Download NAME - WarwickValley

NAME _____________________
DATE _____________________
ENGLISH 9
MRS. MARTINEZ
ROMEO AND JULIET By William Shakespeare
PRE-READING: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Introduction
In order to fully understand the works of Shakespeare
it is important to gain insight into his life and the times
in which he lived. Studying Elizabethan England at
the end of the sixteenth century gives you the
information you need to appreciate the works of one of
the most famous poets and playwrights in history.
[Top of Page]
The Task

In preparation for reading Romeo and Juliet you will work in
groups to find information about the following aspects of
Shakespeare's life and times.

You will use the Web to obtain information on the following
topics AND create a POWER POINT PRESENTATION:
1.
Shakespeare's Life
Historical and Social Context
Intellectual and Religious Life of the 1500s and
1600s
The Elizabethan Theater
Medieval and Renaissance Marriage Customs
Literary Terms for Techniques Applied in
Shakespearean Works
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
You will be assigned to a group that will plan a presentation to instruct
your classmates about your particular topic of study. Your presentation
may include role playing, costumes, panel discussions, Power Point, or
any other effective method.
Your group will also be responsible for submitting three questions that
can be used on a quiz about your topic.
The Process
Group 1 Shakespeare's Life
Answer the following questions about William Shakespeare.
When and where was Shakespeare born?
Describe his upbringing and education.
What were the four types of plays he wrote?
Where were his plays performed and by whom?
Besides writing plays, what other skills made Shakespeare a
"jack of all trades?"
6. When and where did Shakespeare die?
7. Why do we still read his works today? (Hint: think of theme)
8. Use Bartlett's familiar quotations to find several famous quotes
that originated in Shakespeare's works. Mention the works
from which they come.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Life of Shakespeare
More Life of Shakespeare
Even More on Shakespeare's Life
[Top of Page]
Group 2 Historical and Social Context
Answer the following questions about events and people in the
Elizabethan Era.
1. Who was Queen of England during the time Shakespeare
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
began to write? Who ruled after her?
Give the approximate dates of the Elizabethan period.
Identify the social classes during Shakespeare's time.
Describe the status of women. How would a young woman
respond to a request from her father?
What is primogeniture?
What was the Bubonic Plague and how did it affect society
during Shakespeare's time?
Describe these aspects of Elizabethan life.
a. food
b. socialization
c. city life, hygiene, crime
d. homes
Elizabethan Period
Plague
Homes
Primogeniture
Education
[Top of Page]
Group 3 Intellectual and Religious Life
Answer the following questions about life in Elizabethan England.
1. Describe the four elements thought to compose the universe.
2. Describe the four humours and their relationship to
personality.
3. What was the relationships between humours and illnesses.
4. What type of medicine was administered and by whom was it
dispensed during this time period?
5. Describe the religious climate during this time.
6. What was considered to be the center of the universe at this
time? Who controlled it?
7. Describe the hierarchy of beings or "chain of beings" believed
in by Shakespeare and his contemporaries.
Medicine
Religion
More Medicine
Universe
Chain of Beings
[Top of Page]
Group 4 The Elizabethan Theater
1. Where were most theaters built? (in or out of the city)? Why?
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Why is the Globe Theater so famous?
What time of day did performances take place? How was the
public notified about performances?
Who played the female roles and why?
What type of scenery and props were used?
What were the costumes like?
What other skills did actors need besides acting ability?
What was the cost of standing room at the Globe?
Who was Richard Burbage?
Who were the King's Men or Chamberlain's Men?
1. Identify:





Pit
Groundling
Heavens
Trap door
Tiring house
Globe Theater
More about the Globe Theater
Actors and Actresses
Shakespeare and his theater
Still more about the Globe
[Top of Page]
Group 5 Medieval and Renaissance Marriage Customs
Answer the following questions about medieval and Renaissance
marriages.
1. Where did marriages take place during the Middle Ages?
2. Why were marriage contracts arranged?
3. Who performed the marriage ceremony?
4. What was the common age for marriage?
5. What is a betrothal?
6. What was the goal of a Renaissance wedding?
7. Describe the common wedding attire during this period.
8. Describe what foods might be served at a wedding feast.
Feasts, Attire, and Customs
More on Marriage
[Top of Page]
Group 6 Literary Terms Relating to Shakespeare
Define and give an example of each. ** Use a dictionary or other
source in addition to the Web sites.















sonnet (Shakespearean)
iambic pentameter
blank verse
soliloquy
foreshadowing
apostrophe
oxymoron
hyperbole
irony (dramatic)
irony (verbal)
allusion
motif
pun
personification
couplet
Definitions
More Definitions
[Top of Page]
_______________________________________________
Evaluation
Your presentation will receive a group grade based on the following:




Your presentation must answer all the questions your group has
been assigned.
Your answers must be accurate and complete.
You should also show some creativity and maintain the interest of
your classmates.
You will be graded on a scale of 20 points.
Your presentation is worth 15 points and your submission of three quiz
questions is worth 5 points.
[Top of Page]
Conclusion
When you have completed this assignment you should
have some insight into the Elizabethan Era. It will
further your appreciation of the works of William
Shakespeare.
[Top of Page]