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WORKSHOP: Marlowe's Edward II

By Don Finkel

Divide into groups of 8. Spend 25 minutes on each part.

Part I.

1. What were the barons' objections to Edward II? Were these objections justified?

2. What might Edward III have learned from living through his father's reign? What might Elizabeth I have learned from watching the play?

3. Try to formulate an alternative interpretation of the essential events that are portrayed in the play.

Part II.

4. Discuss the nature of the conflict between the public and private life of a monarch as it is represented in this play.

5. Why do you think this would be a topic of concern to Marlowe during the last ten year's of Elizabeth's reign?

6. Shakespeare and Marlowe wrote all their history (except Henry VIII) plays between 1590 and 1599. Why would do you think this be a popular genre during this decade, and why would it die out so suddenly?

Part III.

7. Do you find it surprising that the same author wrote Edward II and Dr. Faustus? Discuss.

8. What similarities of theme or parallels in general do you see between the two plays? (For what it's worth, "lightborn" rendered in latin is "lucifer.")

9. Use the remaining time to discuss whatever else you find of interest in the play.

COME BACK TOGETHER FOR WHOLE CLASS DISCUSSION AT 12:45. APPOINT ONE PERSON TO REPORT FOR YOUR GROUP.