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College Board 2009 "Wolsey's Speech" from Henry the VIII by William Shakespeare Grade 12

Wolsey's Speech from Henry VIII by William Shakespeare

Close Reading Lesson

Teacher Instructions.

Before Teaching

Read the Big Ideas and Key Understandings and the Synopsis. Please do not read this to the students. This is a description for

teachers, about the big ideas and key understanding that students should take away after completing this task.

Big Ideas and Key Understandings

Students will understand that Wolsey is bitter about his dismissal. He understands his fall from the king’s grace is permanent. Wolsey is reflecting upon his rise to the court – his hopes and pride built over the years. He compares his dismissal to a killing frost – the cold killing at the root – and boys swimming beyond their depth. Wolsey is upset that he has spent his life serving the king, and his only reward is disgrace and uncertainty regarding his future in his old age. Wolsey is upset that he was dependent upon the prince for his position. He now understands that pride was his downfall – like Satan. He thought his power was almost equal to the kings. He now understands that power even for princes / kings is precarious. There is also an inference of an inferred threat that the king should be careful that he not let his power consume him with prideful vanity as it did for Wolsey, as he too can be over-thrown from power and fall into nothingness, just like Wolsey.

SynopsisWolsey's speech is a soliloquy where Cardinal Wolsey considers what has just happened, that he has just been notified by the

king's spokesmen that his is no longer advisor to the king. In his speech Wolsey contemplates his rise to power and his abrupt dismissal. He considers how he has been foolishly ruled by his pride. Now he is left bereft of any power or position now that he is weary and old from his years of service. Now he realizes how he has been foolish to trust his position with the king. He compares his fall to that of Lucifer, the fallen angel who fell from God's grace in heaven because of his pride and wanting to be equal to God. Wolsey laments his fall and even hints that the king should beware, as kings can be ruined too.


Text Dependent Questions – Sections One - Five

Answers: Each answer should include direct reference back to the text, directly deriving meaning from the text. Each answer should also include discussion of the figurative language, allusion, and tone as they appear within the text and as prompted by the questions.

Text Dependent Questions Section 1 - A Two-Sided Farewell Answers"So farewell- to the little good you bear me.Farewell? a long farewell to all my greatness!"

What is the meaning of farewell in lines one and two? What is the irony of using this word?

Farewell means goodbye, but it also means a wish of happiness or welfare at parting.Shakespeare's use of words is verbal irony because his dismissal from being the king's advisor and his downfall is bringing him misery instead of happiness and loss of status and power instead of welfare.

"So farewell- to the little good you bear me.Farewell? a long farewell to all my greatness!"

What is the meaning of the word, “bear,” in line one? When Wolsey states, “farewell to the little good that you bear me,” what does he mean?

The definition of bear in this context is “bring.” The king’s spokesmen “bring” Wolsey the king’s message of his dismissal.

Here Wolsey is basically employing a tone of sarcasm, saying “goodbye” and “good riddance” to the bad tidings and ill will that the king has just borne to Wolsey through his spokesmen.

"So farewell- to the little good you bear me.Farewell? a long farewell to all my greatness!"

Who is Wolsey speaking to? Explain.Who and / or what is Wolsey saying farewell to in line 1, and in line 2? How are the farewells different?

In line one Wolsey is speaking sarcastically to the spokesmen and the king, saying good riddance to the bad tidings. There is also an inference that he wishes he could just say farewell, and have this knowledge disappear or be incorrect.

Farewell? - The second farewell, with the pause created by the question mark, creates a sense that Wolsey is just grasping and fully realizing what is happening to him, which is emphasized by the third farewell to all his greatness. The exclamation point adds emphasis to the emotion of the realization of this sudden


Text Dependent Questions Section 1 - A Two-Sided Farewell

fall from such a high level of power.

The first farewell is sarcastic toward the king and his spokesmen, the second is almost unbelieving, and the third is a lamentation.

Answers"So farewell- to the little good you bear me.Farewell? a long farewell to all my greatness!"

Explain the subtle difference in tone between line 1 and 2.What was Wolsey’s greatness?

