The Fall of Anne Boleyn - 3

The series concludes with Anne Boleyn's execution.  Borman explores the documents that lead up to that event and hope that Henry VIII would grant her a reprieve.  

Anne believed that there would be a reprieve from Henry VIII.  She was up all night the day before her execution.  Her mood swung wildly between composure and hysteria.  She cheerfully welcomes death, the constable of the tower noted. 

The four men who were found guilty of adultery with the Queen were executed on Tower Hill.  Anne would be executed within the tower walls.  A scaffold was built.  Cromwell wanted Anne executed quickly so Henry VIII would not change his mind.  Henry VIII wanted to get rid of Anne.  Cromwell persuaded Cramner, the Archbishop of Canterbury to write off the marriage between Anne and Henry VIII.  Elizabeth was made a bastard. 

Cramner had his doubts about Anne's guilt and spent a sleepless night before her execution.  He knows her better than anyone.  She would have told him if she was guilty.  He believes her innocent and that Henry would save her.  However, Alexander Alice, a friend of Cramner came to him in order to tell him a chilling nightmare.  Alice saw Anne's execution in his dream.  Cramner now knows that Anne is going to be executed.  He goes to Anne for her final confession and communion.  She confirms her innocence with him, and if she was lying it meant she would have condemned her soul.

The people in the meantime are starting to mutter against the execution.  Are they coming to the side of Anne Boleyn's side?  Cromwell is growing nervous.  He had the people cleared out of the tower.  Anne prepares for her execution.  She dresses with a red kirtle and black dress. 

Henry VIII dictates that Anne Boleyn be executed by the sword, rather than by burning or executed by the axe.  It was the first time that a Queen of England was executed.  A precedent was being set with this execution.

To continue to learn more about the day of Anne Boleyn's execution, continue to watch the documentary.

I would use this documentary for research into Tudors and would show clips from it to a class as part of a lecture.

For use in the classroom: just highlight, copy and paste into a word document or a google document for use in the classroom.  You can easily format these questions to your specifications.  All questions should fit onto one page after formatting.

You can find the link for the YouTube video here.

The Fall of Anne Boleyn Episode 3 Questions

1. Who wanted Anne dead?
2. Who was waiting in the wings to replace Anne?
3. Who had Thomas Cromwell annul the marriage between Anne and Henry VIII?
4. Did Thomas Cramner support Anne?
5. What role did he play in Anne’s life?
6. Did Thomas Cramner believe Anne to be innocent?
7. Who had a terrible nightmare?
8. What was the nightmare about?
9. Both Anne and Thomas Cramner hoped the king would do what?
10. How many times was Anne execution delayed?

The Fall of Anne Boleyn Episode 3 Answers

1. Who wanted Anne dead? - Thomas Cromwell
2. Who was waiting in the wings to replace Anne? - Jane Seymour
3. Who had Thomas Cromwell annul the marriage between Anne and Henry VIII? - Thomas Cramner
4. Did Thomas Cramner support Anne? - Yes
5. What role did he play in Anne’s life? - Personal confessor
6. Did Thomas Cramner believe Anne to be innocent? -Yes
7. Who had a terrible nightmare? - Alexander Alice
8. What was the nightmare about? - Anne’s execution
9. Both Anne and Thomas Cramner hoped the king would do what? - Grant Anne a reprieve
10. How many times was Anne execution delayed? - Twice