This is a reading Journal First thing to do is read the two guides attached (THIS IS VERY VERYVERY IMPORTANT). DO NOT TELL THE PLAY. DO NOT REVIEW THE PLOT. tell what you think about the plot instead + what we learn from each part of it .
Please watch for grammar mistakes. This is all based on your opinion and what you think about the story. Read: Robert Bolt’s A Man For All Seasons.
http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Man_For_All_Seasons/Man_For_All_Seasons01.html
It is ok to use other online sources, but make sure to cite them. DO NOT QUOTE from the text. Use MLA style for citations. I will not accept incomplete work or average quality work. The conclusion in the last page must represent all 6 pages.
Whats in each page?
- Use the first 2 pages to clarify the actions of the play using ur own point of view.
- In page 3 and 4 consider answering some these questions using ur own thoughts.
3) In pages 5,6 write about what lessons did u learn from the play (in details)
Questions to consider for page 3 and 4:
- Conscience: clash of laws: laws of England and Law of Godan informed conscience: knowing the laws of the Church thoroughly; ‘a fine theologian in his own right.
Discussion for the friendship between More and HenryDifficulties breaking it up over a central issue in it
Henry seemed to need More’s approval to wed Anne as a King needs a prophet’s legitimacy. Hence More’s agreement is crucial as he is the most prominent lawyer, even a saint in the land
Henry is not a man sure of his ground, ‘a man of bluff and appetites’
2.Selfhood
“an adamantine sense of himself”
judged in the afterlife on decisions made in this life
an ascetic; strong and rigorous; able to stand alone and firm and sure in himself.
Hence the title: A Man for All Seasons: a man through thick and thin, a man with a sure purpose, not a ‘hail fellow well met friend’; a man of principle; not going with the flow, not a jellyfish floating with the fashion; not a narky conscientious objector either, but a man of his own destiny, a man with a true sense of his worth before the might of God.
“a very small area where a man must rule himself” How can we take off part of the self? Isn’t every thing involved in this decision (body, mind, family, position,etc.)? That part of himself that is impregnable. Need to decide at what point a man must stand firm.
- Is More a model for us?
These days,we are judged on what we do, not wh owe are.
- Write 50 words on the issue as they have discussed it (clash of laws, law of God, laws of the land, law of the heart, etc.)
- Friendship (More and the King)
Bonds of friendship encompass differences; mutual respect; More evades making waves, evades confrontation
- Selfhood
Bolt gave More an adamantine sense of himself; impregnable strong and rigorous; the historical More and Bolt’s distortion of More; “a very small area where a man must rule himself”; not a narky, conscientious objector either; man with a destiny; a true sense of his worth before God:
- Identify the context of this scene: Who are the protagonists? When in the play does this scene occur? What has led up to it?
- “Deathcomes….”
Describe the tone of these comments.
What figure of speech does More use here to dramatise the action of Death?
Is it effective?
More’s emphasis on “bodies” implies what other realities? Suggest why does he does so.
- “Treason is enoughhere!”
If the original charge fails to stick, Cromwell finds enough material evidence in the secomments by More. Doyou?
How does Cromwell define treason? Why?
- Compare this scene with Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas, theHigh Priest (Matt 26:65).There they similarly found that if the trumped-up charge might not stick, at least his claim to be the Son of God was blasphemy enough. Such parallels are not accidental in Bolt’s craft;playwrights allow for such powerful associations in the audience’s collective memory. Comment.
Useful links:
An excellent study site for the play is immodestly but appropriately titled “The Best A Man for All Seasons Study Site.”Familiarize yourself with Act I of this play of two acts. [The “Introduction” is helpful and can be used as well, and there are a couple of filmed versions available here and there, but the web site alone should serve you well.] This site, particularly for the plan of the play and the historical background material, should be helpful. In addition, I’ve attached a Henry VIII and the Tutors, a site useful for Henry’s background, as well as a series of key quotations taken from the first act.
