Shakespeare Trail - Westminster Abbey

SHAKESPEARE WEEK - FAMILY TRAIL
Work together following the trail
of people who were important
in Shakespeare’s time marked on
the map. Please look around and
investigate, there is a lot to see!
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1
William Shakespeare is famous for being a great playwright.
Find Henry V and Henry VI in the
stained glass windows, Shakespeare
wrote plays about both of these kings.
Both kings are holding a sceptre but
what else?
2
Can you find Ben Jonson?
Find this stone on the wall, then look around
on the floor to find Jonson’s grave.
It is a very small grave stone as he is the only
person in Westminster Abbey to be buried
standing up!
Did you Know?
Ben Jonson was writing plays at the same time
as Shakespeare who even acted in one of
them. Jonson went to Westminster School, just
around the corner. In the first printed collection
of Shakespeare’s plays Jonson wrote that
Shakespeare ‘was not of an age but
for all time!’
People have been worshipping here for over 1,000
years! Services still take place here every day.
Light a candle if you would like to, please ask for
an adult’s help.
3
The Unknown Warrior was brought back from France
to be buried here after the First World War; here we
remember all those soldiers who have died for their
country in war. Kings in Shakespeare’s plays were often
fighting wars in France.
Fill in the blanks to learn more about
Shakespeare’s English Kings.
Choose from
Richard III
Henry VI
Henry IV
KING
Henry V
Henry VIII
Richard II John
CLUE
1215 Magna Carta
II
Crowned, married and buried in the Abbey
IV
Shakespeare wrote two plays about his reign
H
1415 Battle of Agincourt
H
Shakespeare wrote three plays about his reign from
1422 to 1461.
III
King’s body found in car park!
Six wives!
All these kings were crowned at the Abbey, James I was crowned in Shakespeare’s lifetime.
Shakespeare might have come to watch! Imagine you are James I walking to your coronation,
think about what sounds you might have heard.
Look up!
Did you know it would take about
17 fully grown adults standing on
top of each other to reach the top!
Walk through the Quire to the High Altar to look at the Cosmati Pavement
4
Find the circle in the middle. Kings and queens are
crowned here on the Coronation Chair. Imagine what
you would feel like sitting here
Now look around at the shape of the Abbey.
Why do you think the centre of the Abbey
is called the crossing?
Turn left into the Chapel of St. Michael in the North Transept
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Look at the different statues dressed in Tudor and
Jacobean clothing this is how people dressed in
Shakespeare’s time.
Can you see?
Headdress
Bodice
Armour
Ruff
Armour
Headdress
Ruff
Bodice
Ruff
Go to St. John the Baptist Chapel
6
This is the biggest tomb in the Abbey!
Henry Carey was Lord Chamberlain and Shakespeare
was a member of his acting company, The Lord
Chamberlain’s Men. The tomb has lots of decoration
including coats of arms.
Design a coat of arms
with symbols and
patterns that are
important to you
Leave this chapel, then go up the stairs to the left
7
Elizabeth I was the Queen for most of Shakespeare’s life.
Look at what she is wearing and holding to show that she is Queen:
Circle what you can see
Sceptre
Hoody
Orb
Cap
Ruff
Crown
Jeans
Continue up the steps into the Lady Chapel
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Look all around including the ceiling.
Use one word to describe this part of the Abbey.
The first Tudor King, Henry VII, built the Lady Chapel.
He is buried here with his wife Elizabeth of York.
Can you see any Tudor symbols in here?
Dress
Go past their tomb to the Royal Air Force Chapel stained glass window
9
This window reminds us of those who fought in
World War Two in the Battle of Britain.
Can you see any writing?
CLUE
It is in the
bottom near
the middle
‘We few we happy few we band of brothers’
This line is from Shakespeare’s play Henry V,
used here hundreds of years after it was first written.
Talk about your favourite line from a book or film.
On your way back down the steps look out for where Henry V and many other
kings are buried. All the kings that Shakespeare wrote about would have visited
Westminster Abbey to pray at the shrine of Edward the Confessor.
Then continue around the Abbey to Poet’s Corner.
10
CLUE
Look on
floor, walls
& in windows
Lots of famous writers and actors are buried and remembered here.
Look around to see how many names you recognise.
Can you find the Prince of Poets, Edmund Spenser?
CLUE
Near toilets!
It is said that at his funeral in 1599, writers and poets threw lines
they had written into his grave. Shakespeare may have been one of them!
Look on the floor to find the poet and playwright
who died in 1616, the same year as Shakespeare.
Solve the anagram to help you.
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Com town of St here in Lo y at how I
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home membere ook carefu peare pos
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also r my plays. best Shake
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wrote g. Do you to fall ove
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stand careful no
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but b
I wrote a play about Richard III.
its
What animal is missing from
wer
famous line below? Circle the ans
gdom
A -------- ! a -------- ! my kin
for a -------- !
Horse
Hamster
Flamingo Meerkat
Did you know?
Richard III’s body was
found underneath a
car park in Leicester!
If I were alive
today what would
you ask me?
12
On the floor next to Shakespeare find
Laurence Olivier, Henry Irving and David
Garrick. They are all famous for acting in
Shakespeare’s plays in different times.
Before you leave, go back into the Abbey to see the chair kings and queens of
England sit on when they are crowned. What do you think the chair would feel
like to sit on?
Find a picture of Richard II wearing a crown.
Shakespeare wrote about Henry IV taking the throne from Richard.
Henry said ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown’
Talk about why it might be difficult being a king or queen?
Thank you very much for visiting us today.
Collect your prize for finishing from the Westminster Abbey
shop on your way out.
Shakespeare also wrote poems, if you would like to,
write your own poem about your visit to Westminster Abbey.
If you want to share your poem or anything about your visit
today, please email us at [email protected]