The first farewell is sarcastic in tone toward the king and his spokesmen and also wistful (wishing he could send the message away), the second farewell in line 2 is unbelieving and astonished in its tone, and the third farewell is a lamentation that carries a sorrowful tone.Wolsey’s greatness was his position of power as the key advisor to the king.

Text Dependent Questions – Section 2 – The State of Man “This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hopes, to-morrow blossoms,And bears his blushing honors thick upon him;”

What does the statement, “the state of man,” mean in line 3? Explain.What are the tender leaves of hopes?What blossoms tomorrow?What is Wolsey comparing himself to in line 5? Explain.

The “state of man” refers to the conditions of a man’s life that he has to deal with as he tries to live his life, meaning the outside influences and circumstances that he finds himself in and must deal with. By referring to “man,” Wolsey is including all of humanity in his discussion, or at least men, as women usually did not have positions in society, other than as wives and mothers.All of a man’s dreams, aspirations, and “hopes” are figuratively, metaphorically, & symbolically compared to the “tender” or new leaves growing on a tree. The leaves come first (a man’s first experiences with the world). Then as he pursues his “hopes,” they reach fruition “tomorrow” as time passes and he reaches his dreams which are compared to blossoms. Wolsey is comparing himself to a young tree with new leaves and fresh blossoms.

“This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hopes, to-morrow blossoms,

“Blushing honors” is an implied metaphorical image that symbolizes that Wolsey’s fame when he first gained power is


And bears his blushing honors thick upon him;”

What is implied by the use of "blushing" & "thick upon him" to describe honors?Text Dependent Questions – Section 2 – The State of Man

being compared to a “blushing” blossom that is colorful and therefore beautiful and important, just has his newly gained honors. The description of “blushing honors thick upon him” infers that “Wolsey has many triumphs and praises, just as a new tree in spring is “thick” with, or in other words, covered with blossoms.Answers

“This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hopes, to-morrow blossoms,And bears his blushing honors thick upon him;”

How does the meaning of "bears" change in line 5 from "bear" in line 1?Why does Wolsey use "bear" and "bears" twice? For what effect?What literary elements are being employed in lines 4 and 5? Explain.

“Bears in line 5 in context means that Wolsey has produced and given birth to power, achievement, and the ensuing honors and wealth just as a tree bears fruit from its blossoms. And, he "bears"/ holds tightly onto that power, for all to see, just as one would admire a blooming tree full of ripe fruit.This connotation of "bears" is positive, versus the spokesmen for the king who bring or "bear" the bad news of Wolsey's dismissal and total downfall from power.The metaphorical imagery symbolizes Wolsey as a blossoming tree bearing "blushing" fruit.

“The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,And when he thinks, good easy man, full surelyHis greatness is a-ripening, nips his root,And then he falls as I do.”

What comes on the third day in line 6? What does this mean?What is this an allusion to? Explain.How is this allusion opposite the original?What does "good easy man" mean?What does "greatness a-ripening" refer to? How does this image refer back to blushing in line 5?

A cold "killing frost" that kills the fruit, blossoms, leaves, and the roots of the tree, symbolizing the sudden unexpectedness of Wolsey's dismissal. The "third day" is a Biblical allusion to the third day when Christ rose from the dead, defeating death and ensuring eternal life for Christian believers. Wolsey is using this sarcastically, as the opposite is happening. He is being dismissed to political death and oblivion. Wolsey is also being sarcastic as he is the cardinal of the church, a supposed minister of God; but there will be no resurrection for him."Good easy man" refers to Wolsey's conceit that he thought his position as trusted advisor to the king was good and easy that no threat could topple. Wolsey thought his great power was "a-ripening," reaching its pinnacle of perfection (as the perfecting


of the blushing fruit in line 5); but, he over trusted his power..

Text Dependent Questions – Section 2 – The State of Man Answers

The tender leaves of hopes, to-morrow blossoms,And bears his blushing honors thick upon him;”The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,And when he thinks, good easy man, full surelyHis greatness is a-ripening, nips his root,And then he falls as I do.”

What does "nips his root" and "falls" actually refer to?What literary element is employed in lines 4-9?Why does Wolsey refer to "the state of man" and "he" rather than himself only?Describe the change in tone from lines 4 to 9?

