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威廉·莎士比亚 人物简介莎士比亚（W. William Shakespeare ；1564～1616）英国文艺复兴时期伟大的剧作家、诗人，欧洲文艺复兴时期人文主义文学的集大成者。
中文名： 威廉·莎士比亚 外文名： W. William Shakespeare 国籍： 英国出生地： 英格兰沃里克郡斯特拉福镇 出生日期：1564年4月23日 逝世日期： 1616年5月3日 职业： 剧作家，诗人，演员代表作品： 四大悲剧《哈姆雷特》《奥赛罗》《李尔王》《麦克白》William Shakespeare(1564-1616) is one of the most remarkableplaywrights and poets the world has ever known. With his 38 plays,154 sonnets and 2 long poems, he has established his giant position in world literature. He has also been given the highest praises by various scholars and critics the world over. In the past four hundred years or so, books and essays on Shakespeare and his works have kept coming out in large quantities.Shakekspeare went to London which afforded a wonderful enviroment for the development of drama. Shakespeare worked both as actor and playwright. He acted and wrote for the Lord Chamberlain's Men, which was later renamed the King's Men. Shakespeare established himself so well as a playwright that Robert Greene, one of the “University Wits”, resentfully declared him to be 'an upstart crow'.From about 1591 to about 1611, Shakespeare was in the prime of his dramatic career and his plays came out one after another. Shakespeare did not confine his genius merely to the theater. In 1593 and 1594, he published two narative poems, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece , both of which were dedicated to the Earl of Southampton. He also wrote sonnets, which were published in 1609. By 1597, Shakespeare was so prosperous that he bought the largest house in Stratford, known as New Place. About 1610 Shakespeare left London and retired to Stratford, though he continued to write for some time. He died on April 23,1616.As the precise dates of many of Shakespeare's plays are still in doubt, critics hold different views to the division of his dramatic career. But generally his dramatic career is divided into four periods.The first period of shakespeare's dramatic career was one of apprenticeship. He wrote five history plays:Henry VI ,Parts I,II,and III,Richard III , and Titus Andronicus ; and four comedies: The Comedy of Errors , The Two Gentlemen of Verona , The Taming of the Shrew , and Love's Labour's Lost .In the second period, Shakespeare's style and approach became highly individualized. By constructing a complex pattern between diferent characters and between appearance and reality, Shakespeare made subtle comments on a variety of human foibles. In this Period he wrote five histories:Richard II, KingJohn, Henry IV, Parts I and II, and Henry V, six comedies: A MidsummerNight's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, and The Merry Wives of Windsor; and Two tragedies:Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar.Shakespeare's third period includes his greatest tragedies and his so-called dark comedies.The tragedies of this period are Hamlet,Othello,KingLear,Macbeth,Antony and Cleopatra,Troilus and Cressida,and Coriolanus.The two comedies are All's Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure.The last period of shakespeare's work includes his principle romantic tragicomedies:Pericles,Cymbeline,The Winter's Tale and The Tempest;and his two final plays:Henry VIII and The Two Noble Kinsmen.Shakespeare's greatest tragedies are :Hamlet,Othello,King Lear,and Macbeth.（This text is only used for non-commercial purpose.You have to have special permission to reprint this article,reproduction of material without witten permission is strictly prohibited.Contact me for permission to copy this article.This article or section may be inaccurate ,hope more experts can make comments on it.William Shakespeare was a writer of plays and poems. Some of his most famous plays are Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. He was born in 1564 in England.At school he liked watching plays. He decided to be an actor when he finished school at the age of fourteen. He married in 1582 and had three children.At the age of twenty-eight he moved to London and joined a theater company. He became a successful actor and started writing plays. Queen Elizabeth I(伊丽莎白) enjoyed Shakespeare's play.In 1599 the company opened the Globe Theatre on the River Thames(泰晤士河) in London. You can go to the River Thames and Globe Theater in London today.William Shakespeare died at the age of fifty-two. He was rich and successful. You can still see his plays in English and many other languages.He is one of the most famous writers in the world.莎士比亚的代表作有四大悲剧：《哈姆雷特》(英：Hamlet)、《奥赛罗》（英：Othello)、《李尔王》（英：King Lear）、《麦克白》（英：Macbeth）。
