Shakespeare’s Sisters: Early Women Writers in Westminster Abbey lecture
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Overview
Watch Helen Hackett, Professor of English Literature at UCL and author of The Elizabethan Mind (2022), explore some of the lesser-known female writers buried or memorialised in Westminster Abbey. She examines the extraordinary lives and achievements of these women, from Aphra Behn to Margaret Cavendish to Mary, Queen of Scots. This talk was recorded specially for Westminster Abbey.
Download the accompanying teachers’ notes document, including a full transcript, information about the speaker and the event, plus a list of follow-up questions to spark further discussion.
Extend this activity by watching this question-and-answer session featuring Professor Helen Hackett.
This lecture was recorded ahead of the A-Level English Masterclass Shakespeare’s Sisters online event on 20th March 2024. Please note all opinions are of the individual speaking and do not represent the views of Westminster Abbey.
Learning objectives
- Explore the lives, works and achievements of 16th and 17th century female writers
- Learn about their works, including form and genre, in the context of the social and class barriers they faced in writing at the time
