1. Gorboduc By Adam Harrison And Robbin Gilroy

2. The Play itself It is a Tragedy written in English Blank Verse Modeled after dramatic works of Seneca Written by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville The play was well liked by Queen Elizabeth and was viewed by her many times.

3. Written in an attempt to instruct the Queen on the dangers of not declaring one heir to her throne. Conveys a political lesson which leads to a moral discovery It was performed in the Great Hall at the Inns of Court The First Performance of Gorboduc was in the Hall of the Inner Temple in 1561 The Play Itself continued

7. Thomas Sackville 1536 – 1608 English statesman and poet Entered Parliament in 1558 Created Baron Buckhurst in 1567 Made Lord Treasurer in 1599 and Lord High Steward in 1601 Created Earl of Dorset in 1604 Most important poems are the “Induction” and “Complaint of the Duke of Buckingham”

8. Thomas Norton Born in London is 1532 English lawyer, politician and writer Educated at Cambridge Secretary to the Protector Somerset In 1555 he was admitted a student at the Inner Temple Married Margery Cranmer Became M.P. for Berwick Went to Rome on legal business in 1579 Frequently visited the Channel Islands from 1580 to 1583 Nicknamed Rackmaster-General Died in March 1584 at his house in Bedfordshire

9. Blank Verse and Structure Unrhymed iambic pentameter The standard form for dramatic verse in Italian and German Gorboduc is generally considered to be the first English tragic drama to be written in blank verse Set the stage for Marlowe and Shakespeare Blank verse makes the play feel more real to life

10. Tragedy and Aristotle Aristotle would consider Gorboduc to be a well written tragedy Pity and fear

11. Actual Footage from Ferrex/Porrex battle scene in Gorboduc

12. Stuff to Ponder What is the moral of this play? How many actors would it take to put on this play? If King Gorboduc had continued with tradition and given his kingdom to his eldest son Ferrex do you think this whole tragedy could have been avoided or would Porrex’s greed overpowered his and drove his to try to overthrow his brother?