In The King’s Two Bodies, Ernst Kantorowicz (“kan-TOR-oh-witz”) argues that the shattering of a mirror in this play represents the demise of the protagonist’s “body politic.” For 10 points each:
[10e] Name this Shakespeare play about a 14th-century king that is followed by the two Henry IV plays and Henry V in a tetralogy.
ANSWER: Richard II [or The Life and Death of King Richard the Second]
[10m] Richard’s demise is hastened when he ignores the advice of this character. This man’s deathbed speech calls England “this royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle.”
ANSWER: John of Gaunt [or John of Gaunt; or Duke of Lancaster]
[10h] Richard talks about the inevitable demise of monarchs in a speech in which he says “For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground and” perform this action. You can give the exact eight-word phrase, or just the first three words.
ANSWER: tell sad stories [or tell sad stories of the death of kings]
<British Literature>