Edward II Group at eNotes

Edward II ascended to the throne of England in 1307 following the death...

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 07:11:23 PST

Edward II ascended to the throne of England in 1307 following the death of his father, King Edward I (Edward Longshanks). Known as Edward of Carnarvon, the second King Edward proved to be a weak ruler who suffered military and political defeats as well as attacks on his personal character. Though outnumbering his foe by nearly 3-to-1, Edward's army was soundly defeated by the Scottish army under King Robert the Bruce at the Battle of...

What is the historical significance of Marlowe's Edward II?

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 01:49:37 PST

What is the historical significance of Marlowe's Edward II?

irony of kingship in Marlowe's Edward II

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:43:24 PST

irony of kingship in Marlowe's Edward II

what consequences should there be for a sovereign who abandons his...

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:14:06 PST

what consequences should there be for a sovereign who abandons his duties for personal pleasure?

It depends entirely how you define tragedy.In the Elizabethan sense,...

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:46:54 PST

It depends entirely how you define tragedy.In the Elizabethan sense, you'll notice that criticism as a whole doesn't distinguish very clearly between "histories" and "tragedies". Plays, like "Edward II" which deal with real historical characters - although, in very definitely with a big pinch of dramatic licence - are usually called "histories", although they can also be considered "tragedies"....

A tragedy is usually defined as a work where the protagonist ( main...

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:40:54 PST

A tragedy is usually defined as a work where the protagonist ( main character) is defeated in end. Many also add that the protagonist must suffer from some kind of tragic flaw that contributes to his/her failure. By whatever standard you use, Edward II has to be considered a tragedy. It is about a weak, irresponsible king who loses both his power and his life because he is simply incapable of ruling wisely. Thus, Edward is defeated in the end...

Is Edward II a genuine tragedy?

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:31:59 PST

Is Edward II a genuine tragedy?

Is Edward II a historical tragedy or a chronicle play?

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:57:41 PST

Is Edward II a 'historical tragedy' or a 'chronicle play'?

The study guide notes that Isabella of France, wife of Edward II, played...

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:28:45 PST

The study guide notes that Isabella of France, wife of Edward II, played "a small but vicious role in her husband's destruction." That may be true in Marlowe's play Edward II, but in reality, she may have had a much bigger role in his downfall.In Braveheart, Isabella is portrayed as a sweet, naive young princess. In reality, she was called She-Wolf. Her marriage was rocky, mostly because of Edward's preference for his...

In "Edward II," what is the role of Isabella in a world where...

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:52:59 PST

In "Edward II," what is the role of Isabella in a world where men are dominant?

The dominant theme of Edward II is the theme of many of Marlowe's (and...

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:33:01 PST

The dominant theme of Edward II is the theme of many of Marlowe's (and Shakespeare's) histories: the will to power and, ultimately, the corruption inherent in power. Edward isn't thwarted and murdered because of his affection for Gaveston. Rather, it is because in bestowing such extravagant favors on Gaveston, a commoner, he is subverting the "natural" order of his position, neglecting both his kingdom and his family. He comes to...

In what ways do themes in Edward II relate to major characteristics of...

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:44:46 PST

In what ways do themes in Edward II relate to major characteristics of the renaissance?