An Introduction to Queen An Introduction to Queen Elizabeth IElizabeth I

LO: LO: What do pictures What do pictures tell us about tell us about

Elizabeth and her Elizabeth and her reign?reign?

500BC 0 500 1000 20001500TIME:

Starter: Look at the picture of Elizabeth. Write down a list of words you would use to describe her.EXT.: Look at your list of words. Why does she want to be seen like this?

We are going to look at more pictures of Elizabeth in today’s lesson, but first we need to

find out some background information.

Look at the statements below and write down the correct versions in your book – how much

can you remember…

• Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour/Anne of Cleves/Anne

Boleyn

• She became Queen of England when her sister Mary died in 1508/1558/1608

• Her religion was Catholic/Protestant

Elizabeth had to win the loyalty of her people – both Catholics and Protestants and she had to convince them

that she was the right person to rule England.

She also had to convince the doubters who thought a woman could not rule a country by herself.

One of the best ways for Elizabeth to win people’s loyalty was to tour the country and let people see her. However, this could take a long time and so instead,

Elizabeth used portraits and pictures to let people see her.

Her image needed to impress her subjects – she had to make sure the pictures of her were controlled. Her

portraits needed to show her in the best possible light.

TaskTask• Working in pairs, you need to complete the Working in pairs, you need to complete the

following table:following table:

Picture number

Words to describe how Elizabeth looks

Extra symbols and what they mean

• Let´s do an example together.....Let´s do an example together.....

Tudor Rose

Pelican – Symbol of Charity

11

Sieve – Symbol of purity

Ships crossing the globe – Queen is expanding to the ‘New World’

22

Globe - Expansion to the New World

Pictures from the victory over the Spanish Armada33

Eyes and ears on her dress – she

sees and hears all

Serpent – symbol of wisdom

Rainbow –

symbol of

peace

44

Old father time

Two angels

Death55

Task1. Why do you think it was so

important for Elizabeth to control the images made of her? Explain this in

detail.

Extension – Elizabeth controlled every image that was made of

her. Other pictures made of her were illegal.

Does this mean that the pictures of Elizabeth are useless to

historians studying Elizabeth I? Explain your answer

Task

Using the different symbols and thinking about what else was

included in portraits....

Draw you own King or Queen styled self

portrait

On Elizabeth's portraits certain clues were used to carry messages. Some of them are as follows:

• Swords show justice and power

• A crown means she is truly Queen

• A snake stands for wisdom

• Long hair, or low cut dress, shows a virgin

• Flowers stand for youth

• A rainbow, or olive branch, stands for peace

• Decorative eyes or ears mean the ruler has great knowledge

• A hand on the globe means power

• Black and white were colours to symbolise purity and wisdom

• Pelican – Symbol of Charity

Picture number

Words to describe how Elizabeth looks

Extra symbols and what they mean