english

=Emily B. - English 8-3........SHAKESPEARE COMPENDIUM (also on the Wiki) =

=What Was the London Bridge and What Role Did it Play in Elizabethan England? = //Answer prepared by Emily B.//  The London Bridge is probably the most famous bridge ever built. The Romans first constructed it in order to cross the River Thames around 43 AD. During its life, the bridge was rebuilt several times. In 1176, when the London Bridge was built under the direction of Peter Colechurch, it was the first stone bridge ever built. This design appeared to be very durable. According to Elizabethan-Era.org, “Completed in 1209, this new London Bridge took 33 years to build and lasted more than 600 years.” However, the Great Fire of 1666 burned it down. It was then rebuilt on stone arches in order to support stores, chapels and houses, making it look more like a busy street than a bridge. This bridge was exceedingly significant, not just by its appearance, but because it served many purposes as well. The London Bridge was of very high importance to the Elizabethans, and one of the most striking features of their city. London was only a few square miles; many people and buildings were crammed into such a small area and confined by the surrounding city walls. The mighty river Thames separated London from the town of Southwark. As described by the book Tudor England, “Southwark was a bustling suburb, new buildings springing up everywhere…surrounded by fields of cattle and sheep.” (39). There was only one physical connection between the people of London to Southwark and neighboring towns across the wide river Thames, the world famous London Bridge. London was a very popular destination for travelers in Elizabethan times. Hundreds would flock to the city each day, making the congestion heavier. The London Bridge was the standard way travelers would get across the Thames on their way to and from the city. Although the bridge was very popular, not everyone preferred taking the London Bridge. According to the book called Understanding Shakespeare’s England by Jo McMurty, “watermen, England’s equivalent of taxi drivers, took fares across the river. Many preferred this method to crossing by foot on the London Bridge” (96). But no amount of watermen could compete with the many other benefits of the London Bridge. The Bridge played an important role in commerce because it served as a quick and easy route for trade. During the Elizabethan period, England was an international trade center; more than 90 percent of the country’s overseas trade was done from London. Modern historian A.L. Rouse states, “London’s prominence in trade surpassed that of all the rest of the leading towns together.” (Elizabethan England, pg. 25) Merchants would file into the many ports on or near the Bridge, making trading simpler. For hundreds of years, the London Bridge was key to life in and around the city. Serving many purposes from travel to trade, the London Bridge was a critical asset to Londoners before, during, and after the Elizabethan period.

Click [|HERE] for a virtual tour of the London Bridge as it might have looked in the 1600s!
 =Works Cited: = Lace, William W.. Elizabethan England. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books, 1995.

McMurty, Jo. Understanding Shakespeare's England. Hamden, Conneticut: Archon Books, 1989.

Shellard, Dominic. William Shakespeare. London: The British Library, 1998.

Tudor England, London: Mashall Cavendish Books, 1994

London Bridge Pic: http://www.translating-william-shakespeare.com/image-files/shakespeare_london.gif

=What Were Common Forms of Architecture and Interior Decoration in Elizabethan England?=

//Prepared by Emily B.//

Architecture is the most visible expression of Elizabethan art remaining today. Until Elizabeth’s reign, there had been no architects. However, during that time, exterior and interior design became quickly widespread in England. During the Elizabethan Era, the Renaissance style of architecture was most common. According to "First Renaissance style architecture in England” on Elizabethan-Era.org, “the Renaissance style is very symmetrical. The symmetry was displayed in architecture by putting emphasis on a vertical rather than horizontal line.” William Lace states in the book Elizabethan England that “the upper gentry held most of this new architecture mania.” (87). Renaissance upper class houses featured stone and expensive bricks for durability and appearance. There was also a distinctive Elizabethan style in the palaces & homes of the very wealthy. Lace says that “it was not based off the Greeks or Romans, but purely their own.” (88). Before this unique Elizabethan style, the manor was constructed by means of protection, castle-like and forbidding. The distinguishing features of the new Elizabethan manor house were a low, square shape with high windows. “The Englishman’s home no longer had to look like a castle.” G. W. O Woodward states in the book, 16th Century England in regard to the reformation of the manor house. These new ideas became an architectural breakthrough. The architecture of middle class houses was similar to the traditional medieval style. Elizabethan houses were framed with upright, vertical timbers. Diagonal timbers often supported these vertical timbers. We call this style of house the Tudor. The page "Tudor Style” on Elizabethan-Era.org, describes this style, “The Tudor walls were daubed with mortar (a cement mixture) and whitewash (white paint).” Other features of the Tudor house were high chimneys, overhanging first floors, pillared porches, dormer windows (windows that stick out of a roof and have a roof of their own) and thatched roofs (roofs made with plant material like straw). All of these features gave Elizabethan architecture its striking effects. Tudor houses are also common in neighborhoods today! The interior designs of Elizabethan houses also follow the same Renaissance design. One common feature of Elizabethan homes was marble floors. Churches and castles also boasted these wonderful marble floors as well. Another characteristic of the Renaissance period was an interest in astrology. According to Elizabethan-Era.org, “This interest was reflected in the architecture by having large clocks in most households.” Finally, another popular aspect of Elizabethan interior decoration was oak paneling. Oak paneling was common in upper and middle class homes. Fancier establishments would often have Italian-inspired intricate arches and framework made of oak. The Elizabethans took architecture as seriously as they would take art. The architecture of public theaters was also noteworthy. In the book called Shakespeare’s England, author Jo McMurty states, “The theater in Elizabethan England was so popular that specialized theatres had to be built to cope with the large audiences.” (67). This is when the amphitheater (an outdoor theater) was created. Amphitheaters were open to the sky and constructed of oak wood. Fancier amphitheaters had intricate paneling and engravings on the stage or its sides. Before this, plays were being held in grape cellars and old farmhouses, which did not provide a large enough venue than they needed. From new building materials to new styles of houses, architecture was a unique and thriving form of expression during Elizabethan England. If you want a first-hand experience with this famous Elizabethan architecture and interior design, you can still visit places such as Westminster Abbey, which are examples of what architecture was like in Elizabethan times.