ENGL-490
BIOGRAPHY: ROYAL
LIVES
Individual research: Each student
will choose one British king, queen or wannabee and will prepare three oral
reports on this figure, each with a written component. See attached list for
suggestions. Students will be responsible
for keeping a portfolio with their own work and the summaries prepared by other
students. These will be used for the
final integrative essay/discussion.
1. Introductory Report
For the first report, you
will choose a scholarly biography, preferably quite recent, that will provide
you with the best scholarship on this person.
In choosing your biography, look at the credentials of the author and
the press, check if primary sources are used as well as a wide range of
secondary sources, and look at some book reviews in scholarly journals. Be prepared to justify your choice of
biography.
Prepare a ten-minute oral
report in which you outline the major life events of your subject, including
family background and achievements. What
narrative strategies does the biographer use?
Distribute a one-page
summary and chronology for your subject.
Bring a portrait or another visual.
2.
Report on Scholarly Controversies
For your second report,
consult an additional five to ten scholarly sources, including some books and
some journal articles. What part of this
life are controversial? Where do
scholars agree and disagree about your subject?
Are the debates about what happened? Or about the character of your
subject? If your subject has left
written records, note whether that self-representation matches that of
biographers. What personal qualities
and/or achievements does the subject think are important? What personal
qualities and/or achievements do scholars think are important?
Submit a five-page report to
the instructor and give a ten-minute oral presentation to the class. Bring a portrait or other visual. Distribute
a one-page summary to the class.
3.
Final Report on Popular Culture and History of Reception
For your third report,
examine your subject in popular culture of the subject’s own era and/or our
own—novels, poems, video games, films,
collectibles, etc. Does the personal or
the political receive more attention? Do the representations of this subject
change over time? Do the representations
in popular culture match the representations in scholarly biographies? How has this life story been used? By whom?
For what purposes? What conclusions can you draw about the history of
reception of your subject?
Submit a ten-page report to
the instructor and give a twenty-minute oral presentation to the class,
including a five-minute film clip. Distribute a one-page summary to the class.
NB: Students are encouraged to give a poster
presentation at the Academic Celebration.
Extra credit will be given for presentations.
Suggested
Subjects
NB: No duplication of subjects will be allowed,
so please sign up as soon as you have chosen.
.
1.
Eleanor of Aquitaine/ Henry II
2.
Henry V
3.
Richard III
4.
Henry VIII
5.
Catherine of Aragon
6.
Lady Jane Grey
7.
Anne Boleyn
8.
Mary I (Tudor)
9.
Elizabeth I
10.
Mary Queen of Scots
11.
Bonnie Prince Charlie
12.
George III
13.
Queen Victoria
14.
King Edward and Mrs Simpson
15.
Diana, Princess of Wales
16.
Queen Elizabeth II