Reading Guide “The Lottery” __
1.Why are all of the townspeople gathering together at the beginning of this story?
2.What objects are all of the young boys collecting and guarding ?
3.In the second and third paragraphs of page 1, the author mentions that both the children and the men are standing together very quietly. What might that mean about how they are feeling or what is about to happen next in the story?
4.How does that feeling change as the story continues?
5.What is Mr. Summers carrying?
6.Why don’t the villagers want to replace this object with a new one ?
7. How long does it sound like the townspeople have been carrying on this tradition ?
8.What do the heads of the families ( older boys/men) have to do ?
9.Why does Old Man Warner want to keep the lottery? What does he think it does for the town ?
10. How does Mrs. Hutchinson react/feel when the name of her family is chosen?
11.What happens to Tessie Hutchinson ?
The Wave Reading Guides
Reading Guide For Chapters 1-3: The Wave
Be able to identify, compare and contrast the following characters and know how they connect to each other ( friends, enemies, students , teachers etc.):
Chapters 1-3
Laurie Saunders:
Amy Smith:
Ben Ross:
Robert Billings:
Brad:
Eric:
David Collins:
Brian Ammon:
Carl Block:
Alex Cooper:
Christy Ross ( mentioned in Chapter 1- you will meet her in Chapter 4):
Chapter One:
What does Laurie look like?
What habit is she trying to quit?
What club does she belong to and what is her position in this club?
Why is this job causing her to be annoyed at the moment?
What did Laurie’s mom tell her about her pen chewing habit? What does this comment tell you about the personality of Laurie’s mom?
What does Laurie do when she passes Mr. Gabondi’s French class and why does she do this?
What does Amy look like?
What is one of Ben Ross’s weaknesses that he has tried to hide from his students?
How long has Ben been teaching at this high school and how do his students feel about him?
What is his teaching style like and how does the rest of faculty (teaching staff) feel about his style? Why might they feel this way?
What are some of the students’ habits that annoy Ben? Why do they have these habits ( what is their typical excuse)?
Why do Brian and Robert continually get low grades?
Who does Ben turn to to fix the projector for him?
What does Robert look like?
How does Brad treat Robert?
What is Ben’s warning to the kids at the end of this chapter and how is it received?
Chapter Two:
What is the film that Ben is showing his class?
How many people, according to Ben, died in the camps and what was the average life expectancy?
Over the course of chapters 2-3, pay attention to the different reactions of the characters to this film and the proceeding discussion about it. What are the reactions of the following people:
Ben:
Laurie:
Amy:
Robert:
Brad:
Eric:
David:
The class as a whole, both their initial reaction and then their response after a few minutes:
What question does Ben ask himself about the Nazis while he is watching the film?
What are the questions that Amy, Eric, Brad and Laurie ask as soon as the film is over?
What answers can Ben give them?
What is David thinking about during the end of the class discussion?
What does Laurie stay after class to speak to Ben Ross about and what does he tell her?
What does Ben want to speak to Robert about?
What is Robert’s response?
Look at the end of the chapter at Ben’s thoughts as to how he would have reacted to Robert’s older brother when he was in high school. What do these thoughts tell you about Ben?
Chapter Three:
Look at Robert’s routine at lunch. What is his habit and how to the girls react when he joins their table?
What does David call Robert ? Gordon High’s very own _________.
What did Robert’s mom tell Laurie about Robert?
What might Robert’s mother be like if she would tell one of Robert’s classmates this information about her son?
While Laurie is still upset about the film, what happens to her lunch?
What is wrong with Brian and David’s football team?
What does Robert read over lunch?
What does David share with Brian that angers Laurie?
What is wrong in the friendship between Amy and Laurie?
Why is Amy afraid when she thinks Principal Owens is outside of the classroom door?
What are Carl and Alex famous for doing ?
The Wave Reading Guide Chapters 4- 7:
Chapter Four
What is bothering Ben?
What does he spend an evening researching and what does he discover about historians?
What idea intrigues Ben? What is he considering doing with his class?
Why isn’t Christy offended by Ben’s rudeness and lack of interest in her day?
What did Ben do when he was studying the history of American Indians?
How did Ben act the first time that Christy taught him how to play the card game bridge?
Chapter Five
What does Brad do to Robert in the beginning of this chapter that is typical?
What has Ben written on the board?
How does the class initially ( at first), react to this topic?
What does Ben say that suddenly, and to Ben’s surprise, stops the student’s whining and gains their interest? What does he tell them they are about to create?
How does the class react to Brian’s comment that Amy is the “teacher’s pet” and why is this reaction a little different than it usually is?
What are some of the drill activities Ben has the class try ?
How does the class react to them overall?
Compare the reactions of David, Robert and Brad.
Who does Ben snap at because she forgot to say “Mr. Ross” before her answer ?
What does David see Robert doing in the mirror later on in the day?
What surprised Ben about how his students reacted to the game?
What does Christy jokingly tell Ben that he might have created?
At the end of the chapter, Ben considers something embarrassing that he did not tell his wife about the day. What is it?
Chapter Six:
What is unusual about the classroom when Ben walks in to it a little late the next day?
