A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S
DREAM
William Shakespeare
MAY DAY IN ENGLAND
TIDDLEY COVE MORRIS – BOWEN ISLAND
MAY DAY IN B.C.
MIDSUMMER’S EVE (SUMMER SOLSTICE)
FIRST PERFORMANCE – A WEDDING FEAST
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND –
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME
• A very optimistic, patriotic time of
change in England
• Reign of Elizabeth I
• War with Spain - victory
• Exploration and colonies in Americas
• England becomes a major sea power
• Religious reformation
ELIZABETH I
Elizabeth became Queen of England in 1558 when
her sister, Bloody Mary died. She was one of the
Tudors.
Elizabeth reigned until 1603 and was a very
popular and powerful monarch who restored order,
prosperity and national pride to England.
This portrait is known as the “Armada” portrait by
George Gower. In 1588 the English defeated the
Spanish Armada who were about to invade
England. Her hand rests on the globe, pointing
symbolically at Virginia in what is now America.
Behind her head on the left is the English fleet and
on the right is the Spanish Armada, sailing towards
its doom. The war did not end here, but it shifted
the balance of power to England, whereas Spain
never really recovered.
.
WAR WITH SPAIN – 1587-1660
• There were a number of reasons for a strong
antagonism between Spain and England during
the late 16th century. Main ideas: Religion and
fight over territory.
• First, England had broken with the church in
Rome, and discriminated against Roman Catholics
in its realm, while the Hapsburg empire, centered
in Spain, was considered a loyal defender of the
faith.
• Second, Spain had exclusive claim to the new
world, which caused much jealousy in England,
and many of the most notorious privateers and
pirates, who preyed on Spanish galleons, were
protected by England.
• Third, England had supported the ongoing
protestant rebellion in the Netherlands against
Spain.
BREAK WITH ROME – THE REFORMATION
•
Attempts to reform the Catholic Church and the development of Protestant
Churches in western Europe are known as the Reformation.
•
The Reformation began in 1517 when a German monk called Martin Luther
protested about the Catholic Church. His followers became known as
Protestants.
•
Many people and governments adopted the new Protestant ideas, while others
remained faithful to the Catholic Church. This led to a split in the Church.
• The Reformation in England
•
In England, people must have become quite confused about what
religion they were supposed to be following:
•
Henry VIII split the English Church away from the Pope, but this was an
argument about the succession and power and not a move towards
Protestantism. Henry remained a Catholic to the end of his life.
•
Edward VI was a Protestant.
•
Mary I tried to restore the Catholic Church and persecuted Protestants.
•
Elizabeth I at first tried to follow a 'middle way' in religion, but later
persecuted Catholics and by the end of her reign England was a
Protestant country.
•
The official religion of England went back and forth a couple more times.
•
For more info:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/history/tudors_stuarts/reformation/r
evision/2/
FIGHT OVER TERRITORY AND PLUNDER
• Francis Drake and Exploration
• Francis Drake was born the eldest of twelve sons to
Edmund Drake, a farmer turned preacher and his
wife Mary Mylwaye in 1540.
• In 1577, Queen Elizabeth sent Drake to perform a
circumnavigation of the world.
• In 1585 the Spanish went to war with England and
Drake, now second in command of the Navy, was sent
to the New World to cause as much damage as
possible. Drake single-handedly wiped out dozens of
Spanish battle and merchant ships, crippling a large
portion of the support navy and captured many
Spanish ports as he did so. When the Spanish
prepared to invade England, Drake was to lead the
Navy to pursue the Spanish Armada as they
approached England.
• His plundering and slave trading made him the
world’s most wanted criminal, but made him a
national hero in England
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE
• Elizabeth I sent Drake on many "voyages,"
resulting in many tons of Spanish gold and
silver. When Drake finally returned to England,
they carried a treasure trove. Elizabeth' half of
the treasure surpassed the crown's annual
income! Despite this, Elizabeth regarded
Drake's voyage as classified. She did not want
the Spanish to know she supported his efforts
against them. However, she did knight him on
April 4, 1581. Elizabeth also gave Drake a
jeweled portrait. It still survives today, known
today as the "Drake Jewel."