The Elizabethan Age

The Elizabethan Age is defined as the period from 1558 to 1603, coinciding with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This era is often referred to as a golden age in English history, marked by significant cultural and artistic developments.

Definition: The Elizabethan Age was the peak of the English Renaissance, a time of exploration and literary achievement, most notably associated with William Shakespeare.

Highlight: This period is considered the zenith of the English Renaissance, showcasing remarkable advancements in literature, drama, and the arts.

The Elizabethan Stage

The Elizabethanisches Theater evolved from earlier forms of drama, including mystery plays, miracle plays, and morality plays. Key features of Elizabethan theater include:

• The use of pageant wagons in earlier periods
• The development of purpose-built theaters with specific architectural features
• Interactive performances where actors engaged with the audience
• A stage structure that included galleries, a yard for "groundlings," and a backstage area

Vocabulary: "Groundlings" referred to the common people who stood in the yard area of the theater.

Example: The Globe Theatre, associated with Shakespeare, exemplified the structure of Elizabethan theaters with its open-air design and multi-level seating.

The Elizabethan World View 1

The Elizabethan worldview was centered around a well-ordered universe designed by God. Central to this perspective was the concept of the Great Chain of Being, which structured all of creation in a hierarchical order:

1. God at the top
2. Angels
3. Kings and Queens
4. Commoners
5. Animals
6. Plants
7. Non-living things

Definition: The Great Chain of Being was a hierarchical structure of all matter and life, believed to have been decreed by God.

Highlight: This worldview placed Earth at the center of the universe, reflecting the geocentric model prevalent at the time.

The Elizabethan World View 2

The Elizabethan world view emphasized the importance of maintaining the established order. Key aspects include:

• The belief that all elements must remain in their designated place for harmony to prevail
• The idea that attempts to disrupt this order would lead to chaos
• The concept that lower levels of existence reflected higher levels on a smaller scale
• The interpretation of insurrections, diseases, and natural disasters as signs of disturbance in the natural balance

Highlight: This worldview strongly influenced Elizabethan literature and drama, often serving as a backdrop for conflicts in plays.

The Art in Elizabethan Times

Elizabethan art was deeply influenced by Queen Elizabeth I herself. Key characteristics of art during this period include:

• Artists often used Elizabeth as inspiration for their works
• There was little distinction between popular entertainment and high art
• Lack of free speech led artists to find indirect ways to represent contemporary issues
• The use of allegory was common in artistic expression
• Writers often drew parallels between historical events and current social problems

Example: Shakespeare's historical plays often contained veiled commentary on contemporary political issues.

Vocabulary: Allegory is a form of extended metaphor in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative are equated with meanings outside the narrative itself.

Nicholas Hilliard

Nicholas Hilliard was one of the most renowned artists of the Elizabethanisches Zeitalter. His work is particularly significant for:

• Creating portraits of Elizabeth I and James I
• Being one of the few artists whose works from this period are still preserved
• His skill in miniature painting, which was highly valued in the Elizabethan court

Highlight: Hilliard's portraits of Elizabeth I are among the most iconic images of the Tudor period, helping to shape the queen's public image.

Four Humours 1

The theory of the Four Humours was a fundamental concept in Elizabethan medicine and philosophy. This theory posited that:

• Nature consists of four elements: fire, air, water, and earth
• Each element corresponds to a bodily fluid and an organ
• The four humours are yellow bile (liver), blood (heart), phlegm (brain), and black bile (spleen)
• Each humour is associated with specific personality traits: choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholic

Definition: The Four Humours theory was a system of medicine detailing the makeup and workings of the human body, believed to be correct from ancient Greek times until the advent of modern medical research.

Four Humours 2

The Four Humours theory had significant implications for Elizabethan medicine and understanding of health:

• Health (eucrasia) was believed to result from a balanced mixture of the humours
• Disease (dyscrasia) was thought to be caused by an imbalance of the humours
• Medical treatments aimed to restore balance through methods such as bloodletting, cupping, and the use of emetics, laxatives, and diaphoretics
• Natural self-healing was believed to be the primary method of recovery, with doctors supporting this process

Vocabulary: Phlebotomy refers to the practice of bloodletting, while cupping involved creating suction on the skin to draw out "bad" humours.

Highlight: This medical theory significantly influenced Elizabethan literature, with characters often described in terms of their dominant humour.

Sources

This page lists the sources used for the presentation, including YouTube videos, websites, and academic papers. It demonstrates the range of resources consulted to compile the information on the Elizabethan world picture.

Highlight: The use of diverse sources, including both digital and traditional academic resources, provides a comprehensive overview of the Elizabethan period.

Page 11: Sources Lists the academic sources used to compile the presentation information.

Highlight: The sources demonstrate thorough research into various aspects of Elizabethan culture and society.