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=**__SPORTS AND GAMES IN ELIZABETHAN TIMES__**=



As with any component of a society, the sports and games of Shakespeare's time and the Elizabethan Era in general had an inherent influence on the rest of the society, including literature. Unfortunately, many of the games created by the townspeople, especially lower-class peasants, and their unique intricacies have been lost over time, for various reasons. Perhaps one explanation is the demographic from which these games often originate. Poor townsfolk who had time away from work to spare and few resources could develop some very interesting games involving a variety of objectives. Much like playground games of today, rules were passed down orally, and not necessarily written down, especially by a population whose literacy rate varied. Despite this, dozens of games were recorded successfully, and their record remains for us to view. From bat fowling to "Dun in the Mire", countless games have been preserved through references to them in literature. (Tomecek; Dyer)

In terms of more "professional" and organized athletic competitions, there are a few sports that now serve as the archetypal example of sporting in this time period. Regrettably, probably the most well known popular games of this time are the blood sports, which could encourage negative views of the morals and respectable restraint of those involved. However, other, non-violent sports were in fact very popular, from football (soccer) to backgammon. Many of such game types are recognizable in their continued practice to this day, demonstrating their effective simplicity and adaptability over time. ("Elizabethan Sports"; Dyer)

The importance of sports and games from a literary standpoint, in any time period, is the allusions to the game in a sentence as an example to emulate a certain attitude or atmosphere. For example, Shakespeare mentions a //quintain// in a speech by Orlando in "As You Like It", who explains that:

"My better parts Are all thrown down, and that which here stands up Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block."



A quintain, being a wooden object constructed to practice jousts and stabs, represents an erected object without life, thus expressing Orlando's lost rigor. Games and related terms served as but another cultural reference that writers of the time took advantage of to convey their message, while meanwhile perpetuating the knowledge of the game itself. (Dyer)

__BLOOD SPORTS__
Blood sports are perhaps the most well known game or activity of the Elizabethan times, for their intense violence and absolute non-existent possibility of their continuance today. One variation involved a bear being tied to a stake and pitted against an onslaught of fighting dogs, a horrific example of the inhumanity of such sports. For more in-depth information on a similar topic, please see this page. (Tomecek)

__ARCHERY__
Archery has existed for thousands of years as a form of warfare, and obviously the most skilled archers would prevail, and many would become famous for their incredible skill in the art. This inspired many, from children dreaming of becoming famed war heroes to adult men who had no better way to settle disputes than claim their superiority in archery. Because of this, skilled archers would gather and compete in front of crowds, often for a prize or cash reward.("Sports and Entertainment")

Archery is alluded to countless time in Elizabethan literature, from the precision and focus of the experts to the piercing effect of arrows in the form of words or other actions. In "Romeo and Juliet", many references were made comparing the effect of the two lovers on one another as an overwhelming force. Shakespeare shows this through Mercutio, who says:

"[Romeo is] shot thorough the ear with a love-song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy's butt-shaft..."

__TEAM SPORTS__
Team sports served as a slightly less violent way of releasing energy or frustration, and could also help settle disputes that may otherwise escalate to unnecessary violence. Games such as football (unrelated to American football), soccer, and hurling were often surprisingly elaborate. Besides the incredibly violent variations of ball sports, games like hurling became competitions involving the entire male population of two villages, and took place on fields expanding over miles of country. ("Sports and Entertainment")

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 * __SOURCES__**

> Day." //Shakespeare Online//. Amanda Mabillard, 10 Sept. 2010. Web. 15 Sept. > 2010. . > . > 2010.  elizabethan-england-games-people-play-during-the-golden-era.html>. > Tomecek, Aug. 2001. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.  RecreationandSports.html>.
 * Dyer, T.F. Thistelton. "Sports and Pastimes in Popular Use in Shakespeare's
 * "Elizabethan Sports." //Elizabethan England//. N.p., 2005. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.
 * "Sports and Entertainment." //Elizabethan Era//. Ovidio Limited, 2009. Web. 16 Sept.
 * Tomecek, Jan. "Elizabethan Recreation and Sports." //The Elizabethan Age//. Jan
 * Picture sources are included in their respective caption.