10 Questions about The Queen's Fool | Literature

Answer: Jewish

Hannah's mother is killed during the Inquisition after being found a heretic. To save his daughter, Hannah's father moves them from Spain to England. He sets up a print shop and Hannah disguises herself as his young apprentice so as not to alert suspicions. Hannah is haunted by her mother's death and throughout the story, we see the crisis of faith that she experiences, first as a Jew, then in her pretending to adhere to the Catholic faith.

Answer: Uriel

Robert Dudley and John Dee go to the print shop to view Hannah's father's inventory and as they walk in, Hannah thinks she sees a third man walk in behind Dee, all dressed in white. When Dee realizes that she sees angels, he makes a deal with Hannah's father to have him release Hannah to Dudley's service. Dee uses Hannah many times to ask her about the future.

He sets up a special gazing mirror and has her sit before it and scry for him. Often Hannah enters a trance-like state and doesn't remember what information she gives him. Dee and Dudley both care for Hannah but also use her to spy on the Queen Mary, putting her and her family in great danger.

Answer: Will the Fool

Hannah immediately befriends Will Somers, the court's favorite fool. To prepare for a masque being hosted by King Edward, the two rehearse a skit where Hannah bests Will in a sword fight. Hannah is a novice at sword play initially but becomes quite accomplished as the years go by, which helps her tremendously to defend herself at the fall of Calais.

As a young girl at court dressing and acting like a boy, Hannah is given the opportunity to grow into a strong and independent individual. But when it is time for her to shed her boy breeches and become a lady, she struggles with what is expected of her and resists conforming to the restraints of her gender.

Answer: break her heart

Poor Queen Mary! Hannah's vision does come to fruition when Phillip leaves England after Mary is unable to give birth to a child. Mary truly and deeply loves her husband and his absence leads her into a deep depression. It is then learned that Phillip is directing his attention toward Princess Elizabeth and Mary knows in her heart that her husband would divorce her, dethrone her and make Elizabeth England's next queen.

Mary has two successful pregnancies (history doubts that she was pregnant at all) and at the loss of what she believes is her second child, Mary sinks deeper into depression and eventually succumbs to her heartbreak.

Answer: Hatfield

The princess lives in Hatfield when she isn't at court. When Princess Elizabeth is under suspicion for treason and summoned back to London by Queen Mary, it takes the traveling group about 10 days to reach London from Hatfield, but under normal conditions, the princess's home isn't very far from London.

While out of favor with the Queen, Elizabeth keeps minimal staff and is often too ill to enjoy Hatfield, but when she is in favor, or plotting to overthrow her sister, Elizabeth is known to have a very merry court, filled with good food, beautiful courtiers and lots of dancing.

Answer: Bishop Bonner

Bishop Bonner has a most terrifying reputation throughout England and all citizens know that if they are arrested and questioned by him, they are almost assuredly doomed for the scaffold. When Hannah is arrested, Bonner questions her and her old friend John Dee is present. Hannah is shocked to see Dee participating in the interrogation and punishment of obviously innocent people.

However, Dee's presence saves Hannah when he convinces Bonner that she is the Queen's Holy Fool and should be released as an innocent.

Answer: Sarah

Daniel loves his mother and three sisters but the ladies all treat Hannah with such contempt, probably because they are jealous of Daniel's love for her. Ann, Mary and Sarah are constantly gossiping about and laughing at Hannah. Hannah tolerates the petty abuse for months until finally, when Daniel's mother maliciously reveals to Hannah that Daniel had an affair with a woman which resulted in the birth of an illegitimate son, she storms out and decides to leave Daniel's home.

The other answers I pulled from other Phillipa Gregory books - Catherine Carey is Mary Boleyn's daughter, Laetitia is Catherine Carey's daughter and Amy Dudley is Robert Dudley unfortunate wife.

Answer: during mass

Hannah is already estranged from Daniel because she knows of his infidelity before they were married. But while at mass Hannah has a strong vision of a woman asking Hannah to take her child while men on horses ride toward her. This vision comes to fruition at the fall of Calais and Hannah is asked to take Daniel's child to safety. Hannah escapes Calais with little Danny in tow, thanks to the kindness of Robert Dudley who offers her safe passage back to England. Hannah brings Danny up as her own and Danny establishes a very strong bond with Hannah quickly.

Answer: good

Danny is almost two years old and still doesn't speak. This concerns Hannah greatly and she takes him to a Jewish doctor who performs a circumcision ceremony. Shortly after, Hannah and Danny are out riding and when they dismount, Danny pets the horse's head and says "good". Hannah is moved to tears and later, he does call her "Momma".

Answer: Robert Dudley

Daniel misunderstands Hannah when she shows up with Danny at her side. He tells her that he will raise her child as his own and they will never again discuss what has happened while they were separated. Hannah immediately corrects Daniel and tells him that he is the father of the child and even though Hannah isn't the biological mother, she has raised Danny like he was her own.

The family is finally happily reunited and Hannah knows now that she is truly in love with Daniel and that she is ready to be his wife.