1. this is a historical film2. Elizabeth Ⅰ,a great queen 3. many smart sentences 4. not quickly, we can follow it1. When Elizabeth became the queen of England, there were contradictions between Spain and England. At that time, England pirates(海盗) often robbed the Spanish trade ships for gold and other goods, which threatened the marine benefit of Spain. In addition, there was a conflict between the two countries’ religion. Spain was a Catholicism(天主教的)country, however, Elizabeth preferred England to be a Protestantism(新教的) country.2. What made the matter worse was that Elizabeth, as the queen of England, indulged(放纵) the piracy. This made the Spanish king very angry, and it aggravated(加剧) the contradiction between these two countries. It was clear to Spanish king that England, as a thriving(繁荣的) country, was becoming more and more strong, and it began to threaten the leader place of Spain. Therefore, the only solution was to defeat England before it grew strong enough to surpass Spain. At that time, Spanish king was waiting, waiting for a proper excuse to start an inevitable war.3.Then the excuse came. Mary Stuart, as the queen of Scotland and a Catholic(天主教徒), planned to murder Elizabeth. After the plan was failed, she was killed according to the English law. The death of Mary Stuart became the direct reason of the war between Spain and England.4.England, at that time was not as strong as Spain, but due to the encouragement from their queen and the determination to protect their homeland, English people showed the amazing intelligence in the war, and finally, England won the war.5.Henceforth, Spain faded out the main stage of history little by little. In contrast, England , leading by their great queen——Elizabeth, went into its golden age step by step……1. Elizabeth I, became the queen of England in her 25s, she put a ring on her finger as she began to rule the country. It means she had married herself to England.2. She is known as the virgin queen, kept unmarried all her life. She used her marriage as a tool to protect her land and gain more advantage for it.3. In her life maybe someone recalled the feeling of love in her heart, however, the queen‘s love was destined(注定的) to yield from the benefit of her land, she had to give up her own love painfully.4. The queen regarded her people as her children and totally devoted herself to the construction and development of England. It was Elizabeth who pushed England to the golden age.ElizabethⅠElizabeth throgmortonBessWalter RaleighPhilipⅡMary StuartI am called the virgin queen, unmarried. I have no master, childless. I am mother to my people. God give me strength to bear this mighty freedom. I am your queen, I am myself.。
三、The Pre-Elizabethan Period前伊丽莎白时期The150years between the death of Chaucer and the ascension of Queen Elizabeth I was a very important period in history.Humanism as a movement came into existence.①Thomas More托马斯·莫尔Utopia consists of two books with emphasis on Book II in which the Utopian weal republic is described in detail.重点是详细描写理想国的第二卷。
Book I is written in the form of a dialogue between More and a traveler by the name of Rapael Hythloday.莫尔和拉斐尔·希斯洛德的旅行者之间的对话。
hints at the notion that the whole work is not a manifesto but rather a n endeavor to explore the potential of human life暗示整本书不是宣言，只是试图探讨人类生活的其他可能Utopia,a kind of“Nowhere Land”曾经去过乌托邦，一个“乌有之乡”Utopia offers the best ideal social system possible that could be offered at the time.《乌托邦》指出了当时社会可能提供的理想社会模式。
Utopia is an imaginary country where democracy replaces tyranny,commonwealth replaces private property...there is no distinction between the rich and the poor,education is free for all乌托邦是一个虚构的国家民主代替了专政，全民公有制代替了私有财产...没有贫富差距，每个人都可以接受免费教育The limitation of Utopian Society:The Utopian society is clearly male-dominated:there is no mention of gender equality,no equal opportunity for administrative and religious jobs,no clear recognition of the female sex and their rights,but a very clear indication that the women folk have to submit to their men folk as,for instance,they have to kneel before their men and confess on days of religious observance.乌托邦明显是一个以男性为主导的社会：书中并没有提到性别平等，没有行政与宗教工作均等的机会，没有对女性和其权益的明确认可，但却明确指出女性应该服从男性，如他们在宗教仪式之前不得不跪在男性面前忏悔。
女的历史人物故事写一篇英语作文英文回答：Throughout history, women have played pivotal roles in shaping the world as we know it, making significant contributions in various fields. From the realms ofpolitics and science to the arts and literature, women have defied societal norms and left an enduring mark on civilization. Here are some of the most influential female historical figures whose stories continue to inspire and empower generations:Cleopatra VII: The last pharaoh of Egypt, CleopatraVII was a renowned ruler, diplomat, and scholar. Her intelligence, charisma, and political acumen enabled her to navigate the tumultuous waters of ancient politics and maintain Egypt's independence.Joan of Arc: A peasant girl from medieval France, Joan of Arc became a military leader who inspired the Frencharmy to victory during the Hundred Years' War. Her unwavering faith and courage made her a symbol of national pride and resistance.Elizabeth I: Queen Elizabeth I ruled England for over 40 years during a period of great prosperity and cultural advancement known as the Elizabethan era. Her reign saw the flourishing of literature, music, and exploration, earning her the title "Good Queen Bess."Marie Curie: A Polish-French physicist and chemist, Marie Curie is widely regarded as one of the mostinfluential scientists of all time. Her groundbreaking work on radioactivity earned her two Nobel Prizes and paved the way for advancements in medicine and physics.Rosa Parks: An African-American civil rights activist, Rosa Parks became an icon of the movement when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in 1955. Her act of defiance sparked the Montgomery bus boycott and played a pivotal role in the desegregation of public transportation in the United States.Mother Teresa: A Catholic nun born in Albania, Mother Teresa devoted her life to serving the poor and sick in Calcutta, India. Her selfless work and unwavering compassion earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.Malala Yousafzai: A Pakistani education activist, Malala Yousafzai became a symbol of courage and resilience after being shot by the Taliban for speaking out in favor of girls' education. Her advocacy work has earned her the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, making her the youngest Nobel laureate ever.These are just a few of the countless women who have made significant contributions to history. Their stories remind us of the indomitable spirit, intelligence, and determination that women possess. They inspire us to challenge stereotypes, pursue our dreams, and strive to make a positive impact on the world.中文回答：历史上有许许多多的杰出女性，她们在政治、科学、艺术、文学等各个领域做出了杰出贡献。
品味历史：你不知道的伊丽莎白一世(双语)伊丽莎白一世简介伊丽莎白一世Elizabeth I(1533年9月7日出生于格林尼治，即今日伦敦的格林尼治，1603年3月24日逝世于萨里)，于1558年11月17日至1603年3月24日任英格兰和爱尔兰女王，是都铎王朝的第五位也是最后一位君主。
她终身未嫁，因此被称为“童贞女王”。
The reign of Queen Elizabeth I is often referred to as The Golden Age of English history. Elizabeth was an immensely popular Queen, and her popularity has waned little with the passing of four hundred years. She is still one of the best loved monarchs, and one of the most admired rulers of all time. She became a legend in her own lifetime, famed for her remarkable abilities and achievements。
Elizabeth was dedicated to her country in a way few monarchs had been or have been since. Elizabeth had the mind of a political genius and nurtured her country through careful leadership and by choosing capable men to assist her. Elizabeth was a determined woman, but she was not obstinate. She listened to the advice of those around her, and would change a policy if it was unpopular。
介绍伊丽莎白的英语作文Elizabeth: A Timeless Icon of Feminine Strength and Wisdom.Elizabeth, a name that resonates through history, symbolizing strength, wisdom, and perseverance. From queens to modern-day icons, Elizabeths have left an indelible mark on our world. This essay explores the essence of Elizabeth, focusing on her impact on society, her role as a role model, and the lessons she teaches us about female empowerment and leadership.1. Elizabeth as a Symbol of Feminine Strength.Elizabeths have always been known for their resilience and determination. They are women who, despite facing challenges and obstacles, refuse to back down. They stand tall, unafraid, and unapologetic, embodying the very essence of female strength. This strength is not just physical; it is emotional, mental, and spiritual.Elizabeths are not afraid to voice their opinions, fightfor what they believe in, or stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.2. Elizabeth as a Wise Counselor.Throughout history, Elizabeths have been renowned for their wisdom and sagacity. They are women who listen, observe, and learn from their surroundings. They use this knowledge to offer wise counsel and guidance to those who seek it. Whether it is a queen advising her king or a modern-day woman guiding her family, Elizabeths understand the power of words and the impact they can have on others.3. Elizabeth's Impact on Society.Elizabeths have left an indelible mark on society. They have broken barriers, challenged norms, and inspired generations of women to follow in their footsteps. Their achievements and contributions are not just limited totheir own lifetimes; they have a lasting impact on the world at large. Elizabeths have proven that women arecapable of leading, innovating, and transforming societyfor the better.4. Elizabeth as a Role Model.Elizabeths serve as powerful role models for women of all ages. They demonstrate that it is possible to balance the demands of personal and professional life, to pursue dreams with determination, and to remain true to oneself even in the face of adversity. Their lives are a testament to the fact that women can achieve anything they set their minds to, regardless of the obstacles they may face.5. Lessons from Elizabeth.Elizabeths teach us important lessons about female empowerment and leadership. They teach us that it is okay to be strong, to have opinions, and to stand up for what we believe in. They teach us that wisdom comes from experience and learning, and that it is okay to seek help and guidance when needed. Most importantly, Elizabeths teach us that we have the power to shape our own destinies and make apositive impact on the world.In conclusion, Elizabeth is a timeless icon of feminine strength and wisdom. She represents all that is great about women: their resilience, determination, wisdom, and compassion. She is a powerful reminder that women have the power to shape their own lives and influence the world in positive ways. As we look towards the future, let us draw strength and inspiration from the Elizabeths who have come before us, and let us strive to be the Elizabeths of our own generation.。
In January 1559 Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England. She was the last of the great Tudor dynasty, a bright star who dazzled both the nation and the world.Elizabeth ‘s achievements has lasted for nearly four centuries and it’s easy to see why. She reigned for 45 tumultuous years. Her ships defeated the Spanish Armada and sailed round the globe. In her time, Shakespeare wrote plays and Spenser wrote poems.The daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558 and ruled England for almost 45 years. Her reign is known as The Golden Age, a time that saw the birth of Shakespeare, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the emergence of England as a world power.From the prison to the palaceElizabeth ‘s father was Henry VIII ,one of the most famous kings in England for his six wives. Henry divorced his first wife, Catherin of Aragon, because she had not given him a son he had been long for, but now her replacement Ann Boleyn had failed her principal duty as royal breeding machine, for she had only one daughter - Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Henry had fallen in love with another woman-Jane Seymour. By the time when Elizabeth was only three, Ann was soon accused of multiple adultery and executed. And their marriage wasdecleared null and void. Elizabeth was now illegitimate and unable to inherit the throne. So instead of the Right High and Mighty Princess, the Lady Elizabeth, inheritrix of the crown of England, she became the Lady Elizabeth, the King’s second bastard daughter. Although was brought up in the country away from the royal court, she studies languages from the age of four. She became fluent in French, Italian, Latin and Greek.In 1544, Henry reinstated Elizabeth and Mary in the succession. No woman had ever sat on the throne before. Now if Edward (Jane Seymour ’ s son) died without a heir, first Mary and then Elizabeth would become queen. Henry then sailed for France to fight a war, leaving his wife Katherine Parr, as regent in charge of the kingdom. Elizabeth now witnessed at first hand that an intelligent, well-educated woman could rule effectively.In 1546, Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII died, and little King Edward VI had stepped into his father’s shoes at the age of 9, while Elizabeth was only 13.In order to divorce Catherin of Aragon, Henry had broken away from Rome and made himself head of the church in England. The Catholic churches ,crosses and candles were being stripped everywhere. The new faith had the enthusiastic backing of Elizabeth’s brother, the young King Edward. But by 1553, the 15-year-old King was dying of tuberculosis. He was desperate to stop the religious reforms being undone by his Catholic sister Mary, who would succed under the terms of their father’s will. So he excluded her from the succession because she was a bastard. But it couldn’t stop Mary’s overwhelming sup port, for she wasElizabeth had inherited from her sister Mary a nation that was bankrupt, military weak and hemmed in by enemies. In the parlance of the time, the country was a bone between two dogs - France and Spain.Elizabeth I - the last Tudor monarch - was born at Greenwich on 7 September 1533, the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn.Her early life was full of uncertainties, and her chances of succeeding to the throne seemed very slight once her half-brother Edward was born in 1537. She was then third in line behind her Roman Catholic half-sister, Princess Mary. Roman Catholics, indeed, always considered her illegitimate and she only narrowly escaped execution in the wake of a failed rebellion against Queen Mary in 1554.Elizabeth succeeded to the throne on her half-sister's death in November 1558. She was very well-educated (fluent in five languages), and had inherited intelligence, determination and shrewdness from both parents.Her 45-year reign is generally considered one of the most glorious in English history. During it a secure Church of England was established.Its doctrines were laid down in the 39 Articles of 1563, a compromise between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.Elizabeth herself refused to 'make windows into men's souls ... there is only one Jesus Christ and all the rest is a dispute over trifles'; she asked for outward uniformity.Most of her subjects accepted the compromise as the basis of their faith, and her church settlement probably saved England from religious wars like those which France suffered in the second half of the 16th century.Although autocratic and capricious, Elizabeth had astute political judgement and chose her ministers well; these included William Cecil, later Lord Burghley (Secretary of State), Sir Christopher Hatton (Lord Chancellor) and Sir Francis Walsingham (in charge of intelligence and also a Secretary of State).Overall, Elizabeth's administration consisted of some 600 officials administering the great offices of state, and a similar number dealing with the Crown lands (which funded the administrative costs). Social and economic regulation and law and order remained in the hands of the sheriffs at local level, supported by unpaid justices of the peace.Elizabeth's reign also saw many brave voyages of discovery, including those of Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh and Humphrey Gilbert, particularly to the Americas. These expeditions prepared England for an age of colonisation and trade expansion, which Elizabeth herself recognised by establishing the East India Company in at the very