Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Thoughts on this class

Last blog woo hoo!!! This being my first semester ever in college, I was terrified! I wasn't sure I could handle being a student while working full time. I managed to complete this semester unscathed. My math class was challenging, but this English class pushed me harder than I ever thought I could be pushed. Although I absolutely hated blogging, because I tend to be a private kind of person, I learned that I actually enjoy writing. I have always enjoyed reading, but I never thought I would enjoy writing. It is a kind of art form.  I appreciated the time Ms. Hanson took to explain things, and all the options she gave us for completing our assignments. This semester was me sticking my toe in to the pool of school, to see if it would suit me, and if I was ready to jump in. Because of the confidence I have gained this semester, mostly because of this class, I have decided I AM ready to jump in!

The End

Part Three starts out with twentieth century Anne waking up back in her century. She is very confused and has a hard time grasping when and where she is. As it turns out, her ill spell that sent her back in time was actually a ruptured brain aneurism. I would never have expected this turn in the story, but it makes sense that the whole time she was "gone," was all in her head.

After she has surgery and is recuperating, she has a visitor. Her friend Kate comes to see her and take her home.  Apparently, Kate knows all about Anne's relationship with Daniel and inquires about it. Anne dodges answering any of her questions elaborately and just gives short, simple answers. Once she gets home and Kate leaves, Daniel comes over. I have a hard time believing that this current Anne, who is a dreamer and seems to allow others, particularly Daniel, to walk all over her and drag her along on the side, managed to so confidently walk in the shoes of Anne Boleyn.

Anne stays home for some time, just to get well, and when he can, Daniel comes to visit her. He surprises her on her birthday with a picnic, which she chooses to have at the Ankerwycke Yew. During an overload of emotion, she tells Daniel about her time travel. He accepts it and does not treat her like she is crazy. She manages to get Daniel to agree to take her back to Hever. It is easy to tell she hopes to be transported back in time, but it doesn't happen. She tours the castle at her own leisure, and still has time to go to the St. Peter's Church nearby to see the grave of Anne Boleyn's father, before Daniel comes to pick her up.

Over a year has gone by when she sees an ad for an event at the British library that will be celebrating 500 years since the reign of King Henry.  Since Daniel is out of town, and she doesn't have to work, she makes plans to visit the library.While on her commute there, she smells the familiar scent of rose water, just like she did on the day she became ill and was transported back in time. She ignores this, and continues on her way. Just before she goes in the library she get a text from Daniel stating that he and his wife had had an argument, and he doesn't feel he can take it any more. She responds by asking what happened. He doesn't respond back immediately, so she goes ahead into the library. She is viewing some artifacts when she smells the roses again, and also Daniel responds back by saying he has left his wife just as she is transporting back in time for a second time. That is the end of book 1. CLIFF HANGER!!!!!


Saturday, May 3, 2014

Chapter 20-22

Anne organizes a friendly archery match among her friends at court. In the middle of the match, just as Anne is taking aim for her next shot, Nan comes bursting over, hysterical because the book Anne loaned her had been stolen.  Of coarse, the narrator new this would happen, just not when and where. It is a known fact that the book , The Obedience of a Cristian Man, was stolen, or somehow obtained by Cardinal Wolsey, while it was in Nan's possession. Anne boldly takes the matter strait to the king, and she convinces him to read it. This one tiny indecent will set in motion, a whole world of change for the kingdom.

Chapter 20 begins with Anne strolling with her father while she describes the details of her conversation with the king in regards to the matter involving the banned Tyndale book. The king's reaction to the book is very important to the Boleyn family, because they are hoping to sway the king in a new direction in religion, away from Catholicism. Soon after this, Anne and her family are moved to new quarters, on account of a breakout of measles. 

The very next month, Anne catches a chill and gets sick. It takes her much longer to get well than it would in modern day times. Almost as soon as she is well and strong enough to be herself again, a widespread epidemic of the sweating sickness breaks out. Anne learns of this after a day of riding, and also that the king has already left her behind to retreat to Waltham Abbey. Twentieth century Anne knew he was going to do this, yet she still gets all upset about it. Anne herself comes down with the sickness as well as her brother and Bess. Poor Bess dies of it. As they are traveling back to Hever to hide out from the epidemic, and get well, Anne becomes so ill and delirious from her fever she is in and out of consciousness. Her mother tries to keep her awake, but she not successful.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

16-18

In chapter 16, Anne ventures even further into the political web at court. She gets Wolsey's attention, and has dinner with Thomas Heneage. Her dinner goes just as planned. With her new power, she requests that Heneage ask for Cardinal Wolsey's support on the delicate matter involving Sir Thomas Cheney, who wants to trade up one woman for her younger sister. Sheesh. You would think a woman who is supposed to be courageous and independent would find something wrong with this, but she and her family only seem to have their own interests in mind. Either way, she plants the seed, and we will have to wait and see if it grows.

