UNDERSTANDING OF IDEAS, CHARACTERS AND THEMES- Tra Essays

UNDERSTANDING OF IDEAS, CHARACTERS AND THEMES- Tra Essays UNDERSTANDING OF IDEAS, CHARACTERS AND THEMES- Track the development of characters rather than arguing that they are one-dimensional and fixed throughout the play. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were not always evil. They changed evolved in the response to the circumstances throughout the play. - How did the characters evolve - Macbeth - initially valorous, brave and loyal, later excessively ambitious, filled with self-doubt, ruthless. - Lady Macbeth - initially calm and decisive, later excessively ambitious, deceptive, manipulative, unstable. - Compare and contrast characters Macbeth - compare to: - King Duncan: who was a wise, virtuous, respected king, Macbeth thought he was too soft. - Banquo: who was a reasonable and rational when he received the prophecies but he was also flawed because he did not publicly voice his suspicions of Macbeth, perhaps comfortable in the knowledge that he would father a lineage of kings. - Malcolm: Provided the asses sment of Macbeth being a dead butcher' but this is framed within the context of Macbeth having murdered Malcolm's father. Lady Macbeth - compare to: - The Witches: These female characters are connected in that they are all manipulative and deceptive. They also call on evil spirits in times of need. Lady Macbeth "come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts" and the witches take guidance from Hecate. Also using the same line "Glamis thou art and cowdor and shalt be" - Lady Macduff: Who was homely, motherly and loyal to family, she also critisised her own husband who she thought was committed treason. - Use characters to discuss themes and ideas: Macbeth - The difference between kingship and tyranny, and the corrupting power of unchecked ambition. Lady Macbeth - Females as manipulative, deceptive and tempting (females weapons) ANALYSIS OF HOW AND WHY THE AUTHOR CONSTRUCTS MEANING- You need to display an understanding of the literary devices that Shakespeare used and the effect that these have on the construction of meaning within the play. Refer to the following motifs and symbols. - Description of the Setting: The barren heath was misty, dark and eerie which represents the supernatural aspect of the play. The wild storms and great tremors represented the violations of the natural order. - Equivocations were used to tempt, confuse, manipulate and deceive characters into expressing their latent destructive qualities. - Blood - guilt and remorse- Animals - unnatural behavior represented the violations of the natural order.- Clothing - lil-fitting positions and improperly gained statuses. - Consider the context of Jacobian England - The gunpower plot and the assassination attempt King James. Shakespeare was a "King's Man" and was providing a warning to the general populace of the dangers of regicide. INTERPRETATION OF THE TEXT IN RESPONDING TO THE QUESTION - Clearly state the topic at the very beginning of the essay.- Identify the key words in the topic and perceptively explore the possible discussion points.- Write a distinct topic sentence in the introduction for each of the separate argument that you will use to support your overall contention.- Each paragraph must support the overall contention. (you can write a good paragraph, but if it does not address the topic then it is irrelevant) INTERPRETATION An interpretation is a particular and specific understanding of a text. This implies that there are multiple possible interpretations of Macbeth. Mention an alternative to contrast with your suggested understanding. Eg. "It can be argued that the female characters were responsible for Macbeth's downfall, however Macbeth was both aware of, and responsible for his actions and their consequences when he said "O horror, horror, horror!" (Act 2, Scene 3, line 59) when he killed King Duncan. He clearly knew what he was doing. USE OF APPROPRAITE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE AND RELEVANT METALANGUAGE- Use at least one major quote per paragraph, but don't limit yourself to that. Try not to use more than 2 or 3 lines from the play per quote. - The quote must support your discussion, or in other words be appropriate - Embed the quote within your sentence rather than write, "This quote shows" - this is sloppy and clunky language. - When using specific or individual words from the play, claim them as quotes. For example: "instruments of darkness" - Metalanguage - use terms such

Biography of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England