end of 1599.The arts flourished during Elizabeth's reign. Country houses such as Longleat and Hardwick Hall were built, miniature painting reached itshigh point, theatres thrived - the Queen attended the first performance of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Composers such as William Byrd and Thomas Tallis worked in Elizabeth's court and at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace.The image of Elizabeth's reign is one of triumph and success. The Queen herself was often called 'Gloriana', 'Good Queen Bess' and 'The Virgin Queen'.Investing in expensive clothes and jewellery (to look the part, like all contemporary sovereigns), she cultivated this image by touring the country in regional visits known as 'progresses', often riding on horseback rather than by carriage. Elizabeth made at least 25 progresses during her reign.However, Elizabeth's reign was one of considerable danger and difficulty for many, with threats of invasion from Spain through Ireland, and from France through Scotland. Much of northern England was in rebellion in 1569-70. A papal bull of 1570 specifically released Elizabeth's subjects from their allegiance, and she passed harsh laws against Roman Catholics after plots against her life were discovered.One such plot involved Mary, Queen of Scots, who had fled to England in 1568 after her second husband, Henry, Lord Darnley's, murder and her subsequent marriage to a man believed to have been involved in his murder, James, Earl of Bothwell..As a likely successor to Elizabeth, Mary spent 19 years as Elizabeth's prisoner because Mary was the focus for rebellion and possible assassination plots, such as the Babington Plot of 1586.Mary was also a temptation for potential invaders such as Philip II. In a letter of 1586 to Mary, Elizabeth wrote, 'You have planned ... to takemy life and ruin my kingdom ... I never proceeded so harshly against you.' Despite Elizabeth's reluctance to take drastic action, on the insistence of Parliament and her advisers, Mary was tried, found guilty and executed in 1587.In 1588, aided by bad weather, the English navy scored a great victory over the Spanish invasion fleet of around 130 ships - the 'Armada'. The Spanish Armada was intended to overthrow the Queen and re-establish Roman Catholicism by conquest, as Philip II believed he had a claim to the English throne through his marriage to Mary.During Elizabeth's long reign, the nation also suffered from high prices and severe economic depression, especially in the countryside, during the 1590s. The war against Spain was not very successful after the Armada had been beaten and, together with other campaigns, it was very costly.Though she kept a tight rein on government expenditure, Elizabeth left large debts to her successor. Wars during Elizabeth's reign are estimated to have cost over £5 million (at the prices of the time) which Crown revenues could not match - in 1588, for example, Elizabeth's total annual revenue amounted to some £392,000.Despite the combination of financial strains and prolonged war after 1588, Parliament was not summoned more often. There were only 16 sittings of the Commons during Elizabeth's reign, five of which were in the period 1588-1601. Although Elizabeth freely used her power to veto legislation, she avoided confrontation and did not attempt to define Parliament's constitutional position and rights.Elizabeth chose never to marry. If she had chosen a foreign prince, he would have drawn England into foreign policies for his own advantages (as in her sister Mary's marriage to Philip of Spain); marrying a fellowcountryman could have drawn the Queen into factional infighting. Elizabeth used her marriage prospects as a political tool in foreign and domestic policies.However, the 'Virgin Queen' was presented as a selfless woman who sacrificed personal happiness for the good of the nation, to which she was, in essence, 'married'.Late in her reign, she addressed Parliament in the so-called 'Golden Speech' of 1601 when she told MPs: 'There is no jewel, be it of never so high a price, which I set before this jewel; I mean your love.' She seems to have been very popular with the vast majority of her subjects.Overall, Elizabeth's always shrewd and, when necessary, decisive leadership brought successes during a period of great danger both at home and abroad. She died at Richmond Palace on 24 March 1603, having become a legend in her lifetime. The date of her accession was a national holiday for two hundred years.。
