Elizabethan Age The Elizabethan politics and general overview of the treatment of life was very brutal in comparison

to today. In fact, if you were being charged with a severe crime, you may have to endure several types of torture. Many people were tortured to bring out other peoples names if they thought they had necessary details that they wanted. While the above sounds like a very bad time for England, it actually was not. In fact, it was a very prosperous time. While many of the laws and things stemmed down from previo us monarchs, Queen Elizabeth I did a good job of continuing on with many of the countries trade policies. The ability to trade with other countries really did help the economy as a whole. The Elizabethan's felt the impact and many people increased their wealth during this time period. Also, it is without saying that Queen Elizabeth I was a good ruler. She had great intentions. I think when you see the way she ruled, you may not always agree with what she did. She still seemed to love the country and the people inside of it. During Elizabethan times, the Queen held supreme power according to law, heredity and the doctrine of divine right; she was the primary source of patronage and had the last word on all state policy. Government was viewed as the monarch's private business and its success therefore depended greatly upon the ruler's strength of character and political acumen. First writing Venus and Adonis Shakespeare's Writing Style Shakespeare used a metrical pattern consisting of lines of unrhymed iambic pentameter, called blank verse. His plays were composed using blank verse, although there are passages in all the plays that deviate from the norm and are composed of other forms of poetry and/or simple prose. Shakespeare's sonnets are written in iambic pentameter, with the exception of Sonnet 145, which is written in iambic tetrameter. Shakespeare's style of writing and metre choice were typical of the day, and other writings of the time influenced how he structured his compositions. William Shakespear s Alleged acting experiences William Shakespeare would write many plays and would bring them to be preformed in his theater, "The Golden Globe." Back in his day, (1564 - 1616), there were no actresses; only actors. William Shakespeare was often an actor in many of his plays. Shakespeare's Plays Tragedies Antony and Cleopatra The story of Mark Antony, Roman military leader and triumvir, who is madly in love with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt Hamlet Since its first recorded production, Hamlet has engrossed playgoers, thrilled readers, and challenged actors more so than any other play in the Western canon. No other single work of fiction has produced more commonly used expressions. Julius Caesar Although there were earlier Elizabethan plays on the subject of Julius Caesar and his turbulent rule, Shakespeare's penetrating study of political life in ancient Rome is the only version to recount the demise of Brutus and the other conspirators. Macbeth Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most stimulating and popular dramas. Renaissance records of Shakespeare's plays in performance are scarce, but a detailed account of an original production of Macbethhas survived, thanks to Dr. Simon Forman.

Othello Othello, a valiant Moorish general in the service of Venice, falls prey to the devious schemes of his false friend, Iago. Romeo and Juliet Celebrated for the radiance of its lyric poetry, Romeo and Juliet was tremendously popular from its first performance. The sweet whispers shared by young Tudor lovers throughout the realm were often referred to as "naught but pure Romeo and Juliet." Histories Henry IV, Part I Henry IV, Part II Henry V Henry VI, Part I Henry VI, Part II Henry VI, Part III Comedies Henry VIII King John Richard II Richard III

All's Well That Ends Well Modern scholars contend that this is a 'problem' play, due primarily to the character Helena and her ambiguous nature. Is she a virtuous lady or a crafty temptress? As You Like It As You Like It is considered by many to be one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies, and the heroine, Rosalind, is praised as one of his most inspiring characters. The Comedy of Errors This is Shakespeare's shortest play, which he based on Menaechmi by Plautus. Cymbeline This play, modeled after Boccaccio's Decameron, is often classified as a romance. It features the beautiful Imogen, considered Love's Labours Lost Love's Labours Lost fell out of favor for many years, criticized by scholars as muddled and confusing. But the play is making a comeback, and Kenneth Branagh's version has helped it along. Measure for Measure Considered a "dark" comedy, Measure for Measure was inspired by Cinthio's Epitia and Whetstone's Promos and Cassandra. The Merry Wives of Windsor The Merry Wives is unique amongst Shakespeare's plays because it is set in Shakespeare's England. It features the Bard's beloved character, Falstaff. The Merchant of Venice The character of Shylock has raised a debate over whether the play should be condemned as anti-Semitic, and this controversy has overshadowed many other aspects of the play. A Midsummer Night's Dream A magical exploration of the mysteries of love, and one of Shakespeare's best-known comedies. Much Ado About Nothing The story of two very different sets of lovers, Beatrice and Benedick and Claudio and Hero. The witty banter between Beatrice and Benedick is the highlight of the play. Pericles, Prince of Tyre Although the first half of the play is considered inadequate, Pericles is ripe with imagery and symbolism. The Taming of the Shrew The Taming of the Shrew revolves around the troubled relationship between Katharina and her suitor, Petruchio, who is determined to mold Katharina into a suitable wife.