Historical & Social Context

Who was Queen of England during the time Shakespeare began to write?  Who ruled after her?  
 Queen Elizabeth 1, then Anne of Denmark (wife of James 1)

Give the approximate dates of the Elizabethan period.
 From 1533 to 1603 (the beginning of the Stuart Period) Elizabeth 1’s reign as queen

Identify the social classes during Shakespeare's time.
  King and Queen were at the top, then the Clergy, the military persons/land owners (higher middle class), citizens in Britain (etc. 3rd Estate: poorer middle class) and at the bottom were "Outsiders" (stayed out of social classes) that didn't live/born in Britain.


Describe the status of women.  How would a young woman respond to a request from her father?
Some would obey immediately without hesitation and without further discussion but some wouldn't. They were expected to obey their parents but didn't always do so. They might argue with their father/pretend to agree and do something else. In some cases, they would refuse outright. The fathers might threaten or use violence, but they might back down. They were restricted in what they could do (didn't act like in Romeo and Juliet).
 
What is primogeniture?
  Being the first born child, and if it was a son, then they would inherit the land of their father, so the other son's had to search for land for themselves. Or the dictionary definition is: the state of being the firstborn child. The right of succession belonging to the firstborn child, esp. the feudal rule by which the whole real estate of an intestate passed to the eldest son.

What was the Bubonic Plague and how did it affect society during Shakespeare's time?
The Bubonic Plague is the most common form of a plague in humans. Characterisitics of the plague are fever, delirium, and the formation of buboes. The Bubonic Plague had a huge effect during the time of Shakespeare, it killed many. Shakespeare was known to have a huge fear of the Black Death, because it effected his life in many ways. Also there was no hiding from the plague, but villages and smaller towns were less effected than London for example. Shakespeare lived in a populated area so he was more likely to be struck down by the disease. Carried by fleas!


Describe these aspects of Elizabethan life:   

-Food:   

• Varied on the wealth status.
• Saw the expanded use of sugar.
• Increased cultivation of fruit trees and bee hives was also seen, which increased the range of foods available to people.
• Great looking visually.
•  Usually purchased from small markets, or fairs.
• In London there were specific markets for different kinds of food, such as dairy, fish, bread, etc.
• Was prepared in these different ways: spit roasting, baking, boiling, smoking, salting, and fried.
• Used the same type of utensils we use today.

-Socialization:

• They always looked forward to holidays because they didn't have that much lesiure time, and that was a good time for socializing.
• Also while at the theater was a major time to socialize. 
  

-City life: 

• Varied according to the status and location.
• New ideas realized in science, literature, and all aspects of daily life.
• City life was more modernized and less relied on the seasons than village life.
  

-Hygiene:

• Rich people- one shower/bath every couple of weeks.
• Average people showered only a few times a year.
• Old wooden tub
• Next to fire places so the water would be warm.
• The water itself was dirty.
• Lye soap.
• Hair was washed separately from bath.
• Not hygienic at all.
• No running water.
• No toilets.
• No toilet paper, only used clumps of grass and or hay to wipe.
• Over populated.
• Diseases were spread easily!

    
 -Crime:

• punishment differ with class
• --upper class would often become involved in political intrigue and matters of religion 
• being accused of one of the serious crimes could result in torture
• a defendant's chances in receiving any acquittal in court was slim
• Trials were designed in favor of prosecutors vs. defendants accused any of the following crimes were not allowed legal counsel
• The most common crimes of the Nobility:
• High Treason
• Blasphemy
• Sedition
• Spying
• Rebellion
• Murder
• Witchcraft
• Alchemy 
  
  
  -Homes:

• clearly dictated by wealth 
• daily hours dictated by daylight (early to bed and early to rise)
•  architecture of New Elizabethan homes were built in distinct half-timbered, black and white styles
• interiors had separate rooms/levels
• flooring strewn with rushes usually
• wooden floors (slate or marble floors for wealthy families)
• no running water (water pumps-led to Typhoid)
• heat was produced by fires
• lighting from rush lights/candles/torches
• roofs welcomed rats and mice (Bubonic Plague)
• family life brought comfort by their homes (also death)
  

-Clothing: 

• not allowed to wear what they like (no matter wealth)
• color, fabric and material were dictated by their rank (by English Law)
• -->couldn't break clothing law, or would lose property, or fine, or worse
  

School Violence

Part 1:

I feel that the relationship between bullying and school violence is actually very large. You need to know that there's always a reason for violence, because there's a reason for everything, and a big reason why some people act out is because they think it's a way to get back at bullies. Bullying is horrible and can push someone so far down under in emotions that they feel like they can't make it. That's the reason why people lash out, it's a sign they need all the help they can get. Everywhere should be a bully-free zone but I know that can't always happen. Truthfully, I don't think that adults can do much at all to help students who are going through something very serious. Of course they should try and help as much as they can, such as asking how they're doing, offering up extra help, yelling at other students who the teachers see are tormenting the troubled child, and just offering themselves as a type of crutch, friend, or supporter to the student. School is where children spend the most of their time other than home, and it'd be nice to know there are grownups there as well that are supporting you. In a way the teachers are like the parents of school. If they notice a child is falling far down into a sort of depression they should try and help, and if that doesn't work, they should notify a family member or a guidance councilor. I got Adjustment Disorder when I had my knee surgery and it was a type of anxiety/depression, and I felt like I didn't want to get out of bed ever because there was nothing to look forward to even thought deep down I knew there was. Everyone was supporting me but it wasn't helping. If a kid goes through something they can't help, they should receive medical help right away. A way students can help other students from staying away from lashing out and even hurting others, is if they hear about it to tell an adult who they know will help, be there as a friend if you know them, and try to talk them out of it. Say that you've been there too, even if you haven't, just to give them the support they need so they can believe they will be able get out of the place they're in. Also if there are kids in your school who you notice that don't have many friends, and get picked on, but you don't want to be their friend, even a daily compliment could make someone's day 100% better because they don't receive them a lot.

Part 2:

I feel that this boy should be tried as an adult, because he is responsible for deaths of 3-5 people but it shouldn't be that he stays in jail for his whole life. Maybe being imprisoned for 25 years and then house arrest for another 20. He had a bad home life, so I do feel bad but he should never turn to murder as a way to express himself. His history was quiet but not perfect so it wasn't completely random and he posted something on facebook as a warning sign but still. He should be tried as an adult.