What does Ben feel “tempted by”?
What new slogan does Ben teach the kids and how does David react to this?
When someone jokes that the class should be “committed”, how do the rest of the students respond?
What does Ben order everyone to recite?
Who hesitates before saying this?
What salute does Ben teach them?
What is Brian afraid of?
Who is Deutsch and what is the rivalry between Deutsch and Brian?
What does David start to teach the football team?
The Wave Chapter Seven:
What is Laurie’s mom like and when is she “murder” to Laurie?
What are Laurie’s parents’ different reactions to her story about Mr. Ross’s class?
How does Laurie refer to Robert ( 50) and why does she say the class has been positive for him?
How does Mr. Saunders, Laurie’s father, feel about David and why?
Why isn’t David coming to Laurie’s house tonight?
At the top of p.53 there is an allusion. This is shown in the title Christy gives Ben. What does she call him? Can you recall what the definition of an allusion is from this example?
How does Christy feel about the Wave and what are some of her concerns that she starts to suggest to her husband about why the students are changing their behavior (53)?
What bothers Christy about her husband’s tone of voice when he talks about his students?
What does Christy try to warn Ben about at the end of the chapter?
The Wave Guide to Chapters 8-10
Chapter Eight:
How does David react when Laurie tells him about her mother’s opinion of the Wave? Why do you think he has this reaction?
Why won’t David get help with his math homework?
Why didn’t Amy help David with his math problem?
What is hanging in the back of Ben Ross’s room now?
How has Ben’s appearance changed?
What are the cards for that Ben is passing out? Who gets one and who doesn’t?
What does Laurie ask Ben and why doesn’t he answer her question right away?
What does Ben add to the Wave lesson now (59)?
How does the class respond when Ben asks if they believe in the Wave?
How is Laurie starting to feel about the Wave?
What does Ben say about competition within the Wave?
What is the first action of Wave members?
What must you pledge if you want to join the Wave?
What does George jump up to say?
What do Robert and Amy do as soon as George starts to feel embarrassed about saying this?
What is the Wave’s motto now (62)?
What does Ben suddenly realize about the game he has started playing?
What has changed about where everyone is sitting in the cafeteria ?
What happens at the lunch table when Laurie mentions that she isn’t sure that she likes the Wave ?
Look at p. 63 and 64. What has changed about Brad and Robert ?
Chapter Nine:
What is changing for the better and for the worst in Ben’s class ( 65-66)?
Why do the students say that they like the Wave?
About what is Ben starting to daydream?
What does the paper staff want Laurie to write about and what does she want them to investigate before she writes this?
What is bothering Laurie’s mother after she has a conversation with Robert’s mother?
What does Laurie say is the only thing that bothers her about the Wave?
Chapter Ten
1.If the principal makes Ben stop the Wave, what is Ben afraid will happen?
2. What does Ben suddenly realize he is afraid of losing ,( apart from the Wave itself), that surprises him?
3. Why is Ben convinced the Wave can’t get out of hand (79)?
4. What is the main concern that the principal has?
Reading Guide The Wave Chapters 11-12
Chapter Eleven:
Laurie receives an anonymous letter from a junior in this chapter. Why didn’t the junior leave his/her name?
What did the senior do who saw this junior and his/her friends attend Mr. Ross’s class?
Why is Ben Ross feeling tired in this chapter?
What are some of the “orders” that the Wave kids are acting on throughout the school?
What does Ben find “crazy” about these orders? (84)
Why is Robert following Ben around the school?
Chapter Twelve:
Why does Laurie feel uncomfortable going the rally? What is her opinion of the Wave now ?
What happens between Brian and Deutsch and what does Brian shout out that bothers Laurie?
What does David try to get Laurie to do and why does he say that she has to do it?
Why does she say that she won’t do this ?
What is David’s response?
Where does Laurie decide to hide from the rally?
Who joins her?
What does Carl start calling this place (90)?
Consider the implication of this allusion in #8. If you aren’t familiar with the reference, please Google it. What might that suggest about the position of the three kids if they feel like this now and what, considering the allusion, might this foreshadow?
Who comes up to Laurie’s room at home later that night to speak with her?
What does this person tell her about what happened after school?
Why might this have happened?
When Laurie tells this person that she is going to expose the Wave in the paper, what does this person warn her?
The Wave Reading Guides to Chapters 13-14
Chapter Thirteen:
Why does Brad almost prevent Laurie from going to the football game?
What does Brad warn Laurie when she tells him that he is being stupid?
Why is the size of the school paper staff diminishing ?
Who won the football game?
Chapter Fourteen:
Why does Laurie want to show Amy the paper before she publishes it?
What is Amy’s reaction and why does she feel this way?
What happens as a result of their discussion?
How is Ben feeling right now and what is the feeling of the rest of the faculty towards him?
Why is Robert upset and what does he want to do?
What does Brian promise Robert?
What does Brian convince Dave to do?
Chapter 15
What are some of Christy Ross’s concerns in this chapter?
How does Ben respond to these concerns and why does he respond this way?
Why was Laurie still in the school after dark?
What was written on her locker?
Why did she start to run through the school?
