Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Shakespeare probably wrote this history play around 1594-1596, when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England. What are some parallels between King John's reign (1199-1216) and some of the political issues Queen Elizabeth I was facing in the 1580's and 1590's?
- King John isn't Shakespeare's only murderous uncle. Compare and contrast him to Richard III, who also orders the deaths of his little nephews in the play Richard III.
- King John and Prince Arthur can't seem to go anywhere or do anything without their mothers. Why do you think moms are so important in this play?
- Speaking of how important moms are in King John, why does Shakespeare make them all disappear after Act 3? How does their loss impact the way events unfold in the play?
- Some literary critics think King John is a lousy play. Do you agree? Why or why not? Why do you think the play has been so unpopular over the years?
- How does King John stack up against Shakespeare's other history plays?
- King John has been called a play without a hero. Do you agree with this description? If you don't agree, who do you think is the hero?
- What's King John's overall attitude toward the meaning of history and the way events in history unfold?
- Why do you think a fictional character (the Bastard) plays such a large role in this history play?