Across
- 3. William the ____: Duke of Normandy who invaded England in 1066, won the Battle of Hastings, and became king. Established Norman rule, centralized monarchy, and feudalism, shaping English political structures for centuries.
- 7. The belief that all creation was arranged in a fixed hierarchy by God—from angels to monarchs to peasants to animals. Breaking this order caused chaos.
- 10. ___ of Aragon: Henry VIII’s first wife; marriage annulled after failing to produce a male heir. Her treatment sparked England’s split from the Catholic Church.
- 11. The doctrine that monarchs are chosen by God and answer only to Him; disobedience or regicide was considered a mortal sin.
- 12. King ___: Relative of Queen Elizabeth I; appointed to the throne after her death (no heirs). Monarch of England and Scotland, patron of Shakespeare; obsessed with witchcraft and legitimate kingship—both central to Macbeth.
- 14. Edward the _____: King of England before the Norman Conquest; known for his piety and the construction of Westminster Abbey. His death without a clear heir led to a succession crisis, setting the stage for William the Conqueror’s rise.
- 17. The open-air London playhouse associated with Shakespeare’s company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, where many of his plays—including Macbeth—were performed.
- 19. Betrayal of one’s ruler or country. Macbeth’s murder of Duncan reflects the ultimate act of treason in a monarchy.
Down
- 1. The period of King James I (1603–1625). Macbeth was written early in his reign and reflects his interests in witchcraft, order, and legitimate rule.
- 2. Ann ___: Henry’s second wife and mother of Elizabeth I; executed for alleged adultery and treason. Symbolizes court intrigue and the dangers of ambition and manipulation.
- 4. The ____ Plot - A failed attempt by a group of Catholic conspirators, led by Guy Fawkes, to assassinate King James I by blowing up the House of Lords. The plot heightened fears of treason, conspiracies, and divine punishment, which influenced Shakespeare’s portrayal of regicide, ambition, and political chaos in Macbeth.
- 5. A 16th-century movement challenging the Catholic Church, leading to Protestantism. Religious tensions and moral introspection influenced Renaissance literature. Figures include Martin Luther.
- 6. Holinshed’s _______: Shakespeare used historical sources like this to craft Macbeth’s story; he changes some elements of it to fit his vision for the play.
- 8. The period of English history that follows the Anglo-Saxon Period and precedes the Renaissance. This was the time of knights, chivalry “fair ladies,” the Crusades, pilgrimages, feudalism, serfdom, etc.
- 9. A book written by King James I about witchcraft and the devil; Shakespeare included witches to appeal to his king’s interests.
- 13. Powerful Renaissance ruler who supported the arts and established England’s cultural golden age. Daughter of Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn, his second wife, who he beheads. Elizabeth provides no heir to the throne upon her death.
- 15. A period of cultural and intellectual “rebirth” in Europe (14th–17th centuries) emphasizing art, science, human reason, and classical learning. In England, it spanned roughly from the late 1400s to the early 1600s.
- 16. Battle of _____: A decisive battle in which William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold II of England to claim the English throne. This marked the beginning of Norman rule in England, reshaping the monarchy, feudal system, and governance. Marks the beginning of the Medieval Period.
- 18. Renaissance philosophy that celebrated human potential, reason, and worldly achievement; it inspired literature that explored human motivation and morality.
- 20. This era of British history includes the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603), a time of political stability, flourishing arts, and national pride; early Shakespearean drama thrived under her rule.