Now the frost "nips" (kills or destroy in the first stage of development) his root, cutting him off entirely, just as a frost might kill the roots of a tree. So, all that he has attained, all the power and "blushing honors thick upon him" are cut off at the base of the tree or his power.Nip comes from the figure of speech - nip it in the bud.

The metaphorical imagery is an extended symbolic metaphor.By reference to the "state of man" and his situation as anyone or "he," Wolsey achieves two effects: he to distances himself momentarily from his own pain while including all of mankind, infers that anyone who rises to power can fall completely as he just has from his position as the king's advisor.

Test Dependent Questions - Pride Before the Fall

“And then he falls as I do. I have ventur’d,Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,”

What does Wolsey mean when he states that "I have ventured"? What is the connotation of the word, ventured, in this context?What are "wanton" boys in line 10? What does wanton mean?Why does Wolsey use the term boys?

"Ventur'd" in this context means to brave or risk a dangerous undertaking."Wanton" in line 10 refers to undisciplined and reckless, heedless of the consequences.Wolsey is stating that he braved a dangerous undertaking in his rise to power and ultimately as the king's closest advisor, but like a "wanton boy," he was reckless, not careful of the consequences of his actions. The use of "boys" indicates


Text Dependent Questions – Section 2 – The State of Man

Wolsey now sees that he was too naive like a young "boy" or child would be, trusting in his power and the consequent pride.Answers

“Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,This many summers in a sea of glory,

What are the boys doing in lines 10 and 11?What are bladders in the context of the poem?What literary element is being employed here? What is its significance?Why is "summer" chosen as the season described in line 11?Explain the meaning of the image, "sea of glory."

The boys are swimming in the sea, holding onto animal bladders that have been filled with air to make a floating device. A tree would first grow leaves, blossoms, and "blushing fruit" in spring that would ripen fully in summer.

Therefore, "summer" symbolizes the time of Wolsey's full glory and power as the king's trusted advisor, which is also connected to this new extended metaphorical imagery by "sea of glory."Shakespeare is using metaphorical imagery to symbolize the height of Wolsey's rise to power and his concurrent reckless naivety.

Text Dependent Questions – Pride Before the Fall Answers

“But far beyond my depth. My high-blown prideAt length broke under me, and now has left me,Weary and old with service, to the mercyOf a rude stream that must forever hide me."

What does the image, "high-blown," refer to? Explain.What does Wolsey mean by "far beyond my depth," literally & metaphorically?What broke under Wolsey, figuratively? In reality?What is Wolsey's condition according to line 14?

"High blown pride" makes a reference to Wolsey being puffed up recklessly with pride.

The image is deepened by the extended metaphor of the animal bladder that is blown up and being blown in the wind in the sea, creating an image of a reckless boy being blown about in the sea, clinging to the bladder (Wolsey's puffed up pride) as the boy drifts "far beyond my depth," or in other words, drifts into deeper and more dangerous waters and currents, or in Wolsey's case, deeper and more dangerous intrigues & political situations, where the bladder "broke under me," leaving Wolsey without his pride, the king's backing, or anything to keep him afloat.


Text Dependent Questions – Pride Before the Fall Answers

“But far beyond my depth. My high-blown prideAt length broke under me, and now has left me,Weary and old with service, to the mercyOf a rude stream that must for ever hide me.”

Explain “to the mercy of a rude stream." What must it do? Why? How does it compare to line 11? What is the rhetorical effect of breaking up the word, forever, into two words - for and ever? How does this affect the tone?How does the tone alter from the middle of line 9 to the end of line 15? Where does it first change?

So, Wolsey is left to drift into oblivion or down a "rude stream."Rude in this context means - rough, violent, or harsh.

Stream is a metaphorical image that symbolizes the harsh vagaries and reality of his situation, where he is drifting and does not know where this new "rude" (rough, violent, & harsh) stream will take him. All Wolsey knows is that he has given the better part of his life to his rise to power, and he is now "weary" and "old with service," or well beyond his youth.

The "rude stream" must hide him from the king's displeasure or wrath, intimating that his situation is precarious and dangerous.

Breaking up the word forever into "for ever" emphasizes the finality of Wolsey's fall, creating a dark despairing tone.

