Shakespeare Flashcards
When was Shakespeare born?
April 23rd 1564
where was he born?
in the village of Stratford-upon-Avon in the country of England
Who were Shakespeare’s parents?
John Shakespeare and Mary Arden
Who did Shakespeare marry? what was strange about their marriage
Anne Hathaway, the marriage was unusual because she was 8 years older and pregnant.
describe the globe theatre
It was an octagonal shaped theatre with a thatched roof. The stage covered three of the sides while the seating covered the other five. The Globe Theatre seated around 2500 to 3000 people.
What year was the globe theatre built?
1599
When did Shakespeare retire
1611
when did Shakespeare die, how old was he?
Shakespeare died on April 23rd 1616 at the age of 52 years old.
What restrictions came with the plays?
a) the play and the troupe had to be licensed this meant fees
b) The inn had to be approved
c) the inn proprietor must give a guarantee regarding
the orderly behaviour of his guests
d) the actors had to give money to the poor
e) no performances could take place on Sundays
What was the first building called, when was it built?
it was called “The theatre” and was built in 1576
describe The Theatre
The Theatre was a tall circular building, the height allowed for the action to be on multiple levels. The higher level being called the “heaven” and the lower one underneath the stage being called the “hell”
what would the London city council say in order for people to not attend the plays?
a) die (of the plague)
b) robbed
c) accused of/arrested for sedition (rebellion)
d) money could be better spent elsewhere
Name the other playhouses at the time
a) The Rose
b) The Swan
c) The Curtain
d)The Fortune
e) The Blackfriars
What would the groundlings do during the play, what would this cause?
The groundlings would hiss, boo or throw objects at the actors, this resulted in actors rushing their lines and over exaggerating their actions/facial expressions.
How did the globe theatre break?
in 1613, a squib fired from a cannon during the
performance of Henry V fell on the thatched roof and the Globe burned to the ground.
What showed that Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed theatre?
- she provided money for costumes and props
- she even wrote her own plays (short)
- Shakespeare gave 32 performances at her court during her reign.
Which monarchs enjoyed and supported Shakespeare
King James I and, Queen Elizabeth I
What did the lords and ladies enjoy about Shakespeare?
poetry, complex plots and characters, allusions to
history and mythology, romance
What did the groundlings enjoy about Shakespeare?
violence, sexual innuendo, disguises, deceit/trickery,
comedy (puns)
What were Shakespeare’s companies?
First, Shakespeare’s company was known as “the
Earl of Leicester’s Men”
- In the year, 1594, "Lord Chamberlain's
Men" formed, and Shakespeare was the chief
shareholder.
- In the year, 1603, the company became known as
“The King’s Men” since King James I supported
them.
How were the plays advertised?
a) parade
b) hand out playbills.
what happened after the globe was rebuilt
- in 1614, it was rebuilt, but it was later destroyed in 1644 by the Puritans
who objected to live theatre.
when was Shakespeare married
1582
how many siblings did he have
he was the eldest of 8
