Essay Question:

To what extent did leisure activities reflect social hierarchy in Elizabethan England?

Introduction Thesis: Outline the importance of leisure as a reflection of social status during Elizabethan times.

Point 1: Explain the types of leisure activities enjoyed by the upper classes and how these reinforced social distinctions.

Evidence: The popularity of hunting, court masques, and banquets among the nobility.

Point 2: Compare leisure activities accessible to the lower classes and their role in community building.

Evidence: Common festivals, tavern visits, and outdoor games.

Counter-argument: Analyze how some leisure activities, like public festivals, were accessible to all classes and could promote social unity.

Conclusion: Summarise how leisure activities both reflected and reinforced social hierarchy, while also sometimes bridging social divides.