Mary Queen of Scots

Endowed with considerable intellectual gifts, Mary was also hot-tempered and arrogant. Her childhood was spent in a country bitterly divided by religion. At the age of 16 she was married to the French dauphin (heir to the throne), who briefly became king before his death in 1560. She then returned to Scotland and married her cousin Henry, Lord Darnley. But before long she fell in love with her secretary, who was killed by Darnley and his friends in front of her eyes. In 1567 Darnley was killed in an explosion or later killed by the Lords of Scotland. Mary turns to her true love, the Earl of Bothwell. All this was too much for her protestant lords who force her to abdicate in 1567. She fled Scotland and was later executed by Elizabeth I, Queen of England in what is known as the Babington Conspiracy. Mary's son, James (Stuart) VI of Scotland becomes heir to the English throne and later become James I of England. During his reign he initially tolerated different religions and even allowed a new translation of the bible to English to be completed--known as the King James version.

Cast of Characters:

Mary (Stuart) Queen of Scotland, daughter of Margaret sister to Henry VIII, and James IV of Scotland.

James Stuart- her brother, share the same father but not the same mother. He's illegitimate and her claim to the throne supersedes his.

James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, future husband to Mary also called Jamie

Henry, Lord Darnley, cousin to Queen Elizabeth and Mary. He is catholic and has a claim to the throne of England

Elizabeth I - daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boelyn who were unmarried at the time of Elizabeth's conception and birth. She is protestant. She becomes Queen in 1558 until her death in 1603.

Robert Dudley- lover to Elizabeth I, later Earl of Leicester. Also called Robin

Mary I- Queen of England- also daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. She is known as "Bloody Mary" because she was Catholic and persecuted Protestants. She is not in this movie and only listed here for clarification.

"Mary Queen of Scots"(128)

1. Who is Elizabeth spending time with on the boat and why are they trying to be secretive?

2. Why did Elizabeth send Robert (Robin) Dudley from the court? What is he suspected of doing?

3. Why did Elizabeth "fear" Mary Queen of Scots"?

4. Why do you think Francois II's mother, the Queen Mother of France, wanted Mary out of France after the death of Francois?

5. Why is David (later called Davey) Riccio introduced as the "agent of the pope" by the bishop?

6. Why would Elizabeth not allow Mary passage through England?Hint: What is the back door to England?

7. Why do you think that Elizabeth would not marry Robert (Robin) Dudley when he asked her?

8. What was the conflict between James Stuart and Mary Queen of Scots?Did James intend for Mary to have any real power?

9. Why was Mary not well accepted in Scotland?hint:What religion are most of the Scottish Lords

10. Why did Elizabeth think that Mary would turn to Henry, Lord Darnley and away from Lord Bothwell?

11. Why did Elizabeth fear a Spanish Catholic princess?

12. What did Henry, Lord Darnley, do after his marriage to Mary that caused him to fall out of favor with the Queen?(When does she first realize he is not what he appears)

13. What did Mary do in order to trick the lords and her husbands attempt to take over her throne?

14. Why would Elizabeth be concerned about the birth of a male child to Mary Queen of Scots?

15. What role does Mary play in the death of her husband, Lord Darnley?

16. On what grounds were the Lords able to overthrow Mary?

17. Mary leaves Scotland meets with Elizabeth and expects her support. Why was she refused?

18. What is the reason that Elizabeth imprisons Mary?

19. Who raises Mary's son while she is in prison?

20. Why does Mary not accept Elizabeth's offer of forgiveness?

21. Describe the basic difference between Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots.