Comedies
Humorous plays that mocked people or customs
Shakespeare often used satire in his comedies to mock people and amuse the audience.
Tragedies
Serious plays with unhappy endings
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy ending in the death of the two lovers
Histories
A book by Herodotus considered the founding work of history in Western literature.
Ex: Histories told a true story of the past
Playwright
A person who writes plays
William was a fantastic playwright, with his works being famous all over the world and even read today.
Sharers
In the Elizabethan theater, a member of a company who held shares in the prompt books, costumes, and properties.
Ex: A co-founder of a company
Housekeeper Sharers
Those who had shares in the theater building but not in the scripts and costumes.
A housekeeper sharer would be like the owner of a football or soccer team, they don't actually play but they have a part in leadership.
Actor Sharers
Those who had shares in the actors but not in the scripts and costumes.
Ex: A sponsor
Buffoon
A person who often makes attempts to be funny; a clown; a fool
Ex: A buffoon would be like a rodeo clown
Groundlings
A member of a theater audience who sits in one of the cheaper seats.
ex: A Groundlings would be like the people at a sporting event who sit in the nosebleed seats because they are "cheap
Hired men
Paid weekly as actors, prompters, musicians, stagehands or wardrobe
Ex: Hired men would be people from the town the play stopped in that wanted to make some extra money for helping
Carnage
The slaughter of a great number of people, as in battle.
ex: The world wars had a lot of carnage
Stage Keeper
A stage attendant in the Elizabethan theater.
ex: A stage keeper is like the stage manager, in charge of everyone on the stage and when to go on.
Tireman
A man who attends to the attiring of another; a dresser, especially in a theater.
Ex: A tireman would be like a personal stylist.
Bookholder
Watches the script as actors rehearse to be sure they're learning lines and saying them correctly. Also prompts actors who forget lines
Ex: Your mom helping you rehearse for the kindergarten play would be like a Bookholder was in renaissance time.
Master of the Revels
Holder of a position within the English royal household.
Ex: Queen Elizabeth I would be part of the Master of the Revels.
Scrivener
A notary.
Ex: A scrivener would be like the modern day secretary
Tiring House
A area that contained the actors' dressing rooms, costume rooms, and prop rooms
Ex: This would be "backstage" where the Hiredmen would get ready and prepare
Balustrade
A railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
Ex: Stair rails are a modern example of Balustrade
Tarras
A light-colored variety of volcanic ash.
Ex: Tarras are very common in Hawaii because of all the volcanos
Globe
A spherical or rounded/ball shaped object.
Ex: A soccer ball would be considered a globe because of its rounded shape