A “Dumb-Show” before this play’s second act depicts a king refusing a clear glass of wine in favor of a golden cup of “potion” that represents insincere flattery—which turns out to be poison. For 10 points each:
[10h] Name this play in which the “parasites” Hermon and Tyndar incite the brothers Ferrex and Porrex to war against each other. This play by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville was the first English-language blank-verse tragedy.
ANSWER: Gorboduc [or The Tragedie of Gorboduc; prompt on The Tragedy of Ferrex and Porrex]
[10e] Gorboduc’s depiction of a British king dividing his realm among fractious children was an obvious influence on this tragedy, in which Cordelia is disinherited due to her refusal to flatter her father.
ANSWER: King Lear
[10m] The Duke of Albany’s speech in Gorboduc inspired this character’s promise to “never rest” until he reaches “the sweet fruition of an earthly crown.” This character asks “Know ye not yet the argument of arms?” before killing his son.
ANSWER: Tamburlaine [accept Tamerlane or Timur the Lame]
<Rob Carson, British Literature>