Understanding Absolutism Extra-Credit Opportunity: last week

1
Understanding Absolutism Extra-Credit
Opportunity last week

• You may choose 1 of the following 3 options. Note
  that option 3 has two choices.
• Option 1-Expositiory essay
• Option 2-Creative Instructions
• Option 3-Expressive Performance (requires advance
  sign up by 5/21)
• All work must be completed by 5/27 observing the
  parameters outlined.

2
Option 1-Essay due Thurs. 5/27
2 Portraits 2 Absolute Monarchs You be the
judge! (Instructions in Notes View)
3
Option 2-Instructions (due 5/27)

• Both Louis XIV and Frederick the Great wrote
  instructions for training their sons to rule.
  With your knowledge of the requirements for a
  successful absolutist state and your knowledge of
  the events of the period, imagine that you are
  one of the following monarchs. Draw up a list of
  dos and donts for your successor. Be sure to
  capture the beliefs of your monarch and the
  specific challenges of his time and place. You
  are
• Phillip II
• James I
• Frederick the Great
• Peter the Great
• PS Use your imagination, albeit in a
  historically authentic manner!

4
Staging Absolutism
Option 3-PerformanceIn-Class Activity
Wed./Thurs., May 27/8
Some historians have studied the manner in which
Louis IV exercised his power Like other absolute
monarchs, he sought to curb the power and
influence of his nobles Versailles played an
important role. Louis court was the epicenter of
all seeming power, influence, cool and chic.
But residents, visitors and Louis himself were
subject to an elaborate code of behavior and
daily ritual. Indeed, Versailles was like a stage
set and all present served as the actors
following an elaborate script. Louis, the
ultimate patron of the arts, provided
entertainment of all sorts, and nothing was more
successful than comedies and satires mocking
human foibles and pretensions. Choose either
choice 1 or 2 and be prepared to entertain your
classmates à la Versailles!
For planning purposes, you must sign up by
Friday, May 21
5
Staging Absolutism à la Versailles

• Both options require an expressive performance
• All Students With your partner, recreate the
  scene from Molieres Would be Gentleman. (Slide
  6) You will be graded on (a) Your individual,
  written paragraph answer to Question 3 and (b)
  your skill in making us all understand what
  Moliere was mocking.
• French Students Only You and your partner are to
  divide in two equal parts La Fontaines fable Le
  corbeau et le renard. (For materials needed,
  follow links on Slide 7) You will be graded on
  (a) memorization and performance of the fable in
  French. (b) an explanation in English of what it
  is saying and what human foible is being mocked.
  Why would that foible be particularly funny at
  Versailles?

6
(No Transcript)
7
Le corbeau et le renardde la Fontaine
Amusez-vous!