0
What colour flag was shown to show a historic play was on at the time of shakespeare?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
The story about coloured flags at the Globe Theatre is as follows: White meant that a comedy was playing that night. (Or rather, that day. In Elizabethan times, public performances were not held at night. They started at around 2:00 in the afternoon.) Red meant a historic play was on, like "Henry V". Black meant a tragic play would be viewed.
The problem with this story was that the playwrights themselves did not sort all their plays into comedies, histories and tragedies. A number of the plays of Beaumont and Fletcher were called tragicomedies--what colour flag would they fly then? There does not seem to be any contemporary account of the coloured flags story (They had flags all right, but the contemporary accounts do not mention colour.)
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe legend goes that the colours of the flags told the audience what kind of play was to be performed: white for comedy, black for tragedy and red for history. This is suspect, since plays did not readily fall neatly into these categories. Was Richard III a tragedy or a history? Was Troilus and Cressida a tragedy or a comedy? What kind of play is Cymbeline? Shakespeare himself acknowledges that the categories are ridiculously inadequate, by having Polonius say that the traveling players are "the best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral . . ." What kind of flag would they put up for a "tragical-comical-historical-pastoral" play, one wonders.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoActually, the theatre probably only had one flag which they raised when they were about to perform. It is hard to know where the idea arosethat they used one of three different coloured flags to show what kind of play was being performed. Common sense tells us, however, that just because William Shakespeare's publisher divided his plays into "Comedies, Histories and Tragedies" not all plays fell neatly into these categories, even Shakespeare's. Some fell into more than one, some did not fall into any of them. What colour flag announced a pastoral? What colour announced a masque (a kind of musical)? What colour announced a "tragical-historical-comical-pastoral" as Polonius in Hamlet says? Your teacher wants you to say that comedies were announced with a white flag--but you know better, now.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoRed, according to a corny old story. There does not appear to be any contemporary basis for the idea that flag colour indicated the type of play which was playing.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agowhite-romance
red-histerade
black-tragedy
Wiki User
∙ 12y agowhite
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoblack
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What flag is the taming of the shrew by William shakespeare?
If you are alluding to the idea that the Globe Theatre flew different colour flags depending on the kind of play, the Taming of the Shrew is a comedy which is associated with the white flag.
What does the white flag mean above Shakespeare's Globe?
The white flag above Shakespeare's Globe means a comedy play is being performed
What does the black flag above Shakespeare's globe theatre mean?
the black flag means muff
What flew to the top of the theatre to show the play was on in Shakespeare's time?
In Shakespeare's time, a signal flew to the top of the theatre to indicate that the play was about to begin. This signal was known as a flag or banner. It was usually made of brightly colored cloth and was usually either hung from a pole or carried by a person. The flag was an important part of the theatrical experience; its appearance announced the arrival of the performance and indicated that the audience should take their seats. In some Elizabethan playhouses, the flag was raised by hand on a pole and then lowered just before the play began. In other theatres, a flag was hoisted to the top of the building on a rope or chain. In addition to being a signal for the start of the show, the flag also served to advertise the play. It was often decorated with a design related to the play, such as a scene from the production or the name of the play itself. The banner was usually displayed prominently in front of the theatre, where passersby could easily see it. The flag was an important part of the theatrical experience in Shakespeare's time and was a way to make the theatre more exciting and inviting. It was a way to draw people in from the streets and entice them to come in and see the show.
What significance did color have in the theater during Shakespeare's time?
There is a legend that the colour of the flag raised over the theatre told potential customers what kind of play would be performed. The problem is that the plays did not fit neatly into categories, and they knew it. Shakespeare mocks the categorization of plays with Polonius's line "the best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral". There does not appear to be any contemporaneous account on which the coloured flag legend is based, and it is likely a later invention. Apart from that, the costumes used were very colourful, but that did not usually have significance, unless the characters were wearing black as a sign of mourning (as Hamlet does, and Lady Anne in Richard III).
What flag is the taming of the shrew by William shakespeare?
If you are alluding to the idea that the Globe Theatre flew different colour flags depending on the kind of play, the Taming of the Shrew is a comedy which is associated with the white flag.
What is the colour of the flag shown to a driver during an F1 race if the driver is banned from the particular race?
You can be shown a black flag with the car number if you are disqualified mid race. You can't be "banned" unless you qualify below the 107% time or cause a lot of serious accidents.
How many colors are on the Libyan flag?
One colour, green, is the only colour on the Libyan flag.
What does the white flag mean above Shakespeare's Globe?
The white flag above Shakespeare's Globe means a comedy play is being performed
What is a tricoloured flag?
It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.It is a flag with 3 equal bands of colour. They can be vertical or horizontal. Many countries have them.
What is the fraction of saffron colour in Indian flag?
What is the fraction of orange colour of the Indian flagindian flag has three colours
What is the flag colour of the US flag?
red,white and blue
What colour appeares on the british flag but not on the Japanese flag?
Blue
What do the colors on the togo flag represent?
Togo flag colour
What does the white colour signify in your national flag?
White colour in our national flag signifies Peace. We Indians are peace lovers. We love and respect our national flag.
What colour flag is used for show surrender?
Typically a white flag.
What colour is the flag awarded for a clean beach?
the blue flag award
