Elizabeth (1998) Plot Summary: The story of Elizabeth's ascendancy to the throne, the plot of the movie is full of palace intrigues, attempted assassinations and executions. The movie starts with England divided by faith, Protestant vs. Catholic. The queen, Mary Tudor has no heir and her Catholic supporters fear the succession of her half-sister Elizabeth, a Protestant. They convince the queen to have Elizabeth arrested and put in the Tower of London but the queen hesitates and eventually refuses to sign her death warrant. It is announced that the queen is pregnant but it turns out to be a tumor and she dies of it a while later. Her Catholic supporters are forced to give the throne to Elizabeth. Elizabeth's first few years are shaky as she is not versed with the art of realpolitik and "rules from the heart instead of the mind". Summary written by Anurag Garg

CHY4U West & the World


Opening Scenes
1. In what year does the film begin and in what country? Why is England divided?
2. What is Elizabeth’s religion? Why is that a problem? Why is she placed in the Tower?
3. Why are the protestant’s burned at the beginning of the film?
4. What style is the architecture of the Queen’s castle?
5. Who is Anne Boelyn? What did Henry VIII do to the mother of Elizabeth?
6. How did Queen Mary die? Who are the wolves? Why are they called that? What does that tell you about politics in England?
7. What is the introduction to Walsingham’s character? What type of character do you think he will be?
8. Why is marriage important for Elizabeth? Who are the potential suitors?
9. How does Elizabeth use her “ladies in waiting” to her advantage?

Elizabeth Becomes Queen
10. What state is England in when Elizabeth takes power? What is the intention of Mary Queen of Scots?
11. Explain the result and reaction of the military move by Elizabeth against Mary of Scots?
12. How does Elizabeth win the vote on the Church of England? What does this show about her? What is the reaction of the Vatican? What does that tell you about the role of the church in Europe in the 16^th Century?
13. How is Mary of Guide dealt with?

Elizabeth Reborn
14. How does Elizabeth deal with the Conspiracy set against her?
15. What song is playing in the background when Elizabeth has her image transformed to the “Virgin Queen”? Who is the composer, and the name of the piece? Why is this a sound choice for the scene?
16. Why does Elizabeth recreate her image/ What is the response from the people to her “marriage to England”?

What role did Elizabeth have in the history of Europe, England and the World?