Murder in The Cathedral

Part One and Part Two Reading Questions

when and where is the scene for part one of Murder In The Cathedral set?

Archbishop's Hall, 1170

According to the information in the opening monologue, how many years have passed since the Archbishop has left Canterbury?

7

What does the Chorus claim is their purpose in the action of the play?

witness and wait

What ruler of England does the Second Priest refer to as "the stubborn King"?

King Henry II

what does the third priest see in "the art of temporal government?"

violence, duplicity, and malversasion

what important message does the messenger convey to the priests?

the archbishop is in England

what are the priests eager to know once the messenger has delivered his initial message?

has the Archbishop reunited with the King

what metaphor does the third priest use to compare the relationship between the King and the Archbishop?

the hammer and anvil

after the first scene featuring the three priests, the chorus speaks again. what do they wish the archbishop to do?

return to France

according to the Chorus, what does the Archbishop bring into Canterbury?

death

how does the Chorus define its time in Canterbury since the Archbishop left 7 years previous?

living and partly living

what does the 2nd Priest compare the women of Canterbury to?

frogs

what is the 1st idea that Beckett relates to his audience and what does he insist that the Chorus "know and do not know"?

the act of suffering

who are the 1st two characters who speak of "the wheel" on separate occasions?

Thomas and 3rd Priest

what is the 1st action that the second priest wants to take to welcome the Archbishop back to Canterbury?

light the fires in his rooms

who does Beckett say may have intercepted his letters and planned his demise?

the bishops

who does Beckett say saved him from the wrath of his enemies?

John, the Dean of Salisbury

what does the first tempter tell Beckett he remembers?

the good time past

what, according to the first tempter, "should be more than biting Time can sever?"

friendship

what does the first tempter predict for Beckett if he does not "leave well alone?"

his goose will be cooked and eaten to the bone

what position did Beckett resign when he was made Archbishop?

the chancellorship

what is it that the second tempter offers Beckett?

the job back

how does the 4th tempter claim Beckett can have ultimate glory and power over the King of England?

martyr

why is the 4th visitor the most successful Tempter?

he was the one to say all of Beckett's thoughts

according to the 4 Tempters, what is man's life?

a cheat and disappointment

what does Beckett believe to be the last temptation and what he fears the most?

doing the right dead for the wrong reason

where does part two take place?

archbishop's hall

on what date does part II take place?

December 29th

What is the year in which part II takes place?

1170

what season does the Chorus speak of at the beginning of part II?

spring

what are the priests doing when they enter?

singing

what does the first priest bring in?

a banner of St. Stephen

what does the second priest bring in?

a banner of St. John

what does the third priest bring in?

a banner of the Holy Innocents

when is Holy Innocents Day?

the 4th day from Christmas

what word do the Priests continually mull over?

today

what characters make their first appearance in part II?

the knights

where were the knights before they came to Canterbury?

France

how does the first knight respond when the first priest offers them dinner?

"business before dinner"

what is the purpose of the knight's visit?

to see Beckett

where was Beckett born?

Cheapside

in what city is Beckett's birthplace located?

London

the knights describe Beckett as the King's...

servant

what is one of the things the knights compare Beckett to?

a louse

who are the knights loyal to?

King Henry II

who protects Beckett from physical harm when he is first attacked?

the priests

where does Beckett insist that the crimes against him should be formally stated?

in public

according to Beckett, who condemned the bishops?

the pope

what part of the knights' claim does Beckett doubt to be true?

that the King sent them

when Beckett mentions the shepherd and his fold, who or what is he referring to?

he is the shepherd and the people are the flock

who or what does Beckett say has final word over the King?

God and the laws of the Church

what does the Chorus continue to reference in the speech that begins, "I have smelt them, death-bringers..."?

the 5 senses

what is one of the major sentiments of the Chorus' "death-bringer"?

helpless and shame

who is the leader of the group?

Reginald Fitz Urse

what is the major point that the third knight wishes to relate to the audience?

nothing

what, according to the second knight, is in the English spirit?

fair play

how does the second knight believe violence is justified?

social justice

what is the major question the fourth knight asks of the audience?

"who killed the Archbishop?"

what did the fourth knight call Thomas Beckett?

monster of egotism

what does the fourth knight believe was the cause of Beckett's death?

suicide

what is one thing both the priests and the chorus do after Beckett is killed?

praising God

what is the last thing that the Chorus asks from God?

have mercy on them

what is the last thing the Chorus asks Beckett to do?

pray for them