Elizabethan England: Popular culture. Flashcards
what lead to the flourish of arts and culture all over Europe?
the renaissance.
who was the main play writer at this time?
William Shakespeare.
where were these plays performed?
at court for nobility.
in inns for the poorer people.
in purpose-built theatres with tiered seating, which were open to all
where would the rich sit at the theatre?
best seats with cushions.
Theatre:where would the poor sit?
stand in front of the stage for a penny.
what was the behaviour of the crowd when the play was on?
wander about, talk among themselves, shout at and heckle the actors (and throw things if they were really unimpressed).
women weren’t allowed to act so who took on female roles?
teenage boys.
why was the theatre so popular?
fashionable
affordable
social
appeal.
why was the theatre fashionable?
Elizabeth encouraged it.
why was it affordable?
costing as little as a penny for a two hour play.
Theatre:why was it social?
it was a good place to socialise by meeting new people and your friends.
Theatre: why was it appealing?
dealt with topics that appealed to the audiences: love and romance, magic, patriotism, exploration and travel - and often had dirty jokes and fight scenes to keep people entertained.
what did some Elizabethan sports consist of doing?
cruelty to animals.
eg: bear-bull-dog and badger baiting, cockfighting.
what sports were popular in this time?
football, bare knuckle boxing, wrestling and ‘cudgelling’ -fighting with sticks.
what was a favourite past time?
gambling and gaming.
