Instructions
Today, we are stepping back in time to the Tudor court. Imagine you are Catherine of Aragon, the Queen of England. You have been married to King Henry VIII for more than twenty years, a loyal wife and a devoted mother to your daughter, Mary. But today, the King has delivered devastating news: he claims your marriage is not valid in the eyes of God and he plans to set you aside to marry another woman, Anne Boleyn.
Your task is to write a secret diary entry from Catherine's perspective on this very day. In your entry, you must explore her thoughts and emotions.
Be sure to include the following points:- Your Feelings: How do you feel? Betrayed? Heartbroken? Furious? Righteous? Describe the storm of emotions inside you.
- Your Fears: What are you afraid of? What will happen to you? More importantly, what will happen to your beloved daughter, Mary, and her right to the throne? Do you fear for the soul of England itself?
- Your Hopes: In this dark moment, what do you hope for? Do you hope the King will see reason? Do you put your faith in God to deliver justice? Do you hope your powerful nephew, the Holy Roman Emperor, will help you?
Try to write with the voice of a proud, devout, and determined queen who believes she is right. Begin with a date and "Dear Diary," or a similar opening.
Date: _______________
Dear Diary,
Answer Key / Example
Please note: This is a creative writing task, so there is no single "correct" answer. This is an example of a good response that includes the required feelings, fears, and hopes. Your own entry should be unique!
Date: 11th June 1529
Dear Diary,
My world has turned to dust. The King, my husband of two decades, stood before me today and spoke words of such poison that my heart feels it might stop. He claims our marriage is a sin. A sin! After twenty years as his loyal wife, after giving him a child, after all my prayers... he says I am not his Queen.
My first feeling was a cold shock, a disbelief that the man I love could be so cruel. Now, a righteous fury burns in my veins. How dare he cast me aside for that Boleyn girl? He speaks of God's law, but I know it is his own selfish desire for a son and for her that drives this madness. I am heartbroken, not just for myself, but for him, for he risks his very soul.
My greatest fear is not for my own future, though I dread being cast into the shadows. My terror is for my dearest Mary. He would make her illegitimate, a bastard, and steal her birthright as Princess of England. I see a dark path ahead for this kingdom if Henry turns his back on Rome and on God's true church. I fear for the souls of all his subjects.
But I will not despair. I am the daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, and I am England’s true Queen. My hope is in the Almighty, who knows the truth of my sacred vows. I pray that Henry will come to his senses and return to me and to his duty. And I hope my powerful nephew, Emperor Charles V, will remind the Pope of his duty to defend me. I will not accept this. I will fight for my marriage, for my daughter, and for my soul until my last breath. I am Catherine, Queen of England. And so I shall remain.