What did Brian tell David to make sure of in regards to Laurie?
Why were David and Brian waiting for Laurie?
What happened in the exchange between David and Laurie?
What does Ben promise to do near the end of chapter 15?
Who comes to Ben’s house late at night and why are they there?
Who does Ben want to see the next day?
Chapter 16
What does the principal threaten in his conversations with Ben?
What promise does Ben make to the principal?
What lesson does Ben say he learned about his class?
How many students are in the wave now (123)?
What does Ben announce to the class?
How does the class react?
How do David and Laurie react?
How does the class respond to David and Laurie?
Why does this surprise Ben?
What does Ben do about it?
Why does Laurie no longer trust Ben Ross?
How does the principal respond when David and Laurie tell him about the wave?
On p.127 what reasons does Laurie provide for why the wave was popular, dangerous and so hard to understand when you are in it?
How does David feel now as he walks through the park ?
What does Laurie suddenly realize about the wave game?
What does she want to do and why?
Why is David afraid to do this with her?
Chapter 17
What happens at the rally?
What are some of the things that Ben feels sad about as the rally begins?
How does Robert look at the rally?
Who was the “leader” of the wave?
What does Ben tell the students about themselves and about himself?
How do they react?
What did Alex and Carl do during the rally?
What does Ben say to Robert at the end of the book and why?
Anthem Reading Guide Chap.1
(p. 17-37)
1.What are some of the sins or transgressions committed by the main character in this chapter (17, 20,21, 22,30, 31) ? List at least 5.
2. What word is “fearful” to this character and why does it frighten him (17)?
3. What is the main character’s name (18)?
4. Where is he located at the beginning of the this chapter (17-18)?
5. How old is he and what does have on his wrist (18)?
6. Why did his teachers tell him he was evil as a child and why does he feel that he was born with a curse (18)?
7. Who or what is the “body of all truth” and what is written over their door (19)?
8. How long have they been the body of all truth?
9. What do the Old Ones whisper about and what happens to anyone else who speaks of the same things( 19, 20)?
10. What did the teachers do to the main character when he misbehaved as a child (20)?
11. What are the places like in which this character has lived (20-21)?
12. What is the schooling like (20-21)?
13. How was the main character treated in school and why (21-22)?
14. What did the main character learn in school (22-23)?
15. How does a person in the main character’s world choose a career and what did the main character want to be (22-23)?
16. What was the great new invention that was created a century ago (23-24)?
17. What career is the main character given; how does he feel about this and why does he feel this way?
18.Describe his life in this career and the lives of all adults in this society (27-29).
19. What are Union and International like and how does the main character feel about them (29-30)?
20. Why was International made a Street Sweeper (30)?
21. What was the main character doing at the City Cesspool (29)?
22. What does he find there (31-33)?
23 What does International want to do about this discovery and how does the main character react?
24. What does International promise the main character?
25. What has the main character been doing for two years that is dangerous (36)?
26. What items has he stolen (35-36)?
27. How does he feel, now that he is becoming truly “evil” (37)?
Anthem Reading Guide, Chapters Two- Four
1 Who is Liberty 5-3000 and what is her job(38)?
2 What does she look like (39)?
3 How does Equality feel about her(39-40)?
4 Why can’t he speak to her while others are present (38, 40)?
5 How does he communicate with her( 40)?
6 How old is she?
7 What name does he give her (41)?
8 Why are there no families in his society? What happens to all children at birth (41)?
9 What is the first thing that he says to Liberty when they get a chance to speak to each other (42)?
10 Why does she say he is “not one of her brothers?(43)”
11 What new feeling does Equality have towards other men on the bottom of p.44?
12 Why will Equality not let anyone assign him to sweep another set of roads(44)?
13 What does Equality do on p. 45 that he has never done before and that almost gets him in trouble?
14 What are men forced to feel on p.45?
15 What does Equality suddenly realize about everyone he knows on p.46?
16 What happens to Solidarity and Fraternity (47)?
17 What is the Uncharted Forest and what happens to those who escape there?
18 Who were the Evil ones (p. 48)?
19 What happened to all of the books in the old world (p.49)?
20 What does Equality start to write that frightens him?
21 What is the one crime punishable by death (49)?
22 What was the execution like that Equality saw as a child (50-51)?
23 What did the transgressor look like and what had the authorities done to him (50)?
24 Who did he look at as he died and why (51)?
25 What did Equality think the Transgressor was (50-51)?
26 What does Equality decide that he wants to know, even if he dies for it (51)?
Chapter Three:
1 What are some of the experiments Equality has tried ?
2 What power do you think he has discovered?
Chapter Four:
1 What name has Liberty made for Equality?
2 What term of affection does Equality use for her now?
3 What does Liberty bring him?
4 What does he do when she does this that shocks them both?
Anthem Chap. 5- 7 Reading Guide NAME:
Chapter 5
1. What has Equality built?
2. What does he want to do with it and why?
3. Who is coming to his city in one month ?
4. What does he intend to do and how does he think others will react to this ?
5. On p. 61, how does he feel about the box and what does he wonder about for the first time?
Chapter 6
1. Why has Equality not written for 30 days?
2.How was Equality caught?
