3.4. Mary Tudor- Bloody Or Just Misunderstood - Rhyme.pptx

FOCUS QUESTION: Was Mary I really ‘bloody’ or just misunderstood?

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells, And cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row.

Just a Nice Nursery Rhyme? 1. Try to work out the real meaning behind each line of the Nursery Rhyme. - Think about the imagery and what the author was trying to represent. 2. Do you think this is a good indication of popular opinion at the time? Explain why.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,  ‘Contrary’ means opposite. If a person is contrary it often means that they take a different view just for the sake of it. Mary was accused of being awkward by wanting to change England back to a Catholic country so soon after it had become a Protestant one.

How does your garden grow?  Mary longed for a baby, but was thought to be infertile – nothing would grow inside her. She was delighted when she thought she was pregnant soon after marrying her husband, King Philip of Spain. However, she soon found out that she wasn’t pregnant; her stomach pains were in fact the symptoms of a terrible disease, possibly cancer.

With silver bells,  This line refers to Mary’s poor taste in music. Mary enjoyed listening to the sound of church bells, which was extremely unfashionable at the time.

And cockle shells,  Mary’s husband wasn’t very loving. King Philip hardly ever saw her during their marriage. Also, he had affairs with lots of other women. In Tudor England this was known as ‘cuckolding’, hence the cockle shell reference.

And pretty maids all in a row.  Mary was rumoured to have given birth to some children, but each little girl was stillborn. Mary was supposed to have had them buried secretly in a long row of graves.

Mary Mary quite contrary > Mary actually refers to Bloody Mary (Mary Tudor) who killed countless Protestant men.

How does your garden grow > "Garden" refers to the graves of Protestants which kept growing in number during her reign

With silver bells > "Silver Bells" are actually thumbscrews which crushed the thumbs between two hard surfaces with the tightening of a screw.

and cockle shells  " Cockle Shells" are instruments of torture which were attached to the genitals.

And pretty maids all in a row > "Maids" are devices (guillotines) used to behead people.

Was Mary really that bad? 1. Copy this table into your books: Bad Points

Good Points

2. Use your sheet to complete the table.

A Few More Things to Consider.. • Film trailer for 'The Twisted Tale of Bloody Mary‘ • Starkey's Interpretation of Mary • Take it in turns to share your homework findings with the rest of the people on your table. • Add any new information to your charts from last lesson.

Bloody or Misunderstood? You be the Judge! • Mary is being tried today, to decide whether or not she deserves to be forever known as ‘Bloody Mary’. • You must decide whether you think Mary was bloody or simply misunderstood. • Write a statement to present your argument in the courtroom. Remember you have to convince the jury!

Verdict! Cast your vote!

Was Mary I really ‘bloody’ or just misunderstood?