SHAKESPEARE WEEK - FAMILY TRAIL

Transcription

1 SHAKESPEARE WEEK - FAMILY TRAIL Work together following the trail of people who were important in Shakespeare s time marked on the map. Please look around and investigate, there is a lot to see!

2 1 William Shakespeare is famous for being a great playwright. Find Henry V and Henry VI in the stained glass windows, Shakespeare wrote plays about both of these kings. Both kings are holding a sceptre but what else? 2 Can you find Ben Jonson? Find this stone on the wall, then look around on the floor to find Jonson s grave. It is a very small grave stone as he is the only person in Westminster Abbey to be buried standing up! Did you Know? Ben Jonson was writing plays at the same time as Shakespeare who even acted in one of them. Jonson went to Westminster School, just around the corner. In the first printed collection of Shakespeare s plays Jonson wrote that Shakespeare was not of an age but for all time! People have been worshipping here for over 1,000 years! Services still take place here every day. Light a candle if you would like to, please ask for an adult s help.

3 3 The Unknown Warrior was brought back from France to be buried here after the First World War; here we remember all those soldiers who have died for their country in war. Kings in Shakespeare s plays were often fighting wars in France. Fill in the blanks to learn more about Shakespeare s English Kings. Choose from Richard III Henry VI Henry IV KING Henry V Henry VIII Richard II John CLUE 1215 Magna Carta II Crowned, married and buried in the Abbey IV Shakespeare wrote two plays about his reign H 1415 Battle of Agincourt H Shakespeare wrote three plays about his reign from 1422 to III King s body found in car park! Six wives! All these kings were crowned at the Abbey, James I was crowned in Shakespeare s lifetime. Shakespeare might have come to watch! Imagine you are James I walking to your coronation, think about what sounds you might have heard. Look up! Did you know it would take about 17 fully grown adults standing on top of each other to reach the top! Walk through the Quire to the High Altar to look at the Cosmati Pavement

4 4 Find the circle in the middle. Kings and queens are crowned here on the Coronation Chair. Imagine what you would feel like sitting here Now look around at the shape of the Abbey. Why do you think the centre of the Abbey is called the crossing? Turn left into the Chapel of St. Michael in the North Transept 5 Look at the different statues dressed in Tudor and Jacobean clothing this is how people dressed in Shakespeare s time. Can you see? Headdress Bodice Armour Ruff Armour Headdress Ruff Bodice Ruff

5 Go to St. John the Baptist Chapel 6 This is the biggest tomb in the Abbey! Henry Carey was Lord Chamberlain and Shakespeare was a member of his acting company, The Lord Chamberlain s Men. The tomb has lots of decoration including coats of arms. Design a coat of arms with symbols and patterns that are important to you Leave this chapel, then go up the stairs to the left 7 Elizabeth I was the Queen for most of Shakespeare s life. Look at what she is wearing and holding to show that she is Queen: Circle what you can see Sceptre Hoody Orb Cap Ruff Crown Jeans Dress Continue up the steps into the Lady Chapel 8 Look all around including the ceiling. Use one word to describe this part of the Abbey. The first Tudor King, Henry VII, built the Lady Chapel. He is buried here with his wife Elizabeth of York. Can you see any Tudor symbols in here?

6 Go past their tomb to the Royal Air Force Chapel stained glass window 9 This window reminds us of those who fought in World War Two in the Battle of Britain. Can you see any writing? CLUE It is in the bottom near the middle We few we happy few we band of brothers This line is from Shakespeare s play Henry V, used here hundreds of years after it was first written. Talk about your favourite line from a book or film. On your way back down the steps look out for where Henry V and many other kings are buried. All the kings that Shakespeare wrote about would have visited Westminster Abbey to pray at the shrine of Edward the Confessor. Then continue around the Abbey to Poet s Corner. 10 CLUE Look on floor, walls & in windows Lots of famous writers and actors are buried and remembered here. Look around to see how many names you recognise. Can you find the Prince of Poets, Edmund Spenser? CLUE Near toilets! It is said that at his funeral in 1599, writers and poets threw lines they had written into his grave. Shakespeare may have been one of them! Look on the floor to find the poet and playwright who died in 1616, the same year as Shakespeare. Solve the anagram to help you.

7 11 Come and find me. I am buried in my home town of Stratford-upon-Avon but also remembered here in London, where I wrote my plays. Look carefully at how I am standing. Do your best Shakespeare pose but be careful not to fall over! I wrote a play about Richard III. What animal is missing from its famous line below? Circle the answer A ! a ! my kingdom for a ! Flamingo Meerkat Hamster Horse Did you know? Richard III s body was found underneath a car park in Leicester! If I were alive today what would you ask me? On the floor next to Shakespeare find Laurence Olivier, Henry Irving and David Garrick. They are all famous for acting in Shakespeare s plays in different times. 12 Before you leave, go back into the Abbey to see the chair kings and queens of England sit on when they are crowned. What do you think the chair would feel like to sit on? Find a picture of Richard II wearing a crown. Shakespeare wrote about Henry IV taking the throne from Richard. Henry said Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown Talk about why it might be difficult being a king or queen?

8 Thank you very much for visiting us today. Collect your prize for finishing from the Westminster Abbey shop on your way out. Shakespeare also wrote poems, if you would like to, write your own poem about your visit to Westminster Abbey. If you want to share your poem or anything about your visit today, please us at