Assignment IV: The King's Wives (part I)

Below you will find several homework options to choose from. The first 30 points will count as homework and anything over that, up to a total of 60 points, will count as extra credit (but I can't give you credit for more than 60 points total).

Please send your homework to hol.thetudors@gmail.com

The subject line should be "HW 4 - The Tudors"

Don't forget to put your HOL name and House at the top of your email.

This assignment is due no later than December 31st, 11:59 pm HOL time.

Choose any combination of the options below to get a total of 60 points. Only the first 60 points will be graded. This assignment is due no later than December 31st, 11:59 pm HOL time. Send your work to hol.thetudors@gmail.com, subject line "HW 4 - The Tudors" and don't forget to put your HOL name and House at the top of your email.

Short Answer (10 points):

Answer each of these questions in one to three complete sentences.

1. What is a dispensation?

2. What deformity did Anne's enemies claim she had?

3. Who was Katherine of Aragon's powerful nephew?

4. Who finally declared Henry's marriage to Katherine null and void?

5. What relative of Anne's was a juror at her treason trial?

True or False (10 points):

If the statement is false, please correct it.

1. Katherine lived in great uncertainty for many years after Arthur's death.

2. Henry VIII was reluctant to marry Katherine and took his time about doing so.

3. Anne had the traditionally pretty looks of the time, being blonde and fair-skinned.

4. Katherine broke down in hysterics during the hearings about the legality of her marriage.

5. Anne had only one child, a daughter named Elizabeth.

Fill in the Blank (10 points):

1. Anne was sentenced to be ______ and ________, the standard punishment for a traitor, but as was traditional for a ______ victim, the sentence was changed to _________.

2. Henry may have already been in love with _____ _______, the woman he would later marry, but he was also genuinely concerned about who would inherit his _______.

3. Anne's _____ looks and ___________ ways had charmed Henry utterly, and some said that she had used ___________ to ensnare him so completely.

Multiple Choice (10 points):

1. Why did Henry need special permission to marry Katherine?

A. His father objected to the marriage.

B. She was his brother's widow.

C. Henry had already been divorced.

D. She was older than he was.

2. Of what crime was Anne found guilty?

A. Spying for France.

B. Murder.

C. Treason.

D. Theft.

3. What title did Katherine have after she was widowed?

A. The Princess of Wales.

B. The Dowager Princess of Wales.

C. The Infanta.

D. None.

4. Why were Katherine's years as a widow particularly unhappy?

A. She was short of money.

B. Her English was poor and made her feel isolated.

C. Her mother-in-law, who had always been kind to her, had passed away.

D. All of the above.

5. Who was Thomas Cranmer?

A. The Archbishop of Canterbury.

B. The Holy Roman Emperor.

C. The Pope.

D. Anne Boleyn's lawyer.

Essay/Opinion (10 points each):

1. Usually, in medieval and Renaissance times, royal wives who had been unable to produce children (or at least sons) would obligingly retire to a convent in order for their husbands to be free to marry again. Why do you think Katherine of Aragon was so set against doing that and instead continued to insist that she was Henry's lawful wife? There's no right answer here, I'd just like your views based on what was covered in the lesson.

2. For centuries, historians have debated over Anne Boleyn. Was she the wicked, charming temptress her enemies made her out to be? Was she merely a pawn, used by her father and other ambitious relatives in order to gain favor from the king? Or was she something else entirely? Give your opinion on Anne's true motives and character. Again, there's no right answer, but I'd like to hear your opinions.

3. When Anne Boleyn went to the scaffold, her last words describing King Henry were: "for a gentler nor more merciful prince was there never; and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord." Why do you believe she choose words of peace, rather than taking advantage of the public execution to criticize him, or declare her innocence? Again, there are no right or wrong answers.

Art (30 points):

"Never shall I forget the sorrow I felt when I saw the most serene Queen, your most religious mother, carrying you, still a little baby, in her arms, and entreating the most serene King your father in Greenwich Palace, from the open window of which he was looking into the courtyard when she brought you to him."

A man named Alexander Aless wrote this to Elizabeth after she was queen, describing Anne's last days, as she waited for her sentence to be carried out. He had been at the court at that time, and had always believed Anne to be innocent, as many did. Anne may have pleaded for mercy for herself, or begged Henry to be kind to his daughter, then two and a half years old, but whatever was said -- no one knows for certain -- this image has always been one of the first things I picture whenever Tudor history is mentioned. Since I'm terrible at drawing, maybe some of you would be kind enough to draw the scene for me. Then please upload the image to Photobucket or a similar hosting site and send me the link.

Creative Writing (30 points):

Or write out what you think was said by Anne and Henry during this last, poignant meeting. This can be in the form of a short story, dialogue as in a play, or even a poem -- however you feel inspired to write it. I'm looking for creativity more than word count here, but 150-200 words is a good range to start with.

Research (30 points):

Despite Henry VIII's break with Rome, he still considered himself Catholic and England a Catholic country -- just no longer under the control of the Pope. It would be left to his son, Edward VI, to continue the reforms that would create what is today the Church of England. Do some research on the Protestant Reformation in England and summarize what happened. Do you think this is what Henry truly wanted or expected? Cite your sources, please, and do not copy-paste. The minimum for full points is 250 words.