3. What was the attitude of those who caught him?
4. What did he tell them and why did he say this?
5. Where did they take him and what did they do to him?
6. What was the one thing he wanted to protect?
7. How did he escape?
Chapter 7:
1. Where is he writing from in this chapter?
2. How did he get in to see the Council?
3. How did they react to his presence and his invention?
4. What did they tell him about inventions proposed in the past and what his fate would be?
5. What did they want to do with the box and why?
6. What do they say will happen “without the plans of the World Council”?
7. What does Equality do?
8. What does he think will happen to him now and how does he feel about this?
9. What is the only thing that really causes him pain now ?
Reading Guide Anthem 8-12
Chap. 8
1 What does Equality realize when he wakes up in the morning and how does he feel about this ?
2 What are some of the activities that Equality does that morning and how does he feel about them?
3 What does he see in the water and what does he think about it?
4 What does he do when he remembers that he is damned?
5 Where did he find the paper to continue writing in his journal?
6 What are some of the ideas that Equality is starting to doubt?
Chap. 9
1 Who finds Equality in the woods?
2 Why are they here?
3 How did they find them?
4 What does this person ask of them?
5 What does Equality realize now that this person is with him?
6 What does Equality build?
7 How does he keep the animals away ?
8 What phrase does the person with Equality try to say and find they have difficulty with it and why do they have the difficulty?
Chap. 10
1 What does Equality and Liberty find, where is it, why has it lasted and what does it look like?
2 What are some of the objects within it that impress them?
3 What decision do they make about this place and their journey?
Chap.11
1 What did Equality learn in his books?
2 What are Equalitiy’s three “treasures “he intends to guard?
3 What word does he now believe is the root of evil and corruption when it is misused?
Chap. 12
1 What was his reaction when he read the books and understood the Unspeakable word?
2 What will centuries and chains of lashes not kill, according to Equality ( 98)?
3 What was the first thing Liberty said to him when he explained what he had read to her?
4 What names did they pick for themselves and why did they choose them?
5 What did Equality feel that the Saint of Pyre had made him ?
6 What did he learn about the power of the box and what does he intend to do with it now?
7 If the members of his society come after him what will be their weapon and what will be his?
8 What has happened to Liberty on p.100?
9 What does Equality intend to go back home for one day?
10 What is the only thing that can really take man’s freedom away from him?
11 What does he hope to do one day?
12 What is the unmentionable and sacred word?
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS GUIDES:
- Who is Who in A Man for All Seasons:
- Characters connected to the House of Sir Thomas More:
- Sir Thomas More: A noted scholar, lawyer and noblemen who was once to tutor to King Henry the VIII. He is has an excellent reputation for intelligence, honesty, rhetoric and knowledge of religious and legal matters.
- Lady Alice More: The wife of Sir Thomas. She was not born a noblewoman, but rather was from the newly wealthy middle class of English merchants.
- Lady Margaret ( Meg) More: The eldest and most favored child of Sir Thomas and Lady Alice. She is beautiful, highly educated and in her mid twenties.
- William Roper: A neighbor of the More family who is known for his hot tempered views on politics, religion and just about anything else. He is also the on again off again fiancé to Meg.
- Howard, Duke of Norfolk, Marshal of England: A powerful nobleman who has been a life long friend of Sir Thomas and who frequently visits Thomas’s house.
- Matthew the Steward: Cranky and slightly greedy servant of Sir Thomas. He is played by a character called the “common man.”
- Master Richard Rich: A young scholar who was possibly a student of Sir Thomas’s at one time. He is in his early thirties and is visiting with Sir Thomas while he looks for a job.
- Characters Against the House of Sir Thomas
- King Henry VIII, ( also known as Henry Tudor): The king of England in the early 50’s. Henry was originally known as an intelligent, talented king who was a songwriter, dancer, author, and excellent athlete/ sportsman, as a well a shrewd politician. He is a friend and patron to Sir Thomas More. Thomas once helped him write one of his books and served as counselor to him for several years. However, the two friends had a falling out over Henry’s relationship with Anne Boleyn.
- Cardinal Wolsey:
- The Chancellor of England who, below the king, has probably the most power in religion and politics in the country. He is a brilliant, but corrupt and dangerous man.
- Master Thomas Cromwell: At first Cromwell works for Wolsey as his secretary and then gradually works his way up into higher and higher positions of power. He is highly intelligent, but also dangerously manipulative and ambitious.
- Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury: A high ranking church official who came to power with the help of the Boleyn family and through them won the support of the king. For decades, he served King Henry and Henry’s young son, gaining in power as others fell.
- Neutral Characters:
- Signor Eustace Chapuys: Ambassador to England from the court of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Spain. He is in England to try to stop King Henry’s divorce from his wife, Catherine.
- Common Man: A character used solely for theatrical effect in this play. This allegorical character will be the narrator and also play multiple small parts throughout the play. His role here is both practical and symbolic.
