Read the story of Guy Fawkes.
Guy Fawkes and November 5th.
In November 1605, The Gunpowder Plot took place. Some Catholics plotted to blow up King James I of England. The story is remembered each November 5th. and celebrated with fireworks and ‘Guys’ (dolls) are burned on bonfires. The celebration is known as "Bonfire Night".
The story of Guy Fawkes
Catholics in England had expected the new king, King James, to be tolerant of them. But he had ordered all Catholic priests to leave England. The Catholics were very angry and a group of them decided to kill King James. His daughter Elizabeth was a Catholic and they wanted her to be queen instead. The plotters decided to kill King James and all his politicians at the same time. The opening of Parliament was a good opportunity: James and his politicians would be there on November 5th, 1605. So, the plotters rented a cellar under the Houses of Parliament and put thirty-six barrels of gunpowder there!
The plotters were:
Guy Fawkes Robert and Robert Wintour
Thomas Percy
Christopher and John Wright
Francis Tresham
Everard Digby
Ambrose Rookwood
Thomas Bates
Robert Keyes
Hugh Owen
John Grant Robert Catesby (and the man who is said to have organised the whole plot)
The most famous picture of some the conspirators
On the evening before the opening, Guy Fawkes sat in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament, waiting to set off the gunpowder.
But one of the plotters had warned his relation, Monteagle, not to go to the opening. Monteagle was a politician. Monteagle became suspicious and soldiers were sent to inspect the Houses of Parliament. Guy Fawkes was discovered in the cellars with the gunpowder. He was arrested and taken to the Tower of London where he was tortured. He gave away the names of the other conspirators.
The signature of Guy Fawkes after torture.
All the conspirators were killed or executed. Percy and Cates were shot as they tried to escape. The others were captured and sent to the Tower of London. After a short trial, they were hung, drawn and quartered, with Fawkes, in January 1606.
Tilrettelagt fra www.historylearningsite.co.uk
TASKS
· Write a glossary list for this text, with Norwegian translations.
· How many years is it since The Gunpowder plot?
· Find out about England in 1605 and make a picture presentation with captions written in English.
· England was a Protestant country in 1605 and still is. What similarities and differences are there between Catholics and Protestants?
· How many barrels of gunpowder were in the cellar under the Houses of Parliament on 4th November 1605? How do you think the Catholics got the gunpowder into the cellar without being seen? Write a list of your ideas.
· During the week before 5th November, children in England ask for “a penny for the guy.” What does this mean and what do they do?
· What is a bonfire? Did you know that the word “bonfire” is short for “bone fire.” This comes from earlier times when witches were burned.
· Write a play about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.
· Write an e-mail to a pen friend in England and ask how he or she celebrate 5th. November. What do they usually do on Bonfire Night?
· Design a firework. What will it look like? What will it do?
· Write a list of rules for using fireworks safely.
· Here is a very old poem. We don’t know who wrote it:
Please to remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
We know no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Anon
Web sites:
www.historylearningsite.co.uk/gunpowder_plot_of_1605.htm
www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/library/festivals/?section=2418
http://wwwinnotts.co.uk/asperges/fawkes/indexx.html