“Henry VIII” Discussion
Details
Minneapolis Central Library: Room N-202.
There is underground parking beneath the library, off 4th St. S., for about $5. Go in to the Library lobby and then in to the book stacks area. Take the elevator or stairs up to the 2nd floor, then go all the way to the left.
This is a discussion about the play, not a reading or showing of it.
’Tis better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perked up in a glist’ring grief,
And wear a golden sorrow.
– Anne, in Henry VIII, Act 2, Scene 3
I have touched the highest point of all my greatness,
And from that full meridian of my glory,
I haste now to my setting. I shall fall
Like a bright exhalation in the evening,
And no man see me more.
– Cardinal Wolsey, in Henry VIII, Act 3, Scene 2
Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate thee:
Corruption wins not more than honesty.
– Cardinal Wolsey, in Henry VIII, Act 3, Scene 2
Men’s evil manners live in brass, their virtues
We write in water.
– Griffith, in Henry VIII, Act 4, Scene 2
SYNOPSIS (from the Folger Library)
• Two stories dominate Henry VIII: the fall of Cardinal Wolsey, Henry’s powerful advisor, and Henry’s quest to divorce Queen Katherine, who has not borne him a male heir, and marry Anne Bullen (Boleyn).
• First, the Duke of Buckingham questions Wolsey’s costly staging of a failed meeting with the French king. Wolsey arrests Buckingham and accuses him of treason; testimony from a bribed witness leads to Buckingham’s execution. Queen Katherine takes a stand against Wolsey. Wolsey gives a party at which Henry meets Anne.
• Henry falls in love with Anne and seeks to divorce Katherine, but Katherine refuses to be judged by Wolsey and other church officials. The king secretly marries Anne and then has her crowned queen. Meanwhile, Henry discovers Wolsey’s treachery against him. Wolsey, arrested, falls sick and dies. Katherine also sickens and dies.
• Cranmer, the new archbishop of Canterbury, comes under attack, but receives the king’s support. Anne gives birth to a daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth. Cranmer prophesies marvelous reigns for her and her unnamed successor, James.
FREE VIDEOS - FULL PLAY (YOUTUBE)
• Shakespeare 2020LA, Henry VIII (Part 1) (script reading by actors)
• Shakespeare 2020LA, Henry VIII (Part 2) (script reading by actors)
• Instant Shakespeare Company (script reading by actors)
FREE VIDEOS - OTHER (YOUTUBE)
• Tim Nance: Shakespeare’s Henry VIII Discussion and Summary
KANOPY APP
Download the free app. Then link your library account to it. This will allow you free access to many Shakespeare plays. You can also watch the Shakespeare series “Upstart Crow” for free.
ARTICLES
• Wikipedia: Henry VIII by Shakespeare
• About Shakespeare’s Henry VIII by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine
• A Modern Perspective: Henry VIII by Barbara A. Mowat
• Appendix on Authorship
• AI reveals Shakespeare and Fletcher’s different roles in Henry VIII
• Royal Shakespeare Company: Henry VIII
• SparkNotes: Henry VIII Character Descriptions
• SparkNotes: Henry VIII Full Play Summary
• SparkNotes: Henry VIII Full Play Analysis
• Further Reading: Henry VIII
PODCAST
• Shakespeare Unlimited podcast and transcript:
Will Somer: Peter K. Andersson on Henry VIII’s Court Fool
GENERAL RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
• The Folger Shakespeare Library has free and paid (includes notes) downloadable texts of all of Shakespeare’s plays.
• The Folger Library: Shakespeare Documented has copies of original documents from Shakespeare’s time.
• PlayShakespeare: The Ultimate Free Shakespeare Research
• Podcast: “Approaching Shakespeare”
• Podcast: “Shakespeare Unlimited” Play by Play
• Play On Podcasts
• SparkNotes 101: Shakespeare [Excellent synopses of all the plays.]
• Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber [Excellent analysis of all the plays.] Kindle edition only $5.99!
FACEBOOK PAGES
• The Official William Shakespeare Page
• Shakespeare Study Group
• William Shakespeare: His Works and His World
APP
• Shakespeare App
BEST SHAKESPEARE USED BOOK SELECTIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES
• Midway Books, St. Paul
• The Book House, Minneapolis
• James & Mary Laurie Booksellers, Minneapolis
• Magers and Quinn, Minneapolis
• Half Price Books