Final answer:
Elizabethan audiences were familiar with the mythology and folk practices presented in plays, which was crucial for their enjoyment. Theatrical performances involved a range of skills and were influenced by historical developments in dramatic presentation. Understanding these cultural reference points is essential for appreciating literary works from the period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The traditions, beliefs, and customs of a people are essential for understanding the context in which literary works are produced and received. In the case of Elizabethan theatre, the audience's knowledge of the cultural reference points such as the lore of fairies was crucial for them to appreciate the plays. Elizabethan audiences accepted and understood the mythology and folk practices that plays depicted, which included elements from earlier times and other cultures that have evolved into the contemporary society they lived in.
During the Renaissance, plays such as those by William Shakespeare incorporated inventive methods for staging and performance to entertain a diverse audience. The ability of the actors to convey the poetic language and engage in convincing swordplay, among other skills, was necessary to keep the audience entertained. Moreover, the context in which these plays were performed was influenced by a range of factors, from the advent of traveling pageant wagons during the Medieval period to the structure and commercialization of Elizabethan playhouses catering to different social classes.