COHFA | Writing Your Obsessions: Poetry and Research
Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived: the lives of Henry VIII's many wives
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
History
Minor
Creative Writing
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Carrie Jerrell
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
For my research project I chose to write about the six wives of Henry VIII. As someone who loves history, I found great source material for my research and poetic inspiration. In addition to my interest of women of past eras, I found that these specific women’s’ lives had many poetic elements that I wanted to explore. I’ve always been fascinated by how historical narratives have evolved overtime as people’s reputations have been ruined in their lifetime and then redeemed in history, and vice versa. The poetic justice of the tragic beheading of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife, contrasted with the later golden age of her daughter, the great Queen Elizabeth I, has always been one of my favorite historical topics. With each poem, I’ve sought to distinguish my own interpretation of the fact and fiction of these women, and to humanize these figures as history has either demonized or idolized them. Additionally, I found many interesting facts and connections between the wives that I think enriches the overall narrative. I will be presenting three of my poems inspired by and based off of the wives of Henry VIII.
Affiliations
OTHER Affiliation
Other Affiliations
ENG 416
Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived: the lives of Henry VIII's many wives
For my research project I chose to write about the six wives of Henry VIII. As someone who loves history, I found great source material for my research and poetic inspiration. In addition to my interest of women of past eras, I found that these specific women’s’ lives had many poetic elements that I wanted to explore. I’ve always been fascinated by how historical narratives have evolved overtime as people’s reputations have been ruined in their lifetime and then redeemed in history, and vice versa. The poetic justice of the tragic beheading of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife, contrasted with the later golden age of her daughter, the great Queen Elizabeth I, has always been one of my favorite historical topics. With each poem, I’ve sought to distinguish my own interpretation of the fact and fiction of these women, and to humanize these figures as history has either demonized or idolized them. Additionally, I found many interesting facts and connections between the wives that I think enriches the overall narrative. I will be presenting three of my poems inspired by and based off of the wives of Henry VIII.