- Characters not officially in the play who are mentioned:
- Queen Catherine of Aragon: The first, (and current wife at the time of this play), of Henry VIII. She was brought to England as a teenager to marry Henry’s old brother, crown prince Arthur. When Arthur died at the age of 15, the young queen was left in England for years while the royal houses of England and Spain fought over what should be done with her for political reasons. Eventually, the Pope gave seventeen year old Henry ,( who was about 7 years younger than Catherine), the right to marry her. They eventually had a daughter together, but all of their sons died as babies. After years without a legitimate son, Henry, who had never been too faithful to Catherine anyway, decided to marry Mistress Anne Boleyn and divorce Catherine.
- Mistress Anne Boleyn: the young, ambitious and beautiful girlfriend of Henry VIII to whom Henry wishes to be married, against the wishes of the church.
- Holy Roman Emperor Charles V: The powerful and wealthy ruler of Spain and parts of Germany. Originally a friend of King Henry, he has become Henry’s dangerous enemy because Henry’s desire for a divorce is an insult to Charles’ aunt, Catherine of Aragorn.
- Princess Mary: Mary Tudor, the only living child of King Henry and Queen Catherine. She will be the eldest of Henry’s three legitimate children with various wives and will eventually become Queen of England. She is known today more by her nickname which sums up her reign as queen; Bloody Mary.
- Terms, locations and phrases to know:
- The Bar: a term for attending law school, being a lawyer or presenting a case in a courtroom.
- The Tower: The Tower of London; a castle-like structure that served as both a hotel/ meeting place of nobles at the top, and a dungeon/ torture chamber below.
- The Act of Supremacy: A legal decision to declare King Henry the supreme authority in England of secular and religious matters. In other words, everyone had to swear loyalty to Henry instead of to Henry and the Pope. It made the king the head of religion in England.
- The Act/Oath of Succession: An oath that everyone had to swear to stating that Henry’s marriage to Anne was legal and not his marriage to Catherine. This act would make Anne’s future children the heirs to the throne and remove Princess Mary from her place as future Queen. Anyone who signed this went against the command of the Pope to do so; anyone who failed to signed it went against Henry and would be declared a traitor.
- “That thing” : An insulting nickname that Wolsey uses to refer to Anne Boleyn.
- “Dominus Vobiscum” : Latin for “ May God be with you”. It is a kind blessing and a way of saying “good- bye”.
- “Are you at Richmond?” : A slang way of saying “Are you traveling to Richmond/ going to Richmond?"
- Man For All Seasons Reading Guide for Act One, scenes 1-4
- Scene One:
- 1. What is the topic of the intellectual argument that Sir Thomas More and Richard Rich are engaged in at the opening of the scene(4-5)?
- 2. What position do each of these characters take on this topic (4-5)?
- 3. Thomas is a bit concerned that Rich has been reading the work of which author (5)?
- 4. Who told Rich to read this book (5)?
- 5. How does the steward, Mathew, treat Rich (5)?
- 6. What “work” has Rich been doing over the last seven months (6)?
- 7. What job has Thomas found for Rich (7)?
- 8. Why does Thomas want Rich to take this job (7-8)?
- 9. Why do you think Rich doesn’t want to take it ?
- 10. What present does Thomas give Rich (7)?
- 11. What does Rich immediately think about doing with the
- present (7-8)?
- 12. From where did Thomas get this present and why does he offer it to Rich? What is he trying to teach him (8)?
- 13. What are Howard, Duke of Norfolk, and Lady Alice arguing loudly about when they enter the house (9-10)?
- 14. From this argument, what can you deduce about their personalities and relationship?
- 15. Why do you think Norfolk tells Meg ,(Lady Margaret), his hunting story immediately, instead of Thomas (10)?
- 16. What does Rich try to share with Norfolk during his story (11)?
- 17. How does Norfolk respond (11)?
- 18. What, in teasing, does Norfolk bet Alice (11-12)?
- 19. What is her response (11)?
- 20. What has Meg been reading and what is her opinion of it (12)?
- 21. What new title, according to Norfolk, has Master Thomas Cromwell just acquired (13)?
- 22. How does the family react to learning of Cromwell’s promotion (13)?
- 23. Note who is not listed as having a response to this announcement (13).
- 24. On p (14 ) Thomas receives a letter summoning him to go see someone, even though it is in the middle of the night. Who has summoned him?
- 25. What does Thomas tell Norfolk about Rich (15-16)?
- 26. What does the steward, Mathew, say about his master, Sir Thomas, and why does he say this “trait” of his master will hurt him one day (17)?
- Scene Two:
- 1. What does Wolsey show Thomas (18)?
- 2. Where does Wolsey say King Henry has been (20) ?
- 3. What does Wolsey seem to want to know from Thomas (20-21)?
- 4. What does Thomas say will happen if statesmen give up their private conscience for the sake of their public duties (22)?
- 5. What does Wolsey warn Thomas that he will have until he “comes down to earth” (23)?
- 6. Who does Wolsey say this (answer to # 5) will be (23)?
- Scene Three:
- 1. What did Cromwell want to know from Thomas (25)?
- 2. What did Signor Chapuys want to know (27)?
- Scene Four:
- 1. What time is it when Thomas finally gets home(29)?
- 2. Why isn’t Meg asleep (29) ?
- 3. What does William Roper want (30)?
