Popular depictions of Elizabeth I
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how popular depictions of Elizabeth I have changed over time.
Key learning points
- Elizabeth used symbols within paintings to present different ideas about herself.
- Elizabeth used speeches to persuade and rally support.
- Elizabeth tightly controlled how she was depicted during her own lifetime.
- Popular interpretations of Elizabeth I have changed over time.
Keywords
Depiction - a depiction is a representation of someone or something in words or pictures
Symbolism - symbolism is the use of objects or pictures to represent ideas or qualities
Interpretation - an interpretation is a historian’s opinion about past events
Common misconception
Historians all agree about what happened in the past.
Historians are constantly arguing and changing their minds about events in the past as new evidence comes to light.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to consider what counter-arguments to their opinions there might be, and how they could argue back against these. Variety of supporting evidence is key to this: the more they have, the stronger their initial interpretation will be.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is meant by the term 'golden age'?
Q2.What building material did Elizabethans use to show off their wealth in 'prodigy houses'?
Q3.Which decade saw a period of particularly bad harvests which led to famine in England?
Q4.Parliament was furious with Elizabeth in 1601 about her use of which one of the following:
Q5.Before Elizabeth's reign, what religious establishments had helped to provide food for the poor?
Q6.Who led the two factions in Elizabeth's court at the end of her reign? Choose two answers.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What belief about a person's physical appearance was common during Elizabeth's reign?
Q2.How did Elizabeth use speeches, such as the 'Golden Speech', to maintain her rule?
Q3.What were royal progresses?
Q4.Complete this sentence: John Stubbs was punished for criticising Elizabeth by having his _________________ cut off.
Q5.How did some critics of Elizabeth, like John Foxe and Edmund Spenser, criticise Elizabeth and get away with it?
Q6.Who did the historian James Froude think was the real power behind the throne during Elizabeth's reign?
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: Popular depictions of Elizabeth I, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: Popular depictions of Elizabeth I, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Elizabeth I: why has Elizabeth been represented so differently? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.