- The Elizabethan/Jacobean world view
- The Divine Right to Rule
- The state of England under Elizabeth I and James I
- Shakespeare’s education and additional plays
The Elizabethan/Jacobean world view
Describes the world view of the English society while Queen Elizabeth 1 reigned in the middle of the 16th century and King James VI of Scotland and England. They believed that everything had a place in the chain.
The Elizabethan world view refers to the great chain of being.
The great chain of being is:
1. God
2. Royals
3. Nobels
4. Common people
5. Animals
6. Plants
The great chain of being is important in the Elizabethan world view as it is the order for everything in the universe.
The Divine Right to Rule
The divine right to rule refers to, the divine right or Gods mandate is a political and religious royal and political legitimacy. It appears that a monarch is subject to no higher authority leaving them to rule from the direct will of god. Kings and Queens have a god-given right to rule and that rebellion against them is a sin. This belief was a common through the 17th century.
The state of England under Elizabeth I and James I
Elizabeth was the Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. Both Elizabeth and Mary had strong claims to the throne however Elizabeth ruled England and established the Protestant church in England or which she became the supreme governor. James I was the successor of Elizabeth he was the son of Mary Queen of Scots.
Shakespeare’s education and additional plays
Shakespeare completed on seven years of formal education finishing when he was 14. He went to a college, King Edward VI school, Stratford upon Avon. He primarily studied studied latin although had some lessons in english latin.
Shakespeare is responsible for some of the best plays and poems written in the english language.
There are four types of Shakespeare plays:
– Comedy
– History
– Tragedy
– Romance
His most well known work includes:
– Romeo & Juliet
– Macbeth
– A Midsummers Dream
– Hamlet
– The Tempest
Summary of how these topics have played a part in King Lear
King Lear the play is set in the time period of the Elizabethan world view. It follows the great chain of being which helps us to understand aspects of King Lear in the way that they value things.
The divine right to rule helps us to understand aspects of King Lear as those who believe they have the divine right to rule will fight for their place to rule and do horrible things to rule.
King Lear is set in England under Elizabethan rule. Elizabeth established the Protestant church in England which is why in King Lear only God is referred to rather than a pope which people following catholic religion would refer to as their next point of a higher power. The great chain of being would not work with a catholic religion but helps build hierarchy within the Protestant church.
Shakespeare’s plays fall under four topics. King Lear falls under the topic of tragedy which helps us understand and highlight the significant parts of the play.
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