1. this is a historical film2. Elizabeth Ⅰ,a great queen 3. many smart sentences 4. not quickly, we can follow it1. When Elizabeth became the queen of England, there were contradictions between Spain and England. At that time, England pirates(海盗) often robbed the Spanish trade ships for gold and other goods, which threatened the marine benefit of Spain. In addition, there was a conflict between the two countries’ religion. Spain was a Catholicism(天主教的)country, however, Elizabeth preferred England to be a Protestantism(新教的) country.2. What made the matter worse was that Elizabeth, as the queen of England, indulged(放纵) the piracy. This made the Spanish king very angry, and it aggravated(加剧) the contradiction between these two countries. It was clear to Spanish king that England, as a thriving(繁荣的) country, was becoming more and more strong, and it began to threaten the leader place of Spain. Therefore, the only solution was to defeat England before it grew strong enough to surpass Spain. At that time, Spanish king was waiting, waiting for a proper excuse to start an inevitable war.3.Then the excuse came. Mary Stuart, as the queen of Scotland and a Catholic(天主教徒), planned to murder Elizabeth. After the plan was failed, she was killed according to the English law. The death of Mary Stuart became the direct reason of the war between Spain and England.4.England, at that time was not as strong as Spain, but due to the encouragement from their queen and the determination to protect their homeland, English people showed the amazing intelligence in the war, and finally, England won the war.5.Henceforth, Spain faded out the main stage of history little by little. In contrast, England , leading by their great queen——Elizabeth, went into its golden age step by step……1. Elizabeth I, became the queen of England in her 25s, she put a ring on her finger as she began to rule the country. It means she had married herself to England.2. She is known as the virgin queen, kept unmarried all her life. She used her marriage as a tool to protect her land and gain more advantage for it.3. In her life maybe someone recalled the feeling of love in her heart, however, the queen‘s love was destined(注定的) to yield from the benefit of her land, she had to give up her own love painfully.4. The queen regarded her people as her children and totally devoted herself to the construction and development of England. It was Elizabeth who pushed England to the golden age.ElizabethⅠElizabeth throgmortonBessWalter RaleighPhilipⅡMary StuartI am called the virgin queen, unmarried. I have no master, childless. I am mother to my people. God give me strength to bear this mighty freedom. I am your queen, I am myself.。
In January 1559 Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England. She was the last of the great Tudor dynasty, a bright star who dazzled both the nation and the world.Elizabeth ‘s achievements has lasted for nearly four centuries and it’s easy t o see why. She reigned for 45 tumultuous years. Her ships defeated the Spanish Armada and sailed round the globe. In her time, Shakespeare wrote plays and Spenser wrote poems.The daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558 and ruled England for almost 45 years. Her reign is known as The Golden Age, a time that saw the birth of Shakespeare, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the emergence of England as a world power.From the prison to the palaceElizabeth ‘s father was Henry VIII ,one of the most famous kings in England for his six wives. Henry divorced his first wife, Catherin of Aragon, because she had not given him a son he had been long for, but now her replacement Ann Boleyn had failed her principal duty as royal breeding machine, for she had only one daughter - Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Henry had fallen in love with another woman-Jane Seymour. By the time when Elizabeth was only three, Ann was soon accused of multiple adultery and executed. And their marriage was decleared null and void. Elizabeth was now illegitimate and unable to inherit the throne. So instead of the Right High and Mighty Princess, the Lady Elizabeth, inheritrix of the crown of England, she became the Lady Elizabeth, the King’s second bastard daughter. Although was brought up in the country away from the royal court, she studies languages from the age of four. She became fluent in French, Italian, Latin and Greek.In 1544, Henry reinstated Elizabeth and Mary in the succession. No woman had ever sat on the throne before. Now if Edward (Jane Seymour ’ s son) died without a heir, first Mary and then Elizabeth would become queen. Henry then sailed for France to fight a war, leaving his wife Katherine Parr, as regent in charge of the kingdom. Elizabeth now witnessed at first hand that an intelligent, well-educated woman could rule effectively. In 1546, Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII died, and little King Edward VI had stepped into his father’s shoes at the age of 9, while Elizabeth was only 13.In order to divorce Catherin of Aragon, Henry had broken away from Romeand made himself head of the church in England. The Catholic churches ,crosses and candles were being stripped everywhere. The new faith had the enthusiastic backing of Elizabeth’s brother, the young King Edward. But by 1553, the 15-year-old King was dying of tuberculosis. He was desperate to stop the religious reforms being undone by his Catholic sister Mary, who wo uld succed under the terms of their father’s will. So he excluded her from the succession because she was a bastard. But it couldn’t stop Mary’s overwhelming support, for she was proclaimed Queen ,whose vision was to lead England back to the true Catholic faith. Mary had stamped Catholicism on England with extraordinary violence, burning at the stake over 300 Protestant men, women, and children. Elizabeth’s Protestantism marked h er out as a potential enemy. In 1554, Elizabeth was sent to the tower for involving in a failed rebellion. However, Mary finally