatresaroundthecountry
• Puritanshatedthetheatre,sayingitencouragedidleness,spreaddiseaseandcreateunrest,theywerethe“workofthedevil”.
• Elizabethgotworriedaboutthespreadofreligiousorpoliticalmessagessosheintroducedcensorshipin1572,allactingcompaniesneededalicence andhadtopresentscriptstothegovernmentbeforetheywereperformed
LiteratureTherewaslotsofnewliteratureinElizabethanEngland,historywasverypopularaswellastheaccountsofDrake’svoyagesofdiscovery.TheCanterburyTaleswerealsoverypopular.
Mostwelleducatedpeoplewroteandreadpoetryandplaysandthetheatrewasundergoingarevolution.
Pastimes
Whathashelpedwiththisnewpastime?
Duetothedemand,andmoneytobemade,purposebuilttheatreswerebuilt,mainlyinLondon.
- Onlymenwereallowedtoact,women’spartsweretakenbyboys- Sometimestherewerequeuesof2000people- Poorpeoplecouldpay1ptostandinthepitinfrontofthestage- Themostimportantseatsweredirectlyabovethestage,notthebestview,butitwasmore
importanttobeseensittingtherebytherestoftheaudience- Itwasagreatdayout,withfoodanddrink,cheering,booing.Entrancefeeswerecheaptoo!- Thefirsttheatretobebuiltwasin1576,called”TheTheatre”,thenin1577came”TheCurtain”and
then“TheRose”in1587
Music&DancingAllclasses• Elizabethanswerepassionateabouttheirmusic,although
instrumentswereexpensivesousuallyonlyfoundinnoble’shomes,thepoorhadfiddlesandbagpipes.
• Therichwouldemployamusiciantoplayduringmeals(onlymencouldbepaid).Lowerclassesgottheirmusicatfairs,markets,church,tavernsandbarber’sshops.
• Newmusicwasbeingcomposedtoaccompanythetheatres• Dancingbroughtmenandwomentogether,althoughnotclasses
“Therewerenewschools… Englishships– sailedtonewlands,andbroughtback… thesenseofanexpandedworld.Inchurches,halls,palacesandcountryhouses,newmusicdelightedtheear.YoucouldnotbealiveinElizabethanEnglandandnotfeelthatitwasayoungcountryfullof
capacitytoreinventitself”
ExamQuestion:
• DescribetwofeaturesoftheatresinElizabethanLondon[4]
Or
• DescribetwofeaturesofleisurefortheupperclassesinElizabethanEngland[4]
Homework:
• CreateaguidetoElizabethanleisureusingthispptonthewebsite
• Itshouldbewellorganised makingitclearwhichclasshadaccesstowhichevent• Whatformsofentertainmentwerethere• Positivesofit• Negativesofit