English 12 / Unit 2: Shakespeare and the Renaissance
2.1 The Renaissance and Elizabethan Theater
Notes
Renaissance means "rebirth." In England it flourished in the 1500s and early 1600s under Elizabeth I (reigned 1558 to 1603) and James I (1603 to 1625).
- Humanism valued the study of classical Greek and Roman writers, human potential and education.
- Public theaters such as the Globe (built 1599) held thousands of people. Plays were performed in daylight with little scenery, so the language created the setting.
- All roles were played by men and boys. Playwrights wrote for a mixed audience, including nobles and common people ("groundlings").
- Shakespeare (1564 to 1616) wrote about 37 plays, 154 sonnets and long poems.
Practice
What does the word Renaissance mean?
The Renaissance was a "rebirth" of interest in classical learning and the arts.
Why does Shakespeare's dialogue often describe the time of day or the weather in detail?
With minimal sets and daytime performance, speeches painted the scene.
Humanism in the Renaissance emphasized:
Humanists studied classical texts and valued human achievement.
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