Elizabethan Theatre And The Poor

Question 1

Who were the gentry?

Answer 1

People who had no title but had status and power based on their wealth

Question 2

How did the rise of gentry effect England?

Answer 2

More manor houses were developed and fashions began to change

Question 3

How many theatres were there in the England in 1559?

Answer 3

None

Question 4

What law was passed against actors in 1572 and why?

Answer 4

That actors were to be punished as vagabonds as they were immoral people who caused trouble wherever they went

Question 5

In what year was the first theatre opened?

Answer 5

1576

Question 6

Name three theatres

Answer 6

• The rose
• The swan
• The globe

Question 7

How were Elizabethan theatres designed?

Answer 7

There was an uncovered circular pit with surrounding covered galleries

Question 8

Name one famous play writes

Answer 8

William Shakespeare

Question 9

Name a famous actor

Answer 9

Richard Burbage

Question 10

Why did the rich like the theatre

Answer 10

• It was a chance to have an exciting night out

- They could be entertained but could do so while being separated from the poor

Question 11

Why did the poor like the theatre

Answer 11

Because it was cheap and they were often built in poor areas, so it was close to where they lived

Question 12

Who disliked the theatres and why

Answer 12

Puritans, they thought it encouraged immoral behaviour

Question 13

Why did Elizabeth and her government support the theatre after initially disliking it

Answer 13

• London had a population of 200,000 entertainment kept them occupied and less likely to rebel
• A plays content could be policed so they that the present Queen and her government in a positive way

Question 14

Which play presented the Tudors in a positive way

Answer 14

Richard 3rd

Question 15

What was the great chain of being

Answer 15

The idea that everything and everyone had a correct place in the world and they if this was challenged it would lead to chaos

Question 16

What were two causes of poverty

Answer 16

• The population rose by 43% between 1550-1600. Things like food and jobs became more difficult to get causing poverty
• Prices went up but wages stayed the same meaning people had less money

Question 17

Why did poverty become worse in the 1590s

Answer 17

Because there were poor harvest 1593-97 meaning there were less food and increasing prices

Question 18

Why did poverty become a more serious issue in Elizabethan England

Answer 18

The monasteries has been closed my Henry 8th and there is where most of the poor were looked after meaning there was no one to look after them and nowhere to go

Question 19

Which group of poor people were seen to deserve help

Answer 19

The impotent poor- those were unable to provide for themselves because they were too young, too old and too ill

Question 20

Which group of poor people were seen to be not deserving of help

Answer 20

The idle poor- vagabonds, those were fit to work but chose not to and committed crime

Question 21

How did local government deal with the poor

Answer 21

Money for the poor was collected and work was provided them in the workhouse

Question 22

What was the Elizabethan poor law

Answer 22

The governments solution to the problem of poverty

Question 23

When was the poor law passed

Answer 23

1597

Question 24

How did the Elizabethan poor law work

Answer 24

A “poor rate” was collected and this paid for the workhouse and relief payments for the deserving poor

Question 25

How successful was the poor law

Answer 25

Success- it helped preserve the social order and there were no rebellions

Less successful- poverty continued to increase even after the poor law was introduced