Vocabulary, The King's Speech, Agatha Christie, Dr. Faustus, Dorian Gray: Key Facts

Words and Their Meanings

• Abdicate: To renounce, resign, or quit.
• Trivial: Unimportant or small.
• Rustic: Relating to the countryside; rural.
• Ostentation: Flashiness, showiness, or display.
• Impertinent: Rude or disrespectful.
• Pernicious: Malicious or evil.
• Chagrin: Embarrassment or humiliation.
• Flummox: To confuse.
• Enigma: A mystery or riddle.
• Chronometer: A timepiece or watch.

Key Facts from *The King's Speech*

Who was King George V?

David and Albert's father, the King of England during World War I.

Countries in the British Empire

England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, India, Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong.

What is a book that holds a person's daily thoughts?

A diary.

What did doctors tell King George VI to do to relax?

They advised him to smoke.

King George VI's speeches were characterized by:

Anger, stuttering, and nervousness.

Who was King George VI's speech therapist?

Lionel Logue.

Who is Queen Elizabeth II?

King George VI's eldest daughter.

During which war did King George VI serve?

World War II.

Who was Lionel Logue's grandson and the writer of *The King's Speech*?

Mark Logue.

Agatha Christie: The Queen of Mystery

What are informational texts?

Books written about an event or a person's life.

What is a journal?

A book that keeps track of a certain time, often with pictures.

What is Agatha Christie's literary title?

The Queen of Mystery or"whodunit"

Reasons for Agatha Christie's Grand Tour

A request by the British government, a job, and her honeymoon.

What was Agatha Christie's husband's name?

Archibald.

Length of Agatha Christie's Grand Tour

Ten months.

Places Agatha Christie visited

South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Canada.

Name of the ship Agatha Christie toured on

R.M.S. Kildonan Castle.

Start date of Agatha Christie's Grand Tour

January 20, 1922.

When did Agatha Christie die?

January 12, 1976.

*The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus* by Christopher Marlowe

How is Icarus mentioned in the chorus?

"...his waxen wings did mount above his reach."

Why does Dr. Faustus dress up?

To "be divine in show."

Who is Dr. Faustus's servant?

Wagner.

Subjects studied by Dr. Faustus

Logic, medicine, law, and theology.

What are metaphysics and magic to Dr. Faustus?

"Necromantic books are heavenly."

Time of service from Mephistopheles

24 years.

Who teaches Dr. Faustus about the dark arts?

Valdes and Cornelius.

Where did Dr. Faustus live?

Wittenberg, Germany, in the 1600s.

What language was *Dr. Faustus* written in?

Shakespearean English.

What happens at the end of *Dr. Faustus*?

The Devil takes him to hell, and he loses his soul.

*The Picture of Dorian Gray* by Oscar Wilde

"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all."