relented under pressure from her council to name Elizabeth as her successor. In 1559, Elizabeth was crowned as Queen of England.The Virgin QueenParliament petitioned the Queen asking her to pledge herself to a suitable international marriage. Three days later, she gave her responses. “Now the public care of governing the kingdom is laid upon me, to draw upon me also the cares of my marriage, may seem a point of inconsiderable folly. Yea, to satisfy you, I have already joined myself in marriage to an husband, namely the Kingdom of England. And for me it shall be a full satisfaction if, when I shall let my last breath, it may be engraven upon my marble tomb ’Here lieth Elizabeth, which reigned a virgin an d died a virgin’.”Elizabeth had finally got the parliament to restore Protestantism in England. Queen Elizabeth is God’s direct representative here on earth-church and state are one.Elizabeth had inherited from her sister Mary a nation that was bankrupt, military weak and hemmed in by enemies. In the parlance of the time, the country was a bone between two dogs - France and Spain.Elizabeth I - the last Tudor monarch - was born at Greenwich on 7 September 1533, the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn.Her early life was full of uncertainties, and her chances of succeeding to the throne seemed very slight once her half-brother Edward was born in 1537. She was then third in line behind her Roman Catholic half-sister, Princess Mary. Roman Catholics, indeed, always considered her illegitimate and she only narrowly escaped execution in the wake of a failed rebellion against Queen Mary in 1554.Elizabeth succeeded to the throne on her half-sister's death in November 1558. She was very well-educated (fluent in five languages), and had inherited intelligence, determination and shrewdness from both parents.Her 45-year reign is generally considered one of the most glorious in English history. During it a secure Church of England wasestablished. Its doctrines were laid down in the 39 Articles of 1563, a compromise between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.Elizabeth herself refused to 'make windows into men's souls ... there is only one Jesus Christ and all the rest is a dispute over trifles'; she asked for outward uniformity.Most of her subjects accepted the compromise as the basis of their faith, and her church settlement probably saved England from religious wars like those which France suffered in the second half of the 16th century.Although autocratic and capricious, Elizabeth had astute political judgement and chose her ministers well; these included William Cecil, later Lord Burghley (Secretary of State), SirChristopher Hatton (Lord Chancellor) and Sir Francis Walsingham (in charge of intelligence and also a Secretary of State).Overall, Elizabeth's administration consisted of some 600officials administering the great offices of state, and a similar number dealing with the Crown lands (which funded the administrative costs). Social and economic regulation and law andorder remained in the hands of the sheriffs at local level, supported by unpaid justices of the peace.Elizabeth's reign also saw many brave voyages of discovery, including those of Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh and Humphrey Gilbert, particularly to the Americas. These expeditions prepared England for an age of colonisation and trade expansion, which Elizabeth herself recognised by establishing the East India Company in at the very end of 1599.The arts flourished during Elizabeth's reign. Country houses such as Longleat and Hardwick Hall were built, miniature painting reached its high point, theatres thrived - the Queen attended the first performance of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Composers such as William Byrd and Thomas Tallis worked in Elizabeth's court and at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace.The image of Elizabeth's reign is one of triumph and success. The Queen herself was often called 'Gloriana', 'Good Queen Bess' and 'The Virgin Queen'.Investing in expensive clothes and jewellery (to look the part, like all contemporary sovereigns), she cultivated this image by touringthe country in regional visits known as 'progresses', often riding on horseback rather than by carriage. Elizabeth made at least 25 progresses during her reign.However, Elizabeth's reign was one of considerable danger and difficulty for many, with threats of invasion from Spain through Ireland, and from France through Scotland. Much of northern England was in rebellion in 1569-70. A papal bull of 1570 specifically released Elizabeth's subjects from their allegiance, and she passed harsh laws against Roman Catholics after plots against her life were discovered.One such plot involved Mary, Queen of Scots, who had fled to England in 1568 after her second husband, Henry, Lord Darnley's, murder and her subsequent marriage to a man believed to have been involved in his murder, James, Earl of Bothwell..As a likely successor to Elizabeth, Mary spent 19 years as Elizabeth's prisoner because Mary was the focus for rebellion and possible assassination plots, such as the Babington Plot of 1586.Mary was also a temptation for potential invaders such as Philip II. In a letter