the elizabethan great chain of being shakespeare’s world view

The Elizabethan Great Chain of The Elizabethan Great Chain of BeingBeingShakespeare’s World View

The Great Chain of BeingThe Great Chain of Being

Shakespeare’s language is different from ours because his thinking was different from ours, especially about nature and the order of the universe.

The Great Chain of BeingThe Great Chain of BeingAn order of hierarchy in which every

single created thing in the universe has its place. God’s love flows through, sustains, and holds together this whole system.

Compounded Biblical lore, Greek philosophy, and much far fetched natural history.

One of the most important and long-lasting ideas in man’s history.

Elizabethan World PictureElizabethan World Picture

(Pure Being)

(Intelligence) (Order)

(Reason)

(Motion, Sense)

(Growth)

(Mere Existence)

God

Angels Spheres

Man

Animals

Plants

Stones

Elizabethan World Elizabethan World PicturePicture

Angels SpheresSeraphim

Cherubim

Thrones

Dominations

Virtues

Powers

Principalities

Archangels

Angels

Primum Mobile

Stars

Saturn

Jupiter

Mars

Sun

Venus

Mercury

Moon


Man FamilyEmperor

King

Nobles/Churchmen

Professions/Soldiers

Trades

Beggars

Fool

Father

Mother

Eldest Brother

.

.

.

Youngest Sister


Animals Animals(cont)4-Leg

Lion

Fox

Wolf

.

.

.

mole

2-LegFalcon

FishDolphin/Whale

InsectsBees

Ants

.

.

.

worms

Inert AnimalsOysters, etc.


Plants StonesFruitsApples

FlowersRose

TreesOak

Vines

Herbs

Weeds

Liquids

MetalsGold

Silver

.

.

.

Lead

Stones


Body PsychologicalHead

Eye

________________

Arm

Trunk

________________

Leg

Foot

Reason, Will

Memory, Fancy

Five Senses

ElementElement HumorHumorFire (hot & dry) (choler) “choleric” (easily

angered)

Air (hot & moist) (blood) “sanguine” (cheerful, confident)

Water (cold & moist) (phlegm) “phlegmatic” (sluggish, apathetic)

Earth (cold & dry) (black bile) “melancholy” (sad, depressed)

Rules: Great Chain of Rules: Great Chain of BeingBeing1. Everything has its place2. God’s love holds it all together3. When someone tries to get out of line,

the whole order is thrown into confusion4. Belief in the rightness of ORDER5. Stating what a thing is implies its VALUE6. Leads to comparison or analogy

A King could be called:

-God like -Gold

-Father of his land -Sun

-Head of his kingdom -Eagle

-Lion

the elizabethan great chain of being shakespeare’s world view

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