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English IV/Nelson
NAME ___________________________________________
Becket: Film Guide (in preparation for Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales)
Important Terms, People, Places, etc.
1. Frame story – a story within a story
***What event is taking place at the beginning and at the end of the film?
***What is the “story within the story” that makes up most of the film?
2. Flashback – remembering past events
***How much of the film is actually a flashback?
Important Characters, Places, and Vocabulary
Canterbury Cathedral – the official cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the seat of
power of the Catholic Church in England
Henry II - King of England, Becket’s best friend and worst enemy, husband of Eleanor of
Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine – wife of Henry II, former wife of King Louis VII of France
Thomas a Becket – Henry II’s only real friend who becomes the Archbishop of Canterbury by
Henry II’s orders. Murdered in 1170.
Gwendolen – the love of Thomas Becket’s life
Brother John – young Saxon priest who tries to kill Becket but later becomes his closest friend
Lord Gilbert – English lord who arrested a priest who had raped (debauched) a young lady,
later excommunicated by Becket because he allowed his soldiers to kill the priest during
an escape attempt
Lord Bishop of London – high-ranking official; person who should have been the next
Archbishop of Canterbury instead of Thomas Becket; hates Becket
Louis VII of France – King of France at the same time as Henry II is king of England; bitter
enemy of Henry II, former husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine; helps protect Thomas
Becket from Henry II
Pope Callistus III – Popy of the Roman Catholic Church; poerson to whom Thomas Becket
turns for help; corrupt because he can be bribed with money
Robert de Beaumont – high sheriff of Londo9n; person who is sent to arrest Thomas Becket on
trumped-up charges of embezzlement from the king’s treasury
Archbishop of Canterbury – leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England; a very powerful
man because he controls the wealth of the Church
Lord Chancellor of England – Second-in-command in leadership to the kind in England
Keeper of the Lion’s Seal – second part of Lord Chancellor of England’s title; wears the official
lion’s seal (a ring) of England
Abbey of Saint Martin (France) – monastery in France where Thomas Becket and Brother
John stayed during a monastic retreat before returning to England to face Henry II
Excommunication – the official act of throwing someone out of the Roman Catholic Church; a
very serious act because people believed that the person who was excommunicated was
cursed to hell after death
Anathema – the damnation of the soul to Hell, the result of excommunication
Answer these questions as you view the film:
1. What is happening to Henry II as the film begins?
2. What has Henry II done to earn this punishment?
3. Where specifically is this punishment being administered?
4. Who is to carry out the punishment?
5. How does Henry II feel now about Becket?
6. What provokes the memories (flashback)?
7. Describe the friendship between Becket and Henry II.
8. What is Becket’s nationality in the film? In real life?
9. What is the problem between Henry II and the Archbishop of Canterbury?
10. What office does Henry II suddenly give to Becket?
11. Where do Henry II and Becket find shelter from the rain during the hunt?
12. Of what royal edict does Becket remind Henry II?
13. The peasants are what nationality?
14. What does Henry II plan to do with the girl he “finds”?
15. How does Becket get injured?
16. What does he tell Henry II about his wound?
17. Why does he not tell Henry II the truth?
18. When Henry II offers Becket anything he wants as a compensation for his injury, for what
does Becket ask?
19. Who does Becket ask for this?
20. What new invention does Becket introduce to Henry II and his lords?
21. What is the general reaction to this invention?
22. Who is Gwendolen?
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23. What does Henry II demand from Becket?
24. What does Gwendolen ask Becket about the future?
25. What is Becket’s reply?
26. What does Gwendolen do?
27. To whom does Henry II turn for comfort?
28. What is Becket’s reply to Henry II’s statement that he will never be able to trust him
(Becket) again?
29. How do the barons feel about Becket and his power?
30. How does Becket become acquainted with Brother John?
31. How old is Brother John?
32. What does Becket have done with Brother John?
33. Of whom does Brother John remind Becket?
34. Henry II refers to Becket as “the ________________ _________________ of our day.
35. Becket warns Henry II that __________________________ will become the ruler of
England if he (Henry II) does not stop the Church now.
36. What news does Henry II receive while he is in France?
37. What is his reaction to this news?
38. What is Becket’s reaction to the news?
39. What decision does Henry II suddenly make?
40. How does Becket react to the king’s decision?
41. What does Becket do to prepare himself for this new role?
42. Why did the Lord Bishop of London cast the only vote against Becket?
43. Becket receives the news that a priest has committed what crime?
44. Who has arrested him?
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45. What court should have jurisdiction in this case?
46. What is the updated news about the priest?
47. What changes Brother John’s opinion of Becket?
48. How does Henry II feel about his wife? His mother? His four sons?
49. What message does Becket send to Henry II by way of Brother John?
50. How does the king reply to Becket’s sending Brother John?
51. What does Becket plan to do about Lord Gilbert?
52. What does Becket give back to Henry II?
53. How does Henry II feel about Becket’s turning against him?
54. To whom does Henry II then turn to get help in fighting Becket?
55. What “crime” do they trump up against him?
56. When the Lord Bishop of London insults Becket, how does Henry II react?
57. Why does the Lord Sheriff of London go to Canterbury Cathedral?
58. What does each priest do at the end of the excommunication to show their support?
59. Henry II says that Becket, even with all of his faults, is worth one hundred of
_________________ and her entire family.
60. How does Becket “shut up” de Beaumont when he tries to charge him with the crime?
61. Becket says he will be judged only by whom?
62. Henry II says, “Becket is the only __________________ man in England, and he is
__________________ me.”
63. Henry II wants to prevent Becket from doing what?
64. How does Louis VII of France feel about Henry II?
65. How long does he make the English “ambassadors” wait?
66. What lie does Louis VII tell these men?
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67. According to the ambassadors, where supposedly is Becket?
68. Where is Becket really?
69. How does Louis VII help Becket?
70. What advice does Louis VII give Becket about the Pope and his men?
71. What does Becket ask the Pope to do for him?
72. Instead the Pope sends Becket into “monastic retreat” where?
73. Who goes with him?
74. After being in retreat for a while, what does Becket decide to do?
75. What does Henry II ask Becket to do when they meet on the beach in France?
76. What is the general tone of this last meeting between Henry II and Becket?
77. Henry II describes Henry III, his son and heir, as “an _________________ and sly like
____________________.”
78. What announcement does Henry II make concerning his son?
79. Where will this ceremony take place?
80. Where does it usually take place?
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81. Why is Henry II really doing this?
82. What is Henry II’s mother’s feeling about this decision?
83. Who meets Becket when he returns to England?
84. How does Henry II feel about Thomas Becket at this point?
85. What “request” does Henry II make to some of his knights?
86. What does Brother John hope to have a chance to do
when they face Henry’s soldiers?
87. Does he get his wish?
88. What is Henry II’s punishment?
What is his announcement to the crowd?
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