"The Lion In Winter" by James Goldman Quiz

Answer: Plantagenet

Henry II founded the Plantagenet line, which ruled England until the overthrow of Richard III by Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) on Bosworth Field almost 300 years later. That battle ended the War of the Roses, but both the House of York (white rose) and the House of Lancaster (red rose) were Plantagenet bloodlines.

Answer: Capetians

Philip and his sister are members of the Capetian dynasty, descended from Hugh Capet, who succeeded the last Carolingian king (ie. last descendant of Charlemagne to hold the throne) in the 10th century. Their father, Louis VII, was formerly married to Eleanor, but divorced her when she bore him only daughters. He married twice more before his last wife bore Philip.

Answer: Geoffrey

Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany, died very young, predeceasing Henry II. Richard succeeded Henry as Richard I, also called Richard the Lionhearted. He died of wounds received at the siege of Chaluz, and was succeeded by John, who was crowned John I, later forced by his barons to sign the Magna Carta.

Answer: Knowledgeable

"We're a knowledgeable family" is indeed the punchline to this little litany.

Answer: "A king, alive, and fifty all at once."

Weak Kings don't stay on their thrones, or even survive, to the advanced age (in those days) of 50 without being tough and smart. In a later scene Henry taunts Richard, who tells his father that one day the two of them will have it out, with "When? Good God, boy, I'm fifty now. I'm the oldest man I know. I've got a decade on the Pope."

Answer: None

"She bore him many children, but no sons. King Henry had no sons. He had three, whiskered things, but disowned them! You're not mine! We're not connected! I deny you!"

Historically, Henry and Eleanor had eight children, five boys and three girls. In order of birth, they were William, Young Henry, Richard, Matilda, Geoffrey, Eleanor, Joan and John.

Answer: "Well, what family doesn't have its ups and downs?"

Throughout the play, Henry and Eleanor are constantly fighting, flirting, plotting together and then plotting against each other. This scene hits the peak of their conflict. Each claims to be immune to the other's taunts. "The day you hurt me," says Henry, "I'll cry out." Eleanor revels in a description - is it true or not? - of Geoffrey as a lover, and Henry breaks, running out of the room, bellowing. "What? Have I hurt you yet?" shouts Eleanor to his back, before, exhausted, she murmurs this exquisite little line.

Answer: He plans to remarry and remove them from the succession.

After the explosive confrontation with all three of his sons, busily betraying him to Philip, Henry decides to have his marriage to Eleanor anulled, marry Alais, and father new sons to be his heirs. Since Richard, Geoffrey, and John, facing disinheritance, can be trusted to rise against him, Henry has them locked up.

Answer: Henry cannot bring himself to kill him.

Henry comes within a hair of killing Richard, who stands, unresisting, before him. At the last moment, he does not strike - he cannot. Whether he strikes a blow with the flat of the blade (as in the film) or turns the sword aslant, or simply doesn't follow through is up to the production. Eleanor dryly remarks "You spare the rod, you'll spoil those boys."

Answer: "And they can see ours."

Henry answers "And they can see ours." He and Eleanor remain the two most formidable creatures in their jungle, and everyone knows it. Earlier in this scene, the King baits Richrd to attack him with his dagger. "You're Richard, aren't you?!" To which Richard replies, "Yes. But you're Henry." No one has any illusions about the ferocity of the first Plantagenet.