Elizabethan Entertainment Research Paper

In the Regency Era in England, in which Pride and Prejudice is set, a rigid set of rules for etiquette and decorum in formal social settings existed. Following these rules demonstrated propriety, a genteel nature, and education—three traits that were seen as desirable; therefore, settings such as hosted balls or dinners, where one’s decorum could be displayed, were common and important functions during the Regency society. In the Regency Era, balls were one of the primary ways a lady or a gentleman could showcase her or himself and attract potential brides or husbands. Dancing was a social skill, and knowledge of the most common styles of dance was expected of every gentry member.

Elizabethan Era Wedding Traditions Romeo and Juliet did not have a public wedding do you think they still have public weddings in the Elizabethan era or were all of them private? Queen Elizabeth was the queen of England during the Elizabethan era, and people depict this time as the golden age of England. William Shakespeare lived and based most of his plays on this time era from 1558 to 1603. In the Elizabethan era the weddings consisted of big wedding receptions and exotic dishes.

The richer classes participated in fine balls, horseracing, and cockfighting while the lower classes could only have less exquisite dances and bet on the wealthy’s horses and cocks. The different aspects of colonial life interacted greatly amongst each

Elizabeth’s personal love for the arts helped the artistic life to become more fashionable and attractive for the wealthy members of the court and by their support and money, the arts could now blossom. This support allowed the arts to flourish as it did. However, Elizabeth didn’t support the artistic life only because of her love for it, it was the perfect way to lead propaganda and keeping the people calm. Theatres was also used as a tool for teach people norms and rules of the society, and that even to the illiterate in the country. She also knew that the people of England were desperate for some entertainment after years of wars, disease and poverty.

setting was social gatherings for the upper middle class and nobility where the guests performed

“Elizabethan Dining.” Mass Historia. 2018. http://walternelson.com/dr/elizabethan-feast. Accessed 9 Feb 2018.

Elizabethan culture and commercial and literature thrived. Elizabethan Era attracted criticism, censorship, and scorn from some sectors of English society. Shakespeare was the most popular play wright in America. Shakespeare attracted a broad audience across socioeconomic and ethic lines. Elizabethan sports,

The lives of those living in the Elizabethan Era was difficult, so they had to find a way to keep themselves entertained, to get their minds off of the death, disease and poverty. Festivals, fairs and banquets were all common forms of entertainment, but one stood out. Theatre was by far the most prominent, being endorsed and kept open even by the Queen and King. The plays would take place in a theatre. All theatres were different, but often used the ideal similar style of architecture.

2. The Elizabethan theater represented a great source of entertainment because it provided what people wanted: dancing, games and plays at an affordable price.

The sports, games, and pastimes of the time of Shakespeare have not just been set aside and paid no attention to, but they have been effectively abandoned and omitted. The Elizabethan hobbies have been thoroughly overshadowed by many modern sports such as baseball, football, soccer, hockey, and an abundant amount of other games. The 16th century English pastimes included many activities that were impeccable examples of both simplicity and amusement intertwined. With all of these amusing yet transparent games, the era was most acknowledged for theater- a prominent art that is still valued today. The sports, games, and pastimes of the time of Shakespeare are rarely played today because they would be considered illegal, barbarous, and

In the opening scenes, Shakespeare displays to his audience the affluent society of Illyria, where aristocracy is its major component, festivity is the social norm, and leisure is the way of life. Orsino and Olivia, elegant and wealthy members of the nobility, are at the center of people’s discussion—they seek love; Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, the rich knights ranked high in the social hierarchy, “care not for good life” (II.iii.34)—they seek pleasure. However, the Illyrian society of aristocratic customs and sense of licence is established upon the laborious work of those who are excluded from the indulgence in festivity, and whose financial ability and social status do not afford this social liberation.

William Shakespeare, Thomas Dekker, Christopher Marlowe, and Ben Jonson ruled the stage. Elizabethans had the option to either read plays at home or attend a playhouse, which Shakespeare described as “a ‘wooden O’, open to the sky, with the stage at one side of it and galleries all around” (Picard). Refreshments primarily consisted on fruits and nuts. Most of the audience stood in front of the stage. Because of the all-male casts, male actors had to play female roles.

Shakespeare has a difficult task entertaining the rowdy Elizabethan audience, especially during the exposition of the play, which sets up the entire plot. The audience needs to be engaged and invested in the play, otherwise many of the Elizabethan audience would throw food and furniture on stage or vandalize the theatre in response. Shakespeare employs a variety of techniques throughout the exposition of the play in order to do this, by creating tension between characters, introducing scandalous plots and unresolved issues right at the beginning of the play leaving the audience waiting for an answer. This essay will explore Shakespeare’s techniques and methods of engaging his Elizabethan audience.

Other physical activities such as dueling, horseback riding, and wrestling were worthy of praise; yet, the Courtier also cultivated quieter and more peaceful pursuits, and simply relished the companionship of others (don’t try to be the center of attendtion). Socially, the courtier had good table manners, danced well and not wildly, and dressed in somber colors. These courtly duties and graces, Castiglione asserted, were meant for the largely secular purpose of helping the nation--in other words, make your boss look

“In roughly built playhouses and cobblestone inn yards, an extraordinary development took place in England in the 1500s.” (Yancey, 8). At that time, an opportunity combined to produce literature achievement never before witnessed in the history of drama and theater. The renaissance, helped spark this movement by inspiring scientific and artistic creativity throughout the land. Models began writing dramas that portrayed life in both realistic and imaginative ways. This created work later captured the attention of the world that changed the English drama. The many aspects of Elizabethan theater helped to shape the acting and theater world forever.