ACS Cobham Middle School Library

ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

A very specific hierarchy of people existed in society.

(You could not move between social classes.)

This was connected to land ownership.

THE MIDDLE AGES

“Status went hand in hand with political influence, social privilege, and cultural

prestige.” (Singman, Daily Life in Elizabethan England, 1995, p.

10)

• A time of Renaissance in England.• Many contrast. • Named after Queen Elizabeth I.

QUEEN ELIZABETH I (“GLORIANA”)

“[The Queen] was striking rather than beautiful, with red-gold hair, pale complexion and a curved nose. She had her mother’s oval face and dark eyes and, as with her father, her looks faded early. She did not become bloated like him, but thin; her cheeks fell in, making her nose more prominent, and her teeth became black through eating too many sweet things. At 30, she caught smallpox and probably lost her hair, for thereafter she always wore a bright red wig.”

1. Monarchy—A Divine Right2. Nobleman/Gentleman—Did not

necessarily need an income to live. Military. Professionals. Could be born outside.)

3. Citizens/Yeomen—Middle Class. Tradesmen, Craftsmen, Farmers (in country)

4. Servants/Labourers—Unskilled workers.5. Poor/Homeless/Beggars/Disabled.

CLASSES

• Women had no social standing AT ALL!

• Got social status from their fathers or husbands if they were married.

• Managing the home and family was the ONLY role.

ROLE OF WOMEN

• Women were required to marry. “Let wives be subject to their husbands.”

• Single women were regarded suspiciously and could be accused of being witches.

• Girls only had to be 12 years old to get married. Boys, 14.

• People didn’t marry for love.

MARRIAGE

Examples of Elizabethan wedding ringshttp://www.gutenberg.org/files/34845/34845-h/34845-h.htm

Elizabethan Sumptuary LawsUsed to control behaviour in society and to

ensure that the class system was maintained. These were very well known by EVERYONE!

Penalties for breaking the laws were harsh and included: fines, loss of property, loss of

title and even DEATH!

CLOTHING

• Huge collars (or “ruffs”)• Long capes• Hoopskirts• Very pale (white) skin• “Peascod [stuffed] belly”• Men’s tights• Trunk hose (padded

shorts for men)

FASHION

QUICK FACT…Favourite colours

were…pease porridge,

horseflesh, puke brown AND

GOOSE-TURD GREEN!!

Stewart, Gail B. Life in Elizabethan London. London: Lucent, 2003.

• There were three main food groups: meat, bread & BEER!

• Water was often undrinkable. • Fish was commonly eaten.• Potatoes became popular and

people began eating vegetables (“herbs”).

• Jams and jellies were very popular.

FOOD

Elizabethan Beer Tankard Reproduction

FACT: Kitchens would get so hot that the chefs worked NAKED!

• GOING TO THE THEATRE!! People from every social caste went to the theatre regularly.

• Music—almost every home had at least one instrument (usually stringed). Singing after dinner was also quite commonplace.

• Dancing• Blood sports—Bears & Dog

fighting• Rough sports—Wrestling &

FOOTIE (“a bloody & murdering practice”

ENTERTAINMENT

• Charms to ward off evil spirits (horseshoe over door).

• Astrology (cycles of planets & stars).

• Fairies, ghosts, witches.

SUPERSTITIONS & WITCHCRAFT

Painting of Romeo & Juliet from the Royal Shakespeare Company Collection http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/romeo-and-juliet-act-ii-scene-4-romeo-and-juliet-with-fria54889

Despair and die. Despair and die” Chant, Richard III, Shakespeare

Stewart, Gail B. Life in Elizabethan London. London: Lucent, 2003.

Unstead, R.J. Living in the Elizabethan Court. London: A & C Black, 1974.

http://elizabethan.org/sumptuary/who-wears-what.html Accessed 31 Jan 2014.

Papp, Joseph, and Elizabeth Kirkland. "Superstition, Folklore, and Astrology in Shakespeare's Time." EXPLORING Shakespeare. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context. Web. 31 Jan. 2014.

SOURCES