Renaissance Influence on English Drama Flashcards
Progression, Different periods of the Renaissance’s influence on England
Elizabethan Period (1558-1603) - Shakespearean period; Jacobean Period (1603-1625) - James I; Caroline Period (1625-1649) - Charles I executed by Cromwell; Restoration Period (1600-after) Charles II
Transitional Drama (leading to Elizabethan Drama)
- Medieval like interludes 2. schools and universities (new ideas and talent were encouraged and developed) 3. Inns of Court (students write in style of Seneca)
What were the medieval like interludes during the transitional period of Drama?
usually associated w/ professional players, aristocratic, occasional pieces (in between meals)
What were schools and universities like during the transitional period of Drama?
new ideas and talent were encouraged and developed; Nicholas Udall writes “Ralpsh Roister Doister” (influenced my Miles Gloriosus); Mr. S (student of Cambridge) writes “Gammer Gurton’s Needle” show is kinda like Terence, much ado about nothing, goes full circle *There was an attempt to write plays in the form of the classics
Describe the Inns of Court during the transitional period of Drama?
Thomas Sackville and Thomas NOrton (students of the Inns of Court) wrote “Gorboduc”, in the style of Seneca, it was the 1st English Tragedy
Who were university wits of the time period?
Thomas Kyd and Christopher Marlowe
Who was THomas Kyd?
wrote the Spanish Tragedy (paved the way for shakespeare); he capitalized on Seneca’s revenge theme, began the trend of blood tragedy in Elizabethan age
William Shakespeare - personal information?
DOB: Apr. 23, 1564
DOD: Apr. 23, 1616
Birthplace: Stratford-upon-Avon
Parents: John Shakespeare and Mary Arden
William Shakespeare - Early Life
- no formal university education
- at approx 14 he apprenticed father as a glover
- by 18 married Anne Hathaway (1582) and who was 24 and pregnant
- had 3 children, Suzanna, the oldest and Hamnet and Judith, the twins. Hamnet died 1596
William Shakespeare - In His Prime
- 1592 he is in a London town, acting and writing
- Earl of Southampton, his patron, was noted to be bisexual
- Shakespeare’s theatre was the Globe
- wrote 37 plays in total
- Lord Chamberlains Men - Shakespeare’s company
The Globe Theatre
- wooden O shape
- thrust stage, roofed over, supported by pillars
- Audience - 800 in pit, 1500 in galleries
- Tiring house, heavens (ceiling), Musician’s gallery
- Traps in stage floor (hell)
- Inner below (mini proscenium) and Inner above (2nd level, reminiscent of the thyromata)
- Men and young boys played all parts
- Presentational not representational
- Globe burned down during performance of Henry VIII; a spark hit the thatched roof
- was rebuilt than burned down again by the Puritans
Who were the Lord Chamberlain’s men?
Shakespeare’s theatre company
What was the 1st permanent public theatre? Some basic info about it?
The Theatre;
- built in 1576 by James Burbage
- built outside of the city limits in a Northern bit called Shorditch
- theatres were built outside city because there was more space and it was outside reach of authority
What were some of the theatres that followed The Theatre?
The GLobe, The Swan, The Fortune
What were the characteristic of public theatre?
- open air structures (but galleries and stage were roofed
- tiring house (facade, storage area in back)
- levels: “inner below” - performance area with two stage doors and discovery space and “inner above”- openings above the two stage doors for windows (used for balconies, battlements)
- gatherers: people who collected admissions, there were no box offices
- division of funds: actors received all admisions from pit, gallery fees were split between actors and house, theatre made additional money through sale of concessions
