English Renaissance Research Topics
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From the Elizabethan Era to Today
For this research assignment, you must first choose a topic. From the list below, rate your six top topic choices. Put a 1 to the left of your first choice, 2 next to your second choice, and so on through your sixth top choice. Notice the focus of each topic as this is upon what your research assignment must focus. I will do my best to give you one of your top six picks.
Queen Elizabeth I’s life and reign – You will explore the life (birth, childhood, family, death, etc.) and rule (becoming queen and ruling England) of this monarch of England during the 1500 and 1600’s. You must also connect her experiences, her decisions, her life to something in the modern day. (cause and effect)
Elizabethan politics – Uncover the political structure, events, situation of London, England and Europe under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I during the 1500-1600’s. You must connect the politics of that time to modern day. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Everyday city life in London, England during the time of the Renaissance – Explore the daily lives of Londoners in the 1500-1600’s. Think about what people do on a usual day and discover how people of this time period spent their days. You might think about how they live, work, play, etc. Remember that there were low class people and upper class, or nobility. Compare and contrast the everyday of that time period to today.
Elizabethan Theater (show business)– Discover the theater of England during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, 1500-1600’s. This Renaissance time was rich in traveling troupes and madrigals, actors in established theaters and those who traveled. Connect the theatrical arts of that time to today. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
William Shakespeare’s life and accomplishments – Find out about the life (birth, childhood, family, death, etc.) and the accomplishments of this renowned Elizabethan Era poet and playwright. You must also connect him to something in the modern day. (cause and effect)
The Globe Theater (an actual building where plays were put on)– Investigate this unique theater that was established in Shakespeare’s time. Uncover its role in the theater of the Elizabethan Era. Connect this particular theater to present day. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Shakespearean tragedy and tragic heroes – Explore this type of writing by William Shakespeare, what makes a tragedy and what the characteristics of a tragic hero are. Which of his writings fit the definition of tragedy and who are his tragic heroes? Connect his writing of this genre to modern day. (cause and effect)
Fashion of the 1500-1600’s in England –What did people of the Elizabethan Era of the 1500-1600’s in England wear? male/female, child/adult, wealthy/poor. Connect this attire to modern day. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
The Elizabethan view of the universe (science) – Discover how people in the Elizabethan Era of England, 1500-1600’s, saw the universe. Uncover their ideas in science and the scientists who came up with these ideas. Connect these ideas to modern day. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
The four humors/psychology and physiology – Find out about the physical and emotional categories that people were grouped into in the 1500-1600’s of the Elizabethan Era, that were supposed indication of their mental and physical health and characteristics. Connect these medical and psychological ideas to modern day. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast).
Sports, hunting, and gaming of Elizabethan England – Explore the athletics of the 1500-1600’s of England. What did these people do in their spare time to entertain themselves and others? Look into events such as bearbaiting, bull baiting, jousting, bowling, and many other hobbies. Compare and contrast these to today.
Courting and marriage customs – What were the customs and practices of a couple leading up to and at their marriage? To whom did people marry, for what reasons, what customs were followed? Consider both lower class and upper class people and their situations. Compare and contrast these events to today and/or discover what from the past are still customs today.
The role of the church and religion – Uncover the importance of the church and religion in the 1500-1600’s in England under Queen Elizabeth I’s rule. Connect the church and religion of that era to modern times. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Masques and masquerades – These parties and entertainments were all the rage in the upper class social circles of the 1500-1600’s Elizabethan Era. Uncover what an event like this was like, who was there, what they did, and why? (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Music of the Elizabethan Era – Music was an important part of the Renaissance in England under Queen Elizabeth I. Who were the important musicians, what was the music like, why and when was it played, and what were the instruments they played? Connect music of that time to music today. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Poetry of the Elizabethan Era – Poetry was an important part of the Renaissance in England under Queen Elizabeth I. What kinds of poems were written? What or who were they written for? Who were the well-known poets? Connect poetry of then to what we have today. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
The Black Death/ the plague – Focus on the destruction that this highly contagious and mysterious disease caused people in the 1500-1600’s. Discover the causes, how it was transmitted, the fear it caused, and how it was treated. Connect that disease with what we have today. (cause and effect)
Disease and medicine – Look at the general diseases and medical treatments of the 1500-1600’s in London, England. What were the common ailments that people contracted, what were the causes behind them, who treated their illnesses, and what were the medical treatments? Compare and contrast the diseases and medicine of that time with those of today.
Schools and education – In the 1500-1600’s in England, who went to school, what was a school day like, why did they go to school, and what did they study? Compare and contrast those students’ experiences with students today.
Crime and punishment – Who was committing the crimes in England in the 1500-1600’s? What kinds of crimes were they committing and how were they being punished? Compare and contrast the crimes and punishment of that era with those of today.
Arms and armory/weaponry - Wars and warriors of 1500-1600 England were very different from those of today. How were wars fought and what armory or weapons were used by the soldiers? Connect that time period to modern day war and weaponry. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
The role of women – What roles did women fill in society in the 1500-1600’s of Elizabethan England? The Queen was a woman, but what about the rest of the females? What jobs did they have? What were their rights? Compare and contrast women of that time period with those of today.
The social classes – Explore the different levels of social class in the 1500-1600’s of England. Who were the peasants, the commoners, the lower class? Who made up the gentry? Who were the courtiers? Who were the nobility, and, of course, the royalty? What were the rights of each of these different levels? What were their lives like? Connect the social classes of that time to today. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Feel free to propose a topic you do not see on this list. Make sure you receive approval from me before you begin!