The tone has transitioned from a an exciting boastfulness in lines 9-11 to despair. The transition starts with the word, "but," creating a poetic shift.Background information about Shakespeare's Henry VIII -King Henry VIII was seeking Wolsey's aide with the pope to help Henry get an annulment from Queen Katherine to marry Ann Bolen, future Queen Elizabeth's mother (who is queen in Shakespeare's day). According to the play, Wolsey had double-crossed the king in letters to the pope. When Henry finds out, he dismisses Wolsey as his advisor.

Text Dependent Questions - Section Four – The Torn Heart Answers


“Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye!I feel my heart new open’d. O how wretchedIs that poor man that hangs on princes favors!”

What is meant by "pomp," and how is it vain?

Why does Wolsey hate the pomp and glory of this world?

What is Wolsey saying about his heart in line 17? What does he mean?

Compare the image in line 17 to the image in lines 12-13? Explain.

Pomp in this context means stately splendor and magnificence. Vain in this context means excessively conceited and proud of one’s accomplishments, qualities, & achievements.

Therefore, “vain pomp and glory” indicates that Wolsey was excessively conceited regarding his power and accomplishments and the ensuing praise and glory, blinding him to the potential fragility of his position and potential for downfall.

Therefore, Wolsey, in light of his downfall, now understands that his vanity was “in vain” or ultimately futile or worthless.

Upon reflection in light of his dismissal and total downfall from all that he has spent his life accomplishing, Wolsey says “I hate ye!” to his vanity and conceit and illusory positions of power and glory, that can vanish overnight.

Wolsey states that “I feel my heart now open’d. In other words, he is saying that his heart has been torn or ripped open. Having his heart ripped open or torn compares to line 12-13 where Wolsey’s pride is compare to a bladder that is supporting him in a “sea of glory,” but then it “broke under me,” signifying that the bladder tore. Wolsey’s heart is “new” opened as he reflects more deeply upon the pain of his downfall and the terrible position that he is in.

Text Dependent Questions - Section Four – The Torn Heart Answers

“Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye!I feel my heart new open’d. O how wretchedIs that poor man that hangs on princes favors!”

Wretched in this context means miserable, unfortunate, pitiable.

To “hang on princes favors” means that Wolsey is totally


What is meant by wretched?

What does it mean to hang "on prince's favors" in line 18? How does this image relate back to lines 10-13?

Explain why Wolsey presents the image of a "poor man."

What is the tone in lines 16-18? How is it climatic?

dependent upon the king’s approval or now disapproval for his earlier position and his current downfall.

Wolsey’s fall from power relates back to the image of Wolsey as a boy swimming on a bladder (his “high-blown pride”) “beyond my depth” of his control in dangerous political waters, where the king’s dismissal of Wolsey is equivalent the bladder breaking and leaving him adrift.

The man is “poor” because he has no ultimate power over his destiny. The king has the ultimate power over his subjects’ destinies. The king’s subjects are thus equivalent to being the poorest beggars who must beg to survive.

Wolsey can’t even beg, for the king has turned his back on him.Wolsey’s deeper reflection and realization that his position of power (or downfall from power) has been and still is totally dependent (like a beggar) upon the king, makes his downfall final, permanent, and devastating.

Thus the tone is of utter despair and pain for which there is no cure or remedy, creating a climatic finality.

Text Dependent Questions Section 5 – The Fall - A Warning Answers

“There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,More pangs and fears than wars or women have;

Betwixt in this context means between or in the middle position.Aspire in this context means to desire and seek ambitiously.


And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,Never to hope again.”

What does betwixt mean?What does Wolsey mean when he mentions aspire?What are "we" aspiring to?

Why does Wolsey say "we" instead of I? What is the effect?

“We” or Wolsey and the king’s subjects in the court must seek out the king’s favor for their position of power or just to survive.

We “would aspire to that sweet aspect of princes.”Aspect in this context has the archaic meaning of a look or glance, thus referring back to the smile of approval of the king that Wolsey and all those in court would desire and seek, which is therefore the king’s “sweet” glance of approval.