Biography of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England Elizabeth Woodville (1437–June 7 or 8, 1492, and known variously as Lady Grey, Elizabeth Grey, and Elizabeth Wydevill) was the commoner wife of Edward IV, who had a key  role in the War of the Roses and in the succession battle between the Plantagenets and Tudors. She is best known today as a character in Shakespeares  Richard III  (as Queen Elizabeth) and the title character in the 2013 television series  The White Queen. Fast Facts: Elizabeth Woodville Known For: A commoner who was destined to become wife of Edward IV, mother of Edward V, sister-in-law of Richard III, mother-in-law of Henry VII and grandmother of Henry VIIIBorn: About 1837 in Grafton, rural NorthamptonshireParents: Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford and Sir Richard WoodvilleDied: June 7 or 8, 1492.Spouse(s): Sir John Grey (ca. 1450–1461); Edward IV (1464–1483)Children: Two with John Grey (Thomas Grey (Marquess of Dorset) and Richard Grey) and 10 with Edward IV (Elizabeth of York who married Henry VII; Mary; Cecily; Edward V; Margaret; Richard; Anne who married Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey); George; Catherine who married William Courtney, Earl of Devon; and Bridget. The two princes in the tower were Richard and Edward V Early Life Elizabeth Woodville was probably born at Grafton in rural Northamptonshire, England, about 1437, the eldest of the 12 children of Richard Woodville and Jacquetta de Luxembourg. Elizabeths mother Jacquetta was the daughter of a Count  and a descendant of Simon de Montfort and his wife Eleanor, the daughter of Englands King John. Jacquetta was the wealthy and childless widow of the Duke of Bedford, brother of Henry V, when she married Sir Richard Woodville. Her sister-in-law Catherine of Valois also married a man of lower station after she was widowed. Two generations later,  Catherines grandson Henry Tudor married Jacquettas granddaughter, Elizabeth of York. Jacquettas second husband and Elizabeths father was the less highborn county knight Sir Richard Woodville. At the age of 7, Elizabeth was sent to another landed household (a custom of the period was to trade children so that they would have social contacts in the future), probably Sir Edward Grey and his wife Elizabeth, Lady Ferrers. There, she had formal lessons in reading, writing (in English, French, and Latin), and a grounding in law and mathematics. The Woodville family was wealthy when Elizabeth was born, but as the Hundred Years War wound down and the Wars of the Roses conflict began, the familys finances became straitened, and as a result, Elizabeth married John Grey (7th Baron Ferrers of Groby) in 1452 when she was about 14 years of age. The recently knighted Grey was killed at the Second Battle of St. Albans in 1461, fighting for the Lancastrian side in the Wars of the Roses. Elizabeth petitioned Lord Hastings, Edwards uncle, in a controversy over land with her mother-in-law. She arranged a marriage between one of her sons and one of Hastings daughters. Ancestry Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of King John of England, was the 8th great grandmother of Elizabeth Woodville through her mother Jacquetta.  Her husband Edward IV and son-in-law Henry VII were, of course, also descendants of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Elizabeth Woodville   Jacquetta of Luxembourg   Margherita del Balzo Sueva Orsini Nicola Orsini Roberto Orsini Anastasia de Montfort Guy de Montfort Eleanor Plantagenet John of England Eleanor of Aquitaine Meeting and Marriage with Edward IV How Elizabeth met Edward is not known for certain, though an early legend has her petitioning him by waiting with her sons beneath an oak tree. Another story circulated that she was a sorceress who bewitched him, but she may have simply known him from court. Legend has her giving Edward, a known womanizer, an ultimatum that they had to be married or she would not submit to his advances. On May 1, 1464, Elizabeth and Edward married secretly. Edwards mother, Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, and Cecilys nephew, the Earl of Warwick who had been an ally of Edward IV in winning the crown, had been arranging a suitable marriage for Edward with the French king. When Warwick found out about Edwards marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, Warwick turned against Edward and helped restore Henry VI briefly to power. Warwick was killed in battle as were Henry and his son, and Edward returned to power. Elizabeth Woodville was crowned Queen in Westminster Abbey on May 26, 1465; both of her parents were present for the ceremony. Elizabeth and Edward had three sons and six daughters- Elizabeth of York who married Henry VII; Mary; Cecily; Edward V, briefly King of England (not crowned); Margaret; Richard, Duke of York; Anne who married Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey; George, Duke of Bedford; Catherine who married