There’s always history behind a theater, right? Right! The Elizabethan Theater was part of an age where body of works reign while Elizabeth I was queen (1558-1603). During the Elizabethan era, there was a mass production of inspired drama, poetry and other forms of literature, as well as growth in humanism and significantly the birth of professional theater in England. This period embodies the work of Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, Christopher Marlowe, the well-known, William Shakespeare, and various other writers. Literary expression was an important part of the Elizabethan era, in which a variety of themes and outlines endured while others seemed to fade or darken. This was a time where national pride to influenced contemporary drama reflected in the work of writers. Furthermore, the Elizabethan Theater exemplifies the production of theater, while also presenting historical and structural principles that were altered, and dramatists regarding the Elizabethan era.
During the reign of Elizabeth I, the desire for theater and drama was known to audiences everywhere. Theater in England was expelled under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell. It was later restored by Charles II after witnessing the rise of new theaters and a new type of play that no longer neglected the casting of women (Theatre). More previous than that, morality plays and religious topics were rejected from the stage, however, professional companies of actors staged plays in which the actors communicated with their audiences, using facial expressions to create emotions, therefore no masks were worn in this form of production. These were rowdy audiences and the plays were staged on the inn yard, with raised platforms, and limited scenery, to rowdy audi...
... middle of paper ...
...g. London: Peter Collin Publishing, 2000. Credo Reference. Web. 18 November 2011.
"Elizabethan literature." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009. Credo Reference. Web. 18 November 2011.
"Elizabethan literature." Continuum Encyclopedia of British Literature. London: Continuum, 2006. Credo Reference. Web. 18 November 2011.
"Drama." Chambers Dictionary of World History. London: Chambers Harrap, 2005. Credo Reference. Web. 18 November 2011.
"drama." Dictionary of Shakespeare, Peter Collin Publishing. London: Peter Collin Publishing, 2000. Credo Reference. Web. 18 November 2011.
"Drama and Theatre II: Elizabethan." Reader's Guide to British History. London: Routledge, 2003. Credo Reference. Web. 18 November 2011.
"Theatre." Chambers Dictionary of World History. London: Chambers Harrap, 2005. Credo Reference. Web. 18 November 2011.
Eighteenth century British theatre was perhaps the starting point that would evolve into modern theatre. Women started to be allowed on stage and acting techniques were beginning to change. Leading performers were like celebrities with a number of fans. Theatre was an intricate part of the social ladder. In the overall scheme of things the actors and actresses played an important part in making the theatre what it was. Without the performers there wouldn’t really be theatre, so in order to understand the eighteenth century British theatre the performers of that era need to be understood.
Warren, Roger. Shakespeare Survey 30. N.p.: n.p., 1977. Pp. 177-78. Rpt. in Shakespeare in the Theatre: An Anthology of Criticism. Stanley Wells, ed. England: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Dutton, R., & Howard, J.E. (2003). A Companion to Shakespeare’s Works.(p. 9) Maiden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
Theatre Journal 37.4 (1985): 426-439. Print. Wheeler, Kip. " Literary Terms and Definitions M." Literary Terms and Definitions "M" Carson-Newman University, n.d. Web. 12 May 2014.
Cohen, Walter, J.E. Howard, K. Eisaman Maus. The Norton Shakespeare. Vol. 2 Stephen Greenblatt, General Editor. New York, London. 2008. ISBN 978-0-393-92991-1
Shakespeare. Othello. The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. Rossi. New York: Longman, 1999. 312-379.
The Elizabethan Stage, 4 vols. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1923. Clark, Eleanor G., 1941. Ralegh and Marlowe: A Study in Elizabethan Fustian.’ New.
Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama. N.p.: Rice University, 1982. 223-38. Vol.
Elizabethan times in the 1600s was a progression for the world of the theater. A period named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, it is from this period that modern day society has its foundation for the entertainment industry. From the violence that was prevalent because of the Black Death, people turned to the theater for its poetry and romance. During this time period, there were two types of theatrical performances that were available for the people’s viewing, comedies or tragedies. These two genres were never really intertwined until the time of William Shakespeare. His play, Romeo and Juliet, is an example of both a comedy and a tragedy. It starts off as a comedy with Romeo weeping like a baby because of his love Rosaline, who did not love him back and ends as a tragedy when Romeo and Juliet, a pair of star crossed lovers, commit suicide because the lost of each other. It was also during Shakespeare’s time that writer were finally acknowledged by the people. Before this time, writers were not considered upper classman. Another group of people that began to rise into a higher social class were the actors. Actresses were not present back then because women were not allowed on stage. It was considered unladylike to have a female actor. Men played all the parts. Theater owners were dependent on actors to make them a profit. Rehearsals for the plays were fairly short, only lasting for about a week. The performances themselves would only show for three to four days.
Shakespeare Studies 11 (1978): 53-76. MLA International Bibliography. Web. The Web. The Web.
The name most associated with excellence in theatre is William Shakespeare. His plays, more than any other playwright, resonate through the ages. It may be safe to say that he has influenced more actors, directors, and playwrights than any thespian in the history of the stage. But what were his influences? During the Middle Ages theatre was dominated by morality, miracle, and mystery plays that were often staged by the church as a means to teach the illiterate masses about Christianity. It wasn’t until the early sixteenth century that Greek tragedy experienced a revival, in turn, inspiring a generation of renaissance playwrights.
Theatre serves to reflect society. From Shakespeare to Sophocles, a playwright’s work illustrates the different mechanics within a culture or time period or society. Theatre offers viewers the experience of taking a step back and looking in on themselves. In this way, theatre is a mirror for the world and the way it functions.
Theatre first came about from all different cultures acting out part of their bible, or performing rituals to the Gods. It was not until the middle ages when dramatists wrote about all aspects of life. Theatre has therefore changed continuously to suit the demands of each new age for fantasy, spectacle, or serious drama.
Marcus, Leah S. Recent Studies in Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama. No. 2 ed. Vol. 32. N.p.: Rice University, 1992. Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900. JSTOR. Web. 8 Dec. 2013. .
Many periods of time throughout history have developed their own forms of literature. From 1558 to 1603, Queen Elizabeth I reigned during the golden age in English history. The Elizabethan Era had a large growth of literature because Queen Elizabeth supported and encouraged the fine arts more than any monarch in England’s history did. The literature of the time was characterized by a new energy, originality, and confidence based on Renaissance humanism. During the Elizabethan Era there were many things that affected the literature and the way authors during this period wrote. During the Elizabethan Era there were religious aspects, major political events and the Renaissance that contributed to the literature, which influence various popular authors during the Elizabethan Era.