47 pages 1 hour read

Hilary Mantel

Bring Up The Bodies

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012

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Essay Topics

1.

Discuss the relationship dynamic between Cromwell and King Henry. Does Cromwell truly respect or admire the king? Can he envision a future in which he functions independently of Henry? Use examples from the text to support your response.

2.

Compare and contrast Bring Up the Bodies with another work of fiction (theater, TV, or film) that features the Tudor era. How is Mantel’s depiction of this epoch similar or different? What is the effect of the changes she introduces into the narrative?

3.

Why does Jane Seymour capture Henry’s attention? How does he perceive her as being different from his previous two wives? What does Jane’s allure reveal about ideals of femininity in the Tudor era?