a)
Who?
THE KING'S SPEECH: WORKSHEET
2/ ABDICATION CRISIS
PART 1: THE ROYAL FAMILY
Where?
b) Relation between the characters? What does the man call the 2 little girls?
When (what period? which
years?)
c) Who? What is going on? Who is the old man? Who are his sons? Why is the death of this old man
special?
c) Observe this dialogue
- Haven't I any rights?
- Many privileges
- Not the same thing"
a) What is the problem between Elizabeth and Mrs Simpsons ? Why don't Elizabeth and Mr Churchill
of her? What does Bertie reproach his brother for?
approve
HELP: How to express reproach:
to blame somebody for doing something
to reproach somebody for doing someting
b) What decision does David/Edward VIII eventually make? Pay attention to his abdication speech and
explain his decision.
HELP: How to express consequence
- as a result/consequence, ... / therefore, .../thus, ... /so.../ that's why ...
What do the two brothers think of their role as King / member of the Royal Family? Do you agree with
David or Bertie?
What do you think of this decision? Do you find it romantic / selfish / ridiculous / normal/?
1/ Bertie and Lionel
Describe the two sessions, pay special attention to
• the positions of the characters (sitting, standing, looking up, looking down, ...) and what feelings these
positions can create (to feel superior /
inferior, to feel like a child, ...)
During the 1 st speech session, Bertie is shy / Bertie is sitting whereas during the session with Logue, he
appears cold/ aloof
At first he stammers a lot while at the end he doesn't stammers, or just a little.
On the one hand, Bertie is very cold toward Logues, on the other hand, he needs his help.
Bertie doesn't want to go to speech therapy, however he never misses his lessons because he is
hardworking.
HELP: How to express contrast
whereas/unlike...
<-.
PART 2: THE KING'S SPEECH AND LIONEL
- on the contrary, ...
- contrary to ...,
- however, ...
- on the one hand ...; on the other hand ...
*******
Names. Who is who?
Link the characters to the names they are being called in the film.
Your Royal Highness
doctor O
Bertie
M. Johnson
Lionel O
Doctor Logue O
Prince Albert Frederick Arthur O
□ Speech therapist
Lionel Logue
In your opinion, what name does Bertie prefer? Why?
Bertie
Are these names equivalent or interchangeable? What difference does it make to chose one instead of
another one? (formal/ casual/ friendly/ cold/...)