William Courtney, Earl of Devon; and Bridget. Elizabeth also had two sons by her first husband- Thomas Grey, the Marquis of Dorset and Richard Grey. One was an ancestor of the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey. Family Ambitions Her extensive and, by all accounts, ambitious family was favored heavily after Edward took the throne. Her eldest son from her first marriage, Thomas Grey, was created Marquis Dorset in 1475. Elizabeth promoted the fortunes and advancement of her relatives, even at the cost of her popularity with the nobles. In one of the most scandalous incidents, Elizabeth may have been behind the marriage of her brother, 19 years old, to the widowed  Katherine Neville,  the wealthy Duchess of Norfolk, 80 years old. But the grasping reputation was enhanced- or created- first  by Warwick in 1469 and later by Richard III, who had their  own reasons for wanting Elizabeths and her familys reputations to be diminished. Among her other activities, Elizabeth continued her predecessors support of Queens College. Widowhood When Edward IV died suddenly on April 9, 1483, Elizabeths fortunes abruptly changed. Her husbands brother Richard of Gloucester was appointed Lord Protector since Edwards eldest son Edward V  was a minor. Richard moved quickly to seize power, claiming- apparently with the support of his mother Cecily Neville- that the children of Elizabeth and Edward were illegitimate because Edward had been previously formally betrothed to someone else. Elizabeths brother-in-law Richard took the throne as Richard III, imprisoning Edward V (never crowned) and then his younger brother, Richard. Elizabeth took sanctuary. Richard III then demanded that Elizabeth also turn over custody of her daughters, and she complied. Richard attempted to marry first his son, then himself, to Edward and Elizabeths oldest daughter, known as Elizabeth of York, hoping to make his claim to the throne more solid. Elizabeths sons by John Grey joined in the battle to overthrow Richard. One son, Richard Grey,  was beheaded by King Richards  forces; Thomas joined Henry Tudors forces. Mother of a Queen After Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at Bosworth Field and was crowned Henry VII, he married Elizabeth of York- a marriage arranged with the support of Elizabeth Woodville and also of Henrys mother, Margaret Beaufort. The marriage took place in January 1486, uniting the factions at the end of the Wars of the Roses  and making the claim to the throne more certain for the heirs of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. Princes in the Tower The fate of the two sons of Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV, the Princes in the Tower, is not certain. That Richard imprisoned them in the Tower is known. That Elizabeth worked to arrange the marriage of her daughter to Henry Tudor may mean that she knew, or at least suspected, that the princes were already dead. Richard III is generally believed to have been responsible for removing the possible claimants to the throne, but some theorize that Henry VII was responsible. Some have even suggested Elizabeth Woodville was complicit. Henry VII re-proclaimed the legitimacy of the marriage of Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV. Elizabeth was the godmother of the first child of Henry VII and her daughter Elizabeth, Arthur. Death and Legacy In 1487, Elizabeth Woodville was suspected of plotting against Henry VII, her son-in-law, and her dowry was seized and she was sent to Bermondsey Abbey. She died there on June 8 or 9, 1492. She was buried in St. Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle near her husband. In 1503, James Tyrell was executed for the deaths of the two princes, sons of Edward IV, and the claim was that Richard III was responsible. Some later historians have pointed their fingers at Henry VI instead. The truth is that there is not any sure evidence of when, where, or by what hands the princes died. In Fiction Elizabeth Woodvilles life has lent itself to many fictional depictions, though not often as the main character.  She is, however, the main character in the British series, The White Queen. Elizabeth Woodville is Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeares Richard III. She and Richard are depicted as bitter enemies, and  Margaret  curses Elizabeth with having her husband and children killed, as Margarets husband and son were killed by Elizabeths husbands supporters. Richard is able to charm Elizabeth into turning over her son and agreeing to his marriage to her daughter. Sources Baldwin, David. Elizabeth Woodville: Mother of the Princes in the Tower. Gloucestershire: The History Press (2002).  Print.Okerlund, Arlene N. Elizabeth of York: Queenship and Power. New York: Palgrave Macmillan (2009). Print.