1. English 2034 Renaissance & Shakespeare

2. Roots of the Renaissance
1348: The Black Plague kills about 1/3 of European citizens.
Early 1400s: Gutenberg's printing press begins to produce books.
1453: The Eastern Roman Empire ends as Muslim Turks occupy Constantinople (Istanbul).
1470: Leonardo da Vinci begins work as a professional artist in Florence as the Italian Renaissance gathers pace.
1492: Columbus discovers America.

3. The Renaissance
A flow of new humanist ideas and newly-found Roman ideas and technology flows into Europe via Byzantine scholars and the printing press. Beginning in Italy around 1400, the “rebirth” of society flowers.
England: Growing naval power and confidence, especially after the Spanish Armada is defeated (1588), brings a “golden age” to England.
Elizabeth I
The rise of London in dialect, power, and culture
The growth of capitalism and urbanization with increasing trade

4. Medieval Mystery / Miracle Plays (1400s-1500s)
- Grew out of church skits about biblical narratives
- Performed by amateurs, but sometimes touring actors
- Performed in churchyards or public areas
- Religious themes, but often rough humor or jokes
- Their growth leads to ticketed, private, secular plays
- Best known is Everyman (c. 1510)

5. William Shakespeare Widely considered the greatest writer in the English language - Author of 38 plays and 154 sonnet poems - From Stratford-upon-Avon

7. - Son of an alderman and glove maker - Married Anne Hathaway at 18; three children - Moved to London around Member of a playing company; part owner of the Globe theater

8. Did Walt Disney “write” Snow White, Cinderella, or Beauty & the Beast?
Did he write his own plays? - About 40 historical documents describing him - Few medieval plays or stories were ‘invented.’ Most had traditional origins
Did Walt Disney “write” Snow White, Cinderella, or Beauty & the Beast?

9. Shakespeare’s 14th great-niece, Suzana Shakespeare (February 2014)
Shakespeare’s 14th great-niece, Suzana Shakespeare (February 2014). They live in Stratford.

10. The Globe (Replica). Theaters were first built in 1575.

11. An Elizabethan Theatre

12. An Elizabethan Audience
Typically 3 tiers
Capacity
Little artificial light
Noisy and not always sober!

13. Many of the stage and acting conventions of a Shakespearean play are still done today.