William Shakespeare William Shakespeare and Elizabethan Dramaand Elizabethan Drama

Background InformationBackground Information

1.1. Briefly describe the major elements of Briefly describe the major elements of Elizabethan drama.Elizabethan drama.

Queen Elizabeth (1533-1603) – patron of Queen Elizabeth (1533-1603) – patron of the artsthe arts

Influenced by Greek Drama, but had more Influenced by Greek Drama, but had more varied themes (like whatever the patrons varied themes (like whatever the patrons were into!)were into!)

Written in verseWritten in verse There were few props or backdrops to There were few props or backdrops to

show locationshow location Smaller scale than Greek theater – Smaller scale than Greek theater –

the Globe could fit 3,000the Globe could fit 3,000

The Elizabethan TimesThe Elizabethan Times

England was a small nation by modern England was a small nation by modern standards (pop. of 5 million)standards (pop. of 5 million)

It was a proud nation, and had a strong It was a proud nation, and had a strong sense of national identitysense of national identity

Overseas exploration and empire Overseas exploration and empire expansion began (Drake circumnavigated expansion began (Drake circumnavigated the world from 1577-1581)the world from 1577-1581)

England was rural; agriculture was the England was rural; agriculture was the chief means of livelihood; mining and chief means of livelihood; mining and timber were expanding industriestimber were expanding industries

Elizabethan TimesElizabethan Times

Travel within England was slow because of Travel within England was slow because of poor roads, and dangerous because of poor roads, and dangerous because of highway robbershighway robbers

The English Renaissance was in full bloom; The English Renaissance was in full bloom; arts and sciences flourishedarts and sciences flourished

Increased contact with other nations led to Increased contact with other nations led to new styles of living, new fashions, new art new styles of living, new fashions, new art forms (the sonnet), a broader vocabulary forms (the sonnet), a broader vocabulary (which Shakespeare eagerly appropriated)(which Shakespeare eagerly appropriated)

New domestic comforts: Chimneys, metal New domestic comforts: Chimneys, metal dishes, beds and pillows, carpets, windowsdishes, beds and pillows, carpets, windows

Elizabethan LondonElizabethan London

London had trees, gardens and meadowsLondon had trees, gardens and meadowsLondon Bridge was a fashionable London Bridge was a fashionable

thoroughfare with shops festively thoroughfare with shops festively decorated for certain occasions. Other decorated for certain occasions. Other decorations on the bridge included the decorations on the bridge included the heads of executed traitorsheads of executed traitors

City houses were small and crowded, the City houses were small and crowded, the streets were narrow and filthy (as a streets were narrow and filthy (as a result there were epidemics and plagues)result there were epidemics and plagues)

At a typical Elizabethan At a typical Elizabethan production:production:

It was always daytimeIt was always daytime Actors were always menActors were always men The audience went to theaters located in The audience went to theaters located in

the “red light district”the “red light district” Commoners (or groundlings) had to stand, Commoners (or groundlings) had to stand,

while VIPs got to sit on the balcony of the while VIPs got to sit on the balcony of the circular theatercircular theater

The audience was active, often showing The audience was active, often showing displeasure by throwing things at the displeasure by throwing things at the actorsactors

A typical Elizabethan TheaterA typical Elizabethan Theater

The Globe “The Wooden O”The Globe “The Wooden O”

20-sided, open-air amphitheater20-sided, open-air amphitheater Built in 1599 by the Burbage brothers to present Built in 1599 by the Burbage brothers to present

Shakespeare's workShakespeare's work Thirty-four plays were created for performance Thirty-four plays were created for performance

herehere Built to hold about 2,000, but often the number Built to hold about 2,000, but often the number

went up to 3,000went up to 3,000 Plays were presented in the afternoon (there was Plays were presented in the afternoon (there was

no electricity and the plays required light)no electricity and the plays required light) The stage was 49 feet across and 27 feet deep, The stage was 49 feet across and 27 feet deep,

and only 5 feet from the floor of the yard; this and only 5 feet from the floor of the yard; this made the actors accessible (and easy to hit with made the actors accessible (and easy to hit with produce)produce)

The Globe, “The Wooden O”The Globe, “The Wooden O”

There were no major props or sets – a black There were no major props or sets – a black drape across the stage suggested a tragedy, a drape across the stage suggested a tragedy, a torch suggested evening, etc.torch suggested evening, etc.