- 4. Why does Thomas say no to this request (30-31)?
- 5. About what do Thomas and Will fight (30-31)?
- 6. What are the two reasons that Alice is upset when she wakes up and looks out of the window (33)?
- 7. What do Meg and Alice want to know from Thomas that he won’t tell them (32,34)?
- 8. What happens to Wolsey soon after his meeting with Thomas (35)?
- A Man For All Seasons Reading Guide : Scene Five- Six:
- 1. What matter does Cromwell slightly mock Rich about(38)?
- 2. What does the King want fro Thomas (39)?
- 3. What does Cromwell counter when Chapuys says ‘Thomas is a man of God’? 39
- 4. What do you think Cromwell is hinting at in this statement?
- 5. Who seems to be selling information to Chapuys and Cromwell?- 42-43
- 6. What data do both men seem be after ?
- 7. Why is Thomas’s household panicking (44-45)?
- 8. Who is coming to surprise Thomas (45)?
- 9. What is wrong with the way that Thomas is dressed?
- 10. What does Henry ask Meg (28)?
- 11. How does she answer him( 48)?
- 12. What does Meg do that displeases Henry somewhat (48)?
- 13. What does she do that makes him feel better (49)?
- 14. What does Henry want from Thomas and why does he want it (53)?
- 15. What is Thomas’s answer (53)?
- 16. What did the King promise Thomas when Thomas was made Chancellor (54)?
- 17. Who nominated Thomas for chancellor (52)?
- 18. Why does Henry feel that he must have Thomas’s support (55)?
- 19. Why is Alice worried?
- Stop at Roper’s entrance on p.60
- A Man For All Seasons Act I, Scene 6 continued-7( p. 60- end of the Act)
- 1. What job has Will been offered?
- 2. What do Will and Thomas argue about?
- 3. Why does Thomas have to insist that Will stops talking?
- 4.How does Will react when Rich comes to visit?
- 5. Why do you think he acts this way?
- 6. What is Rich’s response?
- 7. What does Rich tell Thomas about his steward and Cromwell?
- 8. What does Rich beg?
- 9. Why do you think he feels so desperately about this, given the fact Cromwell already offered to help him? Why do you think he has been clinging to Thomas?
- 10. What is Thomas’s response?
- 11. What do Meg , Will, and Alice want Thomas to do with Rich and why?
- 12. What does Will want to do with the law and why?
- 13. Why does Thomas say he’ll cling to it?
- 14. Why is Thomas a bit bitter towards God? He says he holds the laws of God hire than the laws of man but what does he find wrong with God at the moment?
- 15. Why does Alice say Thomas was harsh and stormed out?
- 16. Why were Alice’s feeling hurt ?
- Scene 7:
- 1. Why does Cromwell want a room with dark corners?
- 2. Why is he a bi annoyed with the publican ( bar tender/ innkeeper)?
- 3. Who is he meeting there?
- 4. What does he tell this person and what does he offer him?
- 5. When he asks that person if he would repeat something spoken in confidence , this person mentions both his limit, and his price for going over that limit. What are they?
- 6. What does Cromwell want to make sure this person isn’t?
- 7. What does Cromwell tell them about their innocence?
- 8. What information does Cromwell get out this person about Thomas?
- 9. When he tells him that selling out his friend “wasn’t too difficult, was it”; what does this person reply?
- 10. Look up the word “diabolically”, if you are unfamiliar with it and look at the line that Cromwell says diabolically?
- 11. What does Cromwell say would happen to a man who didn’t have any sense to get out of his way?
- 12. When this person insists Thomas won’t be frightened away, what does Cromwell do and what does this person suddenly realize about Cromwell?
- A Man For All Seasons Act II, Scene 1-2, pages 78- 105 ( STOP after Steward Matthew’s last line)
- Look up the words:
- Fastidious:
- Quibble:
- Malicious:
- Tenuous:
- Sneer:
- Impeccably:
- Obscure:
- Gesture:
- 1. Look at the stage directions in italics. How is Will dressed?
- 2. Why is he dressed this way?
- 3. What does he object to Thomas wearing?
- 4. What does Thomas say would have happened to Will if he had lived in Spain?
- 5. How, according to Thomas, can one safely arguing that the king is not the head of the church, without sounding treasonous?
- 6.Why won’t Thomas let Will tell him his opinion of the king?
- 7. What does Thomas call Will and Meg when they say they don’t want to be discreet with their opinions?
- 8. Who has come to visit Thomas and what does he call Thomas, Meg and Will?
- 9. To whom does the person compare Sir Thomas?
- 10. If the bishops give into the king, what has Thomas decided to do?
- 11. Why do you think Thomas’s visitor has come to see him? What information does he seem to be trying to communicate to him?
- 12. Norfolk comes in near the end of scene one with an announcement. What is it?
- 13. What excuse does Thomas’s first visitor make for why he is here?
- 14. What does Thomas do as a result of Norfolk’s announcement?
- 15. Who are the two people who refuse to help Thomas do this and why do they refuse?
- 16. Who are the two people who offer to support him?
- 17. What does Norfolk think of Thomas’s Reformation really is?