Again, by using the word, we, Wolsey includes all of mankind that is subject to a king or those in power. Also, by using the word, “we,” Wolsey includes all of humanity in his reflection upon the relationship between those in power in a society and the individual affected by that power.

“There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,More pangs and fears than wars or women have;And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,Never to hope again.”

Compare the image of "sweet aspect of princes" and "their ruin." What is Wolsey trying to say?What are the pangs and fears of women? Of war? How does line 21 relate back to "betwixt" in line 19?

Wolsey is trying to explain that the worry over having the king’s favor, or “sweet aspect of princes” is as strong as the worry that the king himself could be overthrown in a war or coup from power, in which case, “their ruin” would be the king’s subjects’ and his courts’ ruin.Pang in this context means mental or emotional distress or longing or pain. Wolsey is inferring that the fear and worry over attaining the king’s favor and keeping it, versus being ruined by the king or when the king is overthrown, that these fears and worries are worse than the pain and mental and emotional distress experienced in war or by women in birth or in general.

Text Dependent Questions Section 5 – The Fall – A Warning Answers

“There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,More pangs and fears than wars or women have;

Lucifer is a reference to the devil or Satan.Lucifer was an angel of God, in fact God's highest angel, like Wolsey was the king's trusted advisor. Lucifer decided that he


And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,Never to hope again.”

Who is Lucifer? What is this an allusion to? Explain.How did Lucifer fall?How does this compare to Wolsey?When referring to a fall from power, why does Wolsey say "he" instead of I?What is being inferred?

wanted to be as great as God. His sin was the sin of pride and vanity, just like Wolsey. Lucifer was cast out of heaven, just like Wolsey has been cast away by the king.

In lines 18-23, Wolsey refers to "poor man," "we," and "he," instead of I. By this inclusion, Wolsey is referring back to the condition or "state of man." He is including the court and all of humanity with the use of "we" and "he" in his discussion of pride and vanity, and the power some humans wield over others, thereby touching upon the universality of his message.


What is the effect of the repetition of "falls" in line 22?What other line mentions falls? What is the key difference in pronoun usage? Why? Why does Shakespeare repeat falls? Explain the effect of line 23 to the overall context of the speech. What is the final tone developed by this line?

Text Dependent Questions Section 5 – The Fall – A Warning

The repetition of "falls" emphasizes the severity and finality of his fall.

At the end of Wolsey's extended metaphor on the state of man, he states that "and then he falls as I do.

The key difference in pronoun usage in line 9 is that Wolsey says, "I." In line 22, he says, "he," denoting, as mentioned above, all humanity - even a king.

Line 23, "never to hope again," conveys a tone of utter desolation and complete finality regarding a fall such as Wolsey's from position and power.Another viewpoint - It's almost a numbing or psychologically distancing effect to discuss his own problem in terms of he.


Wolsey's speech is a warning to all of mankind that pride and vanity are common states of man, that man, like Lucifer, is prone to pride, to think too highly of his own power and ability, and is prone to be susceptible to be greedy for power, glory and wealth. Therefore, the state of man is his own sinful nature.


Who is this speech a warning to? Explain.What is Wolsey’s overarching message? About himself? The king? The court? Humanity

Wolsey is also warning humanity that pride is often coupled with a unrealistic sense of one's prospects. Wolsey is reminding humanity that outside forces and powers above us can be our downfall if we are not prudent. Wolsey's ending is ambiguous, and appears to have a possible multiple message - a veiled threat or warning that the king might also be susceptible to powers beyond his control that might be his ruin.

Vocabulary farewellbear - bearsnipsventuredwantonbladdersvainpompwretchedbetwixtaspireaspectpangsLucifer

VOCABULARY


Culminating Tasks Re-Read, Think, Discuss, Write

The lesson contains three culminating tasks.

KEY WORDS ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTANDINGWords addressed with a question or task

WORDS WORTH KNOWING General teaching suggestions are provided in the

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Homework for the Close Reading Lesson could be a Decision Matrix on college and / or career choices.

The final culminating task will be for the students to write their essay, including new and relevant insights gained from the close

reading lesson.

Another lesson could include a culminating task for each student to assess their own essay, scoring it according to an AP rubric

and then describing why the score should be what they assess it as.

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