<P> A groundling was a person who visited the Globe Theatre in the early 17th century . They were too poor to pay to be able to sit on one of the three levels of the theatre . If they paid one penny , they could stand in `` the pit '' , also called `` the yard '' , just below the stage , to watch the play . Standing in the pit was uncomfortable , and people were usually packed in tightly . The groundlings were commoners who were also referred to as stinkards or penny - stinkers . The name ' groundlings ' came about after Hamlet referenced them as such when the play was first performed around 1600 . At the time , the word had entered the English language to mean a small type of fish with a gaping mouth - from the vantage point of the actor playing Hamlet , set on a stage raised around 5 feet from the ground , the sea of upturned faces may have looked like wide - mouthed fish . They were known to misbehave and are commonly believed to have thrown food such as fruit and nuts at characters they did not like , although there is no evidence of this . They would watch the plays from the cramped pits with sometimes over 500 people standing there . </P>
<P> A groundling was a person who visited the Globe Theatre in the early 17th century . They were too poor to pay to be able to sit on one of the three levels of the theatre . If they paid one penny , they could stand in `` the pit '' , also called `` the yard '' , just below the stage , to watch the play . Standing in the pit was uncomfortable , and people were usually packed in tightly . The groundlings were commoners who were also referred to as stinkards or penny - stinkers . The name ' groundlings ' came about after Hamlet referenced them as such when the play was first performed around 1600 . At the time , the word had entered the English language to mean a small type of fish with a gaping mouth - from the vantage point of the actor playing Hamlet , set on a stage raised around 5 feet from the ground , the sea of upturned faces may have looked like wide - mouthed fish . They were known to misbehave and are commonly believed to have thrown food such as fruit and nuts at characters they did not like , although there is no evidence of this . They would watch the plays from the cramped pits with sometimes over 500 people standing there . </P>
what did the groundlings do during the play
what did the groundlings do during the play
stand in `` the pit '' , also called `` the yard '' , just below the stage , to watch the play
stand in `` the pit '' , also called `` the yard '' , just below the stage , to watch the play