- 18. Why does Thomas want to support the Pope, even though he thinks the current Pope isn’t a f very good one?
- 19. Who is the only person to whom Thomas will tell his real feelings about the divorce and under what conditions will he tell them?
- 20. What “lawyer’s trap” does Thomas play on Norfolk and later on Alice?
- 21. What point is he illustrating to them by doing this?
- 22. What does he tell Norfolk about the peoplef the North country?
- 23. Why isn’t Norfolk worried about this information?
- 24. What does Thomas hope he can do with his time now?
- 25. What does Will imply is impractical gesture?
- 26. Why is the steward Mathew leaving?
- 27. How does Thomas react to this and how does that make Mathew feel?
- 28. What is Cromwell up to in scene two and how is he using the cup that Rich was given as part of this plan?
- 29. Why does he insist that Norfolk has to be a part of this?
- 30. What does Cromwell say about “Spain” that Norfolk said earlier?
- 31. What is Cromwell’s opinion of Norfolk?
- 32. From whom did Mathew apply for a job?
- Vocabulary List One for A Man For All Seasons
- Profound:
- Chagrined:
- Snub:
- Deteriorate:
- Affable:
- Ferocity:
- Mitigate :
- Stooped:
- Soapy:
- Exhalation:
- Heron:
- Rectitude:
- Convert:
- Disconsolate:
- Frivol:
- Plodder:
- Multitudinous:
- Barren:
- Discretion:
- Rostrum:
- Megalomaniac:
- A Man for All Seasons, Act II, Scenes 3-4, p 105- top of p.120, Cromwell’s line STOP before Thomas speaks.
- 1. What does Chapuys say can be a difficulty(106)?
- 2. All good men must be what, according to Chapuys (106)?
- 3. What has Chapuys brought Thomas?
- 4. Why won’t he take it?
- 5. What does he lament is “less well known” about him (108)
- 6. Why does he show this to his family (109)?
- 7. What does he do with this object (109)?
- 8. What else won’t he take in this scene that annoys Lady Alice (110) ?
- 9. Why won’t he take this ( 111)?
- 10. What does he say his family could be at the very worst and how does Alice react to this (110-111)?
- 11. Who has sent for Thomas( 112)?
- 12. Who asks to go with Thomas (112)?
- 13. What does Thomas threaten to do jokingly to get back at Cromwell (112)?
- 14. What does Roper insinuate that Cromwell is and why does Thomas insist he isn’t that (112)?
- 15. What is the only trait that Thomas says Cromwell has in common with the figure that Roper called him (113)?
- 16. Who is recording the conversation between Cromwell and Thomas (113)?
- 17. How does Thomas greet this person (113)?
- 18. How does this person react (113)?
- 19. What does this person start to write down that Cromwell tells him not to write (113)?
- 20. What does Thomas insist he does write down (114)?
- 21. Cromwell tries to entrap Thomas several ways. What does he try to use concerning the Holy Maid of Kent and how does Thomas counter this (114-5)?
- 22.What attack does Cromwell use concerning the king’s book and how does Thomas counter that?
- 23. What does Thomas say that Cromwell does not yet know about the king (116-117)”
- 24. What does Thomas respond when he is asked about the king’s marriage (117)?
- 25. What does Thomas say to Cromwell that rattles him for a moment and why does it disturb Cromwell? What is his reaction (117-118)
- 26. What does Cromwell say must be used to frighten a man and what does he have to frighten Thomas (118)
- 27. Look at what Cromwell says about why they must put Thomas away and why the king will want it. What does he say about the king’s conscience (119-120)?
- A Man For All Seasons Reading Guide Act II. Scenes 5-6, p 120. to half way down 137, Cromwell’s last line.
- 1. Why can’t Thomas get home (120)?
- 2. Why does Norfolk say Thomas should think about his friends (120)?
- 3. What does Norfolk confess to Thomas (121)?
- 4. Why does Sir Thomas purposefully pick a fight with Norfolk?
- 5. Why does Thomas say he can’t give in like everyone else (122)?
- 6. What does Norfolk say he is afraid the Thomas will do to him (122)?
- 7. What has the king just issued, according to Will and Meg and under what penality?
- A Man For All Seasons Act II Scene6
- Scene 6 switches to a jail cell and introduces that new character of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer.
- 1. What does the narrator “common man” tell us about what will eventually happen to
- Cromwell:
- Norfolk:
- Cranmer:
- Henry :
- Rich:
- 2.Why has Cromwell, Norfolk and Cranmer come to visit Thomas in jail?
- 3. Why is Thomas in jail (131)?
- 4. How many times have they come to bother him (128)?
- 5. What is Thomas willing to swear to (129)?
- 6. What isn’t he willing to swear to (130)?
- 7. Why does Norfolk almost hit Cromwell(130)?
- 8. Why does Thomas feel protected by his silence (131)?
- 9.What does Thomas make clear to Norfolk that Cromwell has been trying to explain to him for some time (132)
- 10. What does Thomas answer when Norfolk pleads with Thomas to join them for fellowship’s sake (132)?
- 11. How long has Thomas been in jail (133)?
- 12. How does Thomas say Cromwell should threaten people and when Cromwell says that is what is doing, what does Thomas reply (134)?