There was a trapdoor for “ghost” appearancesThere was a trapdoor for “ghost” appearances There was a balcony on the back wallThere was a balcony on the back wall The roof of the stage was called “the sky” and The roof of the stage was called “the sky” and

was painted as suchwas painted as such Commoners usually came to the Globe by foot Commoners usually came to the Globe by foot

– dignitaries came by boat from across the – dignitaries came by boat from across the riverriver

Globe WoesGlobe Woes

The Wooden O burned to the ground in The Wooden O burned to the ground in 16131613

It was rebuilt, but the Puritans closed it It was rebuilt, but the Puritans closed it (and other theaters) down in 1642 (and other theaters) down in 1642 because the theater was drawing a bigger because the theater was drawing a bigger crowd than he churchcrowd than he church

The Puritans made theaters illegal and the The Puritans made theaters illegal and the Globe was torn down in 1644Globe was torn down in 1644

The New Globe, opened in 1997 by Queen The New Globe, opened in 1997 by Queen Elizabeth, is less than 200 yards from the Elizabeth, is less than 200 yards from the original siteoriginal site

2. How many plays did 2. How many plays did Shakespeare write? (Plus some Shakespeare write? (Plus some

other info.)other info.) Born April 23, 1564Born April 23, 1564 Hometown: Stratford-upon-Avon, EnglandHometown: Stratford-upon-Avon, England Also known as William Saxberd, W. ShagspereAlso known as William Saxberd, W. Shagspere Married Anne Hathaway on November 28, Married Anne Hathaway on November 28,

1582, one day after he obtained a marriage 1582, one day after he obtained a marriage license to marry someone else!license to marry someone else!

Missing years: We have almost no Missing years: We have almost no information about the next 10 years of his life, information about the next 10 years of his life, except that he must have somehow traveled except that he must have somehow traveled to Londonto London

Shakespeare InfoShakespeare Info

In 1592 his first play, Henry VI, debutedIn 1592 his first play, Henry VI, debuted Over the next 21 years, Shakespeare Over the next 21 years, Shakespeare

wrote another 36 full-length playswrote another 36 full-length plays He also wrote 150 sonnetsHe also wrote 150 sonnets The acting troupe called Lord The acting troupe called Lord

Chamberlain’s Men produced and Chamberlain’s Men produced and performed W’s plays; when James I performed W’s plays; when James I became king in 1603, they changed their became king in 1603, they changed their name to The King’s Menname to The King’s Men

After the Globe burned to the ground, After the Globe burned to the ground, Shakespeare never wrote againShakespeare never wrote again

More Shakespeare InformationMore Shakespeare Information

After a night of heavy drinking and a walk After a night of heavy drinking and a walk home in the rain, Shakespeare died in home in the rain, Shakespeare died in Stratford, on April 23, 1616. It was his 52Stratford, on April 23, 1616. It was his 52ndnd birthdaybirthday

His plays were never published in his His plays were never published in his lifetime. After his death, Shakespeare’s lifetime. After his death, Shakespeare’s closest friends published his works in a closest friends published his works in a single volume called The First Foliosingle volume called The First Folio

““He was not for an age, but for all time” – He was not for an age, but for all time” – Ben Johnson, playwright and friend of WSBen Johnson, playwright and friend of WS

3. The setting of Othello3. The setting of Othello Othello draws on the Venetian Empire of the 16Othello draws on the Venetian Empire of the 16thth

century – the year is 1570, when the Ottoman Turks century – the year is 1570, when the Ottoman Turks attacked the island of Cyprusattacked the island of Cyprus

Venice: Sophisticated, and an established southern Venice: Sophisticated, and an established southern European commercial and trading center European commercial and trading center

Venice allied with Spain and defeated the Ottomans Venice allied with Spain and defeated the Ottomans in 1571 at the battle of Lepanto. Historians view in 1571 at the battle of Lepanto. Historians view this as the victory that stopped the Ottoman this as the victory that stopped the Ottoman influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, and ended influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, and ended Islamic expansion to EuropeIslamic expansion to Europe

Cyprus is meant to be seen as a “frontier,” an Cyprus is meant to be seen as a “frontier,” an outpost where the sophistication of Venice does not outpost where the sophistication of Venice does not exist. The island was under constant threat by exist. The island was under constant threat by invaders, including the Ottomans, because of its invaders, including the Ottomans, because of its strategic location in the Mediterranean Seastrategic location in the Mediterranean Sea

4. Chiaroscuro4. Chiaroscuro

A deliberate contrast of light and dark to A deliberate contrast of light and dark to highlight movement or intensify a highlight movement or intensify a particular figure or settingparticular figure or setting

For example, alternating scenes of light For example, alternating scenes of light and dark in a play can reflect the light and and dark in a play can reflect the light and dark within human moralitydark within human morality

Othello is a Moor (African and Muslim), Othello is a Moor (African and Muslim), Desdemona is fair, meaning light-skinnedDesdemona is fair, meaning light-skinned

In the play there are several examples of In the play there are several examples of characters moving from dark to bright characters moving from dark to bright settings and vice versa, and of black/white settings and vice versa, and of black/white references in names and conversations references in names and conversations

Works CitedWorks Cited

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