From the Elizabethan Era to Today
For this research assignment, you must first choose a topic. From the list below, rate your six top topic choices. Put a 1 to the left of your first choice, 2 next to your second choice, and so on through your sixth top choice. Notice the focus of each topic as this is upon what your research assignment must focus. I will do my best to give you one of your top six picks.
Queen Elizabeth I’s life and reign – You will explore the life (birth, childhood, family, death, etc.) and rule (becoming queen and ruling England) of this monarch of England during the 1500 and 1600’s. You must also connect her experiences, her decisions, her life to something in the modern day. (cause and effect)
Elizabethan politics – Uncover the political structure, events, situation of London, England and Europe under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I during the 1500-1600’s. You must connect the politics of that time to modern day. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Everyday city life in London, England during the time of the Renaissance – Explore the daily lives of Londoners in the 1500-1600’s. Think about what people do on a usual day and discover how people of this time period spent their days. You might think about how they live, work, play, etc. Remember that there were low class people and upper class, or nobility. Compare and contrast the everyday of that time period to today.
Elizabethan Theater (show business)– Discover the theater of England during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, 1500-1600’s. This Renaissance time was rich in traveling troupes and madrigals, actors in established theaters and those who traveled. Connect the theatrical arts of that time to today. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
William Shakespeare’s life and accomplishments – Find out about the life (birth, childhood, family, death, etc.) and the accomplishments of this renowned Elizabethan Era poet and playwright. You must also connect him to something in the modern day. (cause and effect)
The Globe Theater (an actual building where plays were put on)– Investigate this unique theater that was established in Shakespeare’s time. Uncover its role in the theater of the Elizabethan Era. Connect this particular theater to present day. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Shakespearean tragedy and tragic heroes – Explore this type of writing by William Shakespeare, what makes a tragedy and what the characteristics of a tragic hero are. Which of his writings fit the definition of tragedy and who are his tragic heroes? Connect his writing of this genre to modern day. (cause and effect)
Fashion of the 1500-1600’s in England –What did people of the Elizabethan Era of the 1500-1600’s in England wear? male/female, child/adult, wealthy/poor. Connect this attire to modern day. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
The Elizabethan view of the universe (science) – Discover how people in the Elizabethan Era of England, 1500-1600’s, saw the universe. Uncover their ideas in science and the scientists who came up with these ideas. Connect these ideas to modern day. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
The four humors/psychology and physiology – Find out about the physical and emotional categories that people were grouped into in the 1500-1600’s of the Elizabethan Era, that were supposed indication of their mental and physical health and characteristics. Connect these medical and psychological ideas to modern day. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast).
Sports, hunting, and gaming of Elizabethan England – Explore the athletics of the 1500-1600’s of England. What did these people do in their spare time to entertain themselves and others? Look into events such as bearbaiting, bull baiting, jousting, bowling, and many other hobbies. Compare and contrast these to today.
Courting and marriage customs – What were the customs and practices of a couple leading up to and at their marriage? To whom did people marry, for what reasons, what customs were followed? Consider both lower class and upper class people and their situations. Compare and contrast these events to today and/or discover what from the past are still customs today.
The role of the church and religion – Uncover the importance of the church and religion in the 1500-1600’s in England under Queen Elizabeth I’s rule. Connect the church and religion of that era to modern times. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Masques and masquerades – These parties and entertainments were all the rage in the upper class social circles of the 1500-1600’s Elizabethan Era. Uncover what an event like this was like, who was there, what they did, and why? (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Music of the Elizabethan Era – Music was an important part of the Renaissance in England under Queen Elizabeth I. Who were the important musicians, what was the music like, why and when was it played, and what were the instruments they played? Connect music of that time to music today. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Poetry of the Elizabethan Era – Poetry was an important part of the Renaissance in England under Queen Elizabeth I. What kinds of poems were written? What or who were they written for? Who were the well-known poets? Connect poetry of then to what we have today. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
The Black Death/ the plague – Focus on the destruction that this highly contagious and mysterious disease caused people in the 1500-1600’s. Discover the causes, how it was transmitted, the fear it caused, and how it was treated. Connect that disease with what we have today. (cause and effect)
Disease and medicine – Look at the general diseases and medical treatments of the 1500-1600’s in London, England. What were the common ailments that people contracted, what were the causes behind them, who treated their illnesses, and what were the medical treatments? Compare and contrast the diseases and medicine of that time with those of today.
Schools and education – In the 1500-1600’s in England, who went to school, what was a school day like, why did they go to school, and what did they study? Compare and contrast those students’ experiences with students today.
Crime and punishment – Who was committing the crimes in England in the 1500-1600’s? What kinds of crimes were they committing and how were they being punished? Compare and contrast the crimes and punishment of that era with those of today.
Arms and armory/weaponry - Wars and warriors of 1500-1600 England were very different from those of today. How were wars fought and what armory or weapons were used by the soldiers? Connect that time period to modern day war and weaponry. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
The role of women – What roles did women fill in society in the 1500-1600’s of Elizabethan England? The Queen was a woman, but what about the rest of the females? What jobs did they have? What were their rights? Compare and contrast women of that time period with those of today.
The social classes – Explore the different levels of social class in the 1500-1600’s of England. Who were the peasants, the commoners, the lower class? Who made up the gentry? Who were the courtiers? Who were the nobility, and, of course, the royalty? What were the rights of each of these different levels? What were their lives like? Connect the social classes of that time to today. (can be cause and effect or compare and contrast)
Feel free to propose a topic you do not see on this list. Make sure you receive approval from me before you begin!