Ch 17. She is worried because Henry has not sent for her yet, which not his normal behavior. Also, there is a ruckus outside and her anxiety worsens. As it turns out, Henry was planning a surprise for her, by planning an awesome picnic. During the picnic, which is more like a festival/parade, she and her ladies perform a risque dance that I consider to be dangerous. Henry is consumed with desire, but I bet the rest of the court that saw it just thought all the rumors about her reputation were true. Then the King tells her he loves her!

Ch 18 Anne is brooding in her room because the king must go to a joust, with his queen by his side. She is wallowing in her own misery when Nan come to check on her and finds Anne's copy of Tyndale's The Obedience of a Christian Man. Instead of being worried about being caught with a banned text, she actually suggest Nan read it with enthusiasm. This is an important piece of history because later, it will be stolen from Nan, by Wolsey!!!!!

13-15

Chapter 13 begins with preparations for Christmas. Anne doesn't see the point in making a big deal for Christmas, when it is just her and her mother there. I think in part, she just wants to hide away in her own thoughts. Then Margery shows up and proves her mother's point that a lady should always have her household prepared for visitors. Anne's mood improves significantly when Margery visits. She needed someone she could speak her mind with. We also learned of the jealous temper tantrum the King has over the locket incident. It shows how much faith he really has in her.

Chapter 14 Starts when she is out riding Starlight, her Christmas gift from the King. Of course while she is out riding, she has visitors.  The visitors are Stephen Gardiner and Edward Foxe. They are there to relay a message from the King, and to inform her of their quest to speak with the Pope. We also learn that Dr. Foxe, and an increasing number of the members of court, have been persuaded by the new faith.

Chapter 15 After 4 months away, they make their way to Windsor Castle. She is there as a guest of the King, which boosts the Boleyn family status. She receives her own apartments, and as promised, her own ladies to wait on her.  It is just a bonus that he chose her dearest friends.She gets to dress extravagantly and attends a party in her honor. Her leaving for 4 months was hardly worthwhile, since she is boosted to the top of the court when she returns. During the party she and her father devise a plan to use Wolsey to help Thomas Cheney with at delicate matter, in order to gain Cheney's alliance in their quest to make Anne a Queen. They set up a dinner with Thomas Heneage, one of Wolsey's men, to set things in motion.

Door Matt

Door Matt

You picked me up, and threw me down.

You lifted my spirits, and tossed them around.

You tended my wounds, after the pain you caused me.

You blinded me with kindness, so that is all I could see.

Stupid and naive, I thought I caused your anger.

Over time, to myself, I became a stranger.

One day I realized I wasn’t my own.

Into a caged, wounded girl, I had grown.

Trying to restore our lost love, I had entered that cage.

It did not protect me from your unprovoked rage.

On the day I stood up, a woman of my own,

none of your force could not push me back down.

I left many things behind on that day,

but my independence, self worth, and womanhood, I still have today.

I still have nightmares of you five years later,

but I am awakened by a man nine million times greater.







Thursday, April 10, 2014

Feeling Beaulieu

These next four chapters are a roller coaster of emotions. Between her spitting anger, and lusty encounters with the King, Anne has a new emotion on just about every page.

Chapter nine starts out with her learning that her father and his allies want her to use her influence on the King to bring down Wolsey. Being the smart lady she is, she recognizes that she needs Wolsey for the time being to help the King get his annulment. She coolly appeases them by pledging her alliance to them, and asking them to trust her to find the right time to take him down. Later, her maidenhead has a close call with the King. Luckily she comes to her senses.
After leaving Beaulieu, everyone heads off to Richmond, which, Anne describes, is "like something out of a fairy story..." Since she described it like this, I have been imagining Cinderella's castle. That is just how my mind works. Of course I had to look it up, and found out that the only thing that remains of Richmond Palace is the gate house. It looks like a whole to me it is HUGE. Just imagine how big the whole Palace must have been.
In chapter 11, she gets to meet the famous Wolsey. They proceed to sum each other up, and slice each other up, with words that is. Then she runs and tattles on him to the King. He has a minimal reaction, because he too, knows just how much they need Wolsey. He is however, pretty mad at Wolsey for failing to get the support of King Francis.
To get back into the King's favor, Wolsey organizes a grand masque, during which the King is forced to stand by his queen, which infuriates Anne. She sneaks away to escape having to see it, but not before she has a risque little dance with the King in front of the Queen. She rides off with her brother to let off a little steam. Once she gets back, the king informs her she no longer has to wait on the queen.
Chapter 12 She and Henry discuss their relationship and the damaging gossip it has inspired. Anne suggests they separate for the Christmas holidays in hopes the gossip will die down. The King agrees. So off she goes back to Hever Castle with her mother for a nice quiet Holiday.

Posted April 2, 2014