Social Studies – Project 4 – Review Questions

Elizabethean Society

The Elizabethan Era is the period associated with Queen Elizabeth I’s reign (1558–1603) and is often considered to be the golden age in English history. It was the height of the English Renaissance and saw the flowering of English poetry and literature.

This was also the time during which Elizabethan theatre flourished and William Shakespeare and many others, composed plays that broke free of England’s past style of plays and theatre. It was an age of exploration and expansion abroad, while back at home, the Protestant Reformation became the national mindset of all the people.

The Globe Theatre

The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, and was destroyed by fire on June 29, 1613.

A second Globe Theatre was rebuilt on the same site by June 1614 and closed in 1642. A modern reconstruction of the Globe, named “Shakespeare’s Globe”, opened in 1997. It is approximately 230 metres (750 ft) from the site of the original theatre.

Kings Chamberlain Men

The King’s Men was the company of actors to which William Shakespeare (1564–1616) belonged through most of his career. Formerly known as The Lord Chamberlain’s Men during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, it became The King’s Men in 1603 when King James ascended the throne and became the company’s patron.

The royal patent of May 19, 1603 that charters the King’s Men names the following players, in this order: Lawrence Fletcher, William Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, Augustine Phillips, John Heminges, Henry Condell, William Sly, Robert Armin, Richard Cowley, “and the rest of their associates….” The nine cited by name became Grooms of the Chamber. On March 15, 1604, each of the nine men named in the patent was supplied with four and a half yards of red cloth for the coronation procession.

Play Overview

Othello and Desdemona are two lovers who are secretly married. Iago and Roderigo are two otherts trying to win the affection of Desdemona – not knowing she’s married. Iago pays roderigo to find a way to make desdemona fall in love with him (Iago).

In the end Iago and Roderigos plan fails and Desdemona dies. When Othello finds out that Desdemona’s death was part of a plan he took revenge and killed Iago and Roderigo. Then he commits suicide as he cannot live without his wife.

Tragedies

Our play is a tradegy because it is about love and lust. Othello loves his secret wife Desdemona but so does Iago. Iago will stop at nothing to get desdemona to love him.

The reason this play is a tragedy is because in the end the couple die together as Othello accidentely kills his wife. He killed her because he thought she was cheating on him with Iago.

~ by ehab94 on August 8, 2008.