OCR a Level English Literature Delivery Guide Learner Resource Context Activity 2 the Virgin

Edward II - Activity 2. The Virgin Queen

Introduction: in this activity and the extension task you will consider how historical context impacted on Marlowe when he wrote the play, and the audience when they watched it.

Student guidance:

Click on the links in the table below. The first hyperlink is an obscure clue to a context that

 may have influenced Marlowe

 may have influenced audience reaction

The second clue is more obvious. Click on this one as well if you need to. The third clue gives you the answer.

In the second column, say how this contextual factor may have influenced the content of Edward II.

In the third column, find a line that resonates linked to this context.

Finally, say how an Elizabethan audience, or even Elizabeth I may have responded, linked to the context. And/or say how a contemporary audience might react. Bring in any linguistic or dramatic techniques used by Marlowe when considering the likely effect on an audience, if they are relevant.

See if you can guess from the other links which aspect of the play’s historical context might have influenced how the play was written or received.

Research more of the historical and social context, and add links in the blank boxes that give clues to these contexts. Can your fellow students guess the contexts, and find lines that resonate due to these contexts? And say how an audience might react?

Version 1 1 © OCR 2016 Christopher Marlowe: Edward II Clue Do you think Which lines How might an this context are influenced Elizabethan/c influenced by this ontemporary Marlowe as context? audience he wrote react to the Edward II? line? How? 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=d8J3uQpLiUM

http://www.vogue.com/865260/be yonce-knowles-the-queen-b/

http://www.goodreads.com/book/s how/220736.The_Men_Who_Wo uld_Be_King

2 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wi ki/File:Foxe %27s_Book_of_Martyrs_title_pag e.jpg

http://www.ccel.org/f/foxe/martyrs/ fox116.htm

3 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes /b06pmnwn

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richa rd_Baines

Version 1 2 © OCR 2016 Christopher Marlowe: Edward II Clue Do you think Which lines How might an this context are influenced Elizabethan/c influenced by this ontemporary Marlowe as context? audience he wrote react to the Edward II? line? How? 4

Version 1 3 © OCR 2016 Christopher Marlowe: Edward II Clue Do you think Which lines How might an this context are influenced Elizabethan/c influenced by this ontemporary Marlowe as context? audience he wrote react to the Edward II? line? How?

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