of 1586 to Mary, Elizabeth wrote, 'You haveplanned ... to take my life and ruin my kingdom ... I never proceeded so harshly against you.' Despite Elizabeth's reluctance to take drastic action, on the insistence of Parliament and her advisers, Mary was tried, found guilty and executed in 1587.In 1588, aided by bad weather, the English navy scored a great victory over the Spanish invasion fleet of around 130 ships - the 'Armada'. The Spanish Armada was intended to overthrow the Queen and re-establish Roman Catholicism by conquest, as Philip II believed he had a claim to the English throne through his marriage to Mary.During Elizabeth's long reign, the nation also suffered from high prices and severe economic depression, especially in the countryside, during the 1590s. The war against Spain was not very successful after the Armada had been beaten and, together with other campaigns, it was very costly.Though she kept a tight rein on government expenditure, Elizabeth left large debts to her successor. Wars during Elizabeth's reign are estimated to have cost over £5 million (a t the prices of the time) which Crown revenues could not match - in 1588, for example, Elizabeth's total annual revenue amounted to some £392,000.Despite the combination of financial strains and prolonged war after 1588, Parliament was not summoned more often. There were only 16 sittings of the Commons during Elizabeth's reign, five of which were in the period 1588-1601. Although Elizabeth freely used her power to veto legislation, she avoided confrontation and did not attempt to define Parliament's constitutional position and rights.Elizabeth chose never to marry. If she had chosen a foreign prince, he would have drawn England into foreign policies for his own advantages (as in her sister Mary's marriage to Philip of Spain); marrying a fellow countryman could have drawn the Queen into factional infighting. Elizabeth used her marriage prospects as a political tool in foreign and domestic policies.However, the 'Virgin Queen' was presented as a selfless woman who sacrificed personal happiness for the good of the nation, to which she was, in essence, 'married'.Late in her reign, she addressed Parliament in the so-called 'Golden Speech' of 1601 when she told MPs: 'There is no jewel, be it of never so high a price, which I set before this jewel; I mean your love.'She seems to have been very popular with the vast majority of her subjects.Overall, Elizabeth's always shrewd and, when necessary, decisive leadership brought successes during a period of great danger both at home and abroad. She died at Richmond Palace on 24 March 1603, having become a legend in her lifetime. The date of her accession was a national holiday for two hundred years.。
Elizabeth II: A Reign of Dignity and Legacy Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, reigned over the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth for over six decades, shaping a legacy of dignity, stability, and service. Her life was a testament to resilience and dedication, embodying the spirit of the age she presided over.Born into a royal family steeped in tradition and history, Elizabeth II ascended to the throne at a pivotal moment in world history. Following the abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII, she assumed the mantle of leadership at a young age, a responsibility she carried with grace and dignity throughout her life.Her reign was marked by significant changes in global politics and society. The Cold War, technological advancements, and social revolutions all played out under her watchful eye. Through these transformations, Elizabeth II remained a symbol of stability and continuity, providing a sense of unity and purpose to her subjects.Her dedication to public service was unparalleled. She traveled extensively, visiting every corner of her realm, meeting with people from all walks of life. Her dedication to duty was evident in her attendance at countless public events, from state occasions to local community gatherings. Her presence was a reassuring reminder of the monarchy's role in binding together the nation.Elizabeth II's personal qualities also endeared her to the public. Her sense of humor, her warmth, and herhumility were traits that were often remarked upon. She was a mother and grandmother, whose private life was as rich and fulfilling as her public one. Her family, including her husband Prince Philip, were a constant source of support and companionship.Her legacy is vast and multifaceted. She presided over a period of economic growth and social progress, seeing the United Kingdom through challenging times such as the Second World War and its aftermath. Her commitment to the Commonwealth, a network of nations with shared values and history, was a cornerstone of her reign. She was a championof international cooperation and understanding, promoting the values of peace and mutual respect.Elizabeth II's passing marks the end of an era, but her spirit and legacy will live on. She leaves a country and a world transformed by her reign, a testament to her dedication and service. Her example of duty, dignity, and resilience will continue to inspire generations to come.**伊丽莎白二世：尊严与传承的统治**伊丽莎白二世，英国历史上在位时间最长的君主，统治英国和英联邦长达六十余年，铸就了尊严、稳定与奉献的传奇。