- 13. What two requests does Sir Thomas make and what is Cromwell’s reaction (134-135)?
- 14. What does Cromwell make the jailer swear to and why does the jailer decide on his own that he likely will not do this(135-136)?
- 15. Why is Cromwell so insistent that they break Sir Thomas( 136)?
- 16. What do you think he is worrying about (136)?
- 17. What does Rich want now(136)?
- 18. Why won’t Cromwell physically torture Thomas (137)?
- A Man For All Seasons Act II, Scenes 7-9, p.137-end
- Scene Seven
- 1. Why is Thomas initially frightened to see his daughter? Why does he fear that she is there (137)
- 2. How has Alice changed (138)?
- 3. What is Meg’s manner and mood as she offers her father the food that she brought him and why is she behaving this way (138-9)?
- 4. What did Meg have to promise in order to visit her father (139)?
- 5. What does Meg counsel her father about what God values and how does her father counter this (140)?
- 6. What does Meg truly believe. Does she agree with her father and why does she suggest that he has already done more than enough (140-141)?
- 7.When her appeal to his reason does not work, what does Meg start to describe to Thomas that hurts him (141)?
- 8. To what biblical character does Thomas compare his daughter on 141 and why does he say that the king is more merciful than she is on p.142?
- 9. What does Thomas ask Will to do with the jailer and why(142)?
- 10. What does Thomas order his family to do and why(142-143)?
- 11. Why do you think Thomas starts talking about the good food in the basket and Alice’s dress at a time like this and how does Alice react to it(143-144)?
- 12. What does Thomas truly fear (144)?
- 13. What does Alice say she fears(145)?
- 14. Why does Thomas start to break down on p. 145 (the script says his face working , which means his face is contorting as he tries not to cry) and what does Alice do in response?
- 15. What is Alice’s real opinion of her husband (145)?
- 16. What does Thomas call his wife and what does he mean by this (145)?
- 17. Look at the jailer’s role in this scene. Based on what he does, how the family reacts and how he reacts, what do you think Thomas’ means by his line “ Oh, Sweet Jesus! These plain, simple men!”
- Scene Eight :
- 1. What role does Cromwell force the Common Man ,who was recently the jailer, to play in the trial (148)?
- 2. What might be the symbolism of Cromwell’s question to the Common Man , about does the “cap fit” ?
- 3. What charge does Cromwell level against Thomas in court(150)?
- 4. Why has Thomas been called to the court again and what does he start to sense about this trial fairly quickly (150)?
- 5. Why does Thomas say that he fears his wits an memory will not serve him well at this trial (149)?
- 6.What does Thomas say about death and what do you think he is hinting at with the speech ( who is he attacking) 150?
- 7. What is Norfolk’s role in this trial and why do you think he tell Thomas that Thomas’ life lies in his own hands (151)?
- 8. What are some of Cromwell’s arguments to the jury about the significance of “silence” and how does Thomas contradict them( 151- 152)?
- 9. Look up the word “construe” and then make sure you see what Thomas does to Cromwell’s question about “what the world construes” (152)
- 10. What does Cromwell say that the law is and what does Thomas say that law is?
- 11. What word does Thomas suggest is unfamiliar to Cromwell and how does Cromwell counter that (153)?
- 12. Why do you think Thomas mentions that he is too used to hearing bad men misuse the name of God (hint: look at Cromwell’s line right before this) (153)?
- 13. How is Cromwell’s mood and manner changing throughout his debate with Thomas?
- 14. What does Thomas counter when Cromwell insinuates/suggests that Thomas is self-conceited in putting his own faith ahead of his duty to his country and king (154)?
- 15. Who is called to testify against Thomas (154)?
- 16. What part of his oath does this person nearly forget to say(154)?
- 17. How is this person’s appearance changed and how does even Norfolk view him now (154)?
- 18. What evidence does this person give against Thomas? Why do you think he says this (155-156)?
- 19. Where are the other two witnesses who were there when Thomas and this person spoke last (157)?
- 20. What oath does Thomas willingly give( 156)?
- 21. Why does Thomas say he has nothing to add or ask of the witness (p.157)?
- 22.Thomas changes his mind and asks the witness one question. What is it and what does he say to this person about their soul (158)?
- 23.Look at his manner when he says this to them and his comment on p. 156 about what he is sorrier about than his own peril. What can you surmise about Thomas from this reaction ?
- 24. What do you think was in the message from the king that Cromwell had with him and why do you think Thomas doesn’t want to hear it?
- 25.How does Thomas’ manner change as soon as the verdict is read? What does he ask the court?
- 26. What does he tell them of his views ?
- 27. Who pronounces Thomas’ sentence and what is it?
- Scene Nine:
- 1. Who walks with Thomas to the scaffold and offers him wine ?
- 2. Who pushes through the crowd to hug Thomas good bye?
- 3. What does the woman in the crowd pester Thomas with and how does he respond?
- 4. What does Thomas tell Cranmer and the executioner?
- 5 What happens to Sir Thomas?
- 6. Who was playing the executioner and what does this character tell the audience about how to stay alive in this world?