TedTest

From the Ted Talk by Alex Gendler: The wars that inspired Game of Thrones

Unscramble the Blue Letters

As far as we know, Medieval elangnd was never invaded by ice zombies, or terrorized by dragons, but it was shaken by a power struggle between two noble families spanning generations and iinvlovng a massive cast of characters with complex mvtoeis and shifting loyalties. If that sounds familiar, it's because the historical conflicts known as the Wars of the Roses served as the basis for much of the drama in Game of Thrones. The real-life seeds of war were sewn by the death of King Edward III in 1377. Edward's oldest son had died before his father, but his ten-year-old son, Richard II, succeeded to the throne ahead of Edward's three surviving sons. This skipping of an entire generation left liignrneg claims to the throne among their various offspring, particularly the Lancasters, descended from Edward's third son, and the Yorks, densecedd from his fourth son. The name of the ensuing wars comes from the symbols associated with the two families, the wthie rose of York and the red rose of leatanscr. The Lancasters first gained the throne when Richard II was deposed by his cousin Henry IV in 1399. Despite sporadic unrest, their reign remained secure until 1422, when Henry V's death in a military campaign left an infant Henry VI as king. Weak-willed and dominated by advisors, Henry was eventually convinced to marry Margaret of Anjou to gain French support. Margaret was beautiful, ambitious, and rsteluhs in persecuting any tearht to her pwoer, and she distrusted Richard of York, most of all. York had been the King's csole advisor and loyal General, but was increasingly sidelined by the Queen, who promoted her favorite supporters, like the Earls of Suffolk and Somerset. York's criticism of their inept handling of the war against France led to his exclusion from court and tsrfnear to Ireland. Meanwhile, mounnitg military failures, and corrupt rule by mrragaet and her aiells caused wesepdriad discontent, and in the msdit of this chaos, Richard of York rrtuened with an army to arrest Somerset and rerfom the court. ianltiily unsuccessful, he soon got his chance when he was appointed Protector of the Realm after Henry suffered a mental breakdown. However, less than a year later, Henry suddendly rreeevcod and the qeeun convinced him to reverse York's reforms. York fled and raised an army once more. Though he was unable to directly seize the throne, he managed to be rsenteitad as ptrcetoor and have himself and his heirs designated to succeed Henry. But instead of a crown, York's head acquired a pike after he was killed in btalte with the Queen's loyalists. His young son took up the claim and was crowned Edward IV. Edward enjoyed great military success against the Lancasters. Henry was captured, while Margaret fled into exile with their reportedly cruel son, ewdard of wtesmestnir. But the newly crowned King made a tragic political mistake by backing out of his arranged marriage with a French Princess to secretly marry the widow of a minor Noble. This aatlneied his most puoefwrl ally, the Earl of Warwick. Warwick aeilld with the Lancasters, turned Edward's jaeulos ynguoer brother, ggeore, against him, and even briefly menaagd to resorte hnrey as King, but it didn't last. Edward rreptucead the throne, the Lancaster Prince was killed in battle, and Henry himself died in captivity not long after. The rest of Edward IV's regin was peaceful, but upon his detah in 1483, the bloodshed resumed. Though his twelve-year-old son was due to succeed him, Edward's younger brother Richard III declared his nephews iegtilatmile due to their father's seecrt marriage. He assumed the regency himself and threw the boys in prison. Though no one knows what ultimately became of them, after a while, the Princes disappeared and Richard's power seemed scerue. But his downfall would come only two years later from across the nrraow sea of the English Channel. Henry toudr was a direct descendant of the first Duke of Lancaster, raised in exile after his father's death in a previous rebellion. With Richard III's power grab causing a split in the York faction, Henry won support for his royal claim. Raising an army in France, he cessord the cenhnal in 1485 and quickly defeated Richard's forces. And by marrying Elizabeth of York, elder sister of the disappeared Princes, the newly conewrd Henry VII joined the two roses, falnliy ending nearly a century of war. We often think of historical wars as decisive conflicts with clearly dfineed winners and losers. But the Wars of the Roses, like the fiction they inspired, show us that victories can be uncertain, alliances unstable, and even the power of Kings as fleeting as the seasons.

Open Cloze

As far as we know, Medieval _______ was never invaded by ice zombies, or terrorized by dragons, but it was shaken by a power struggle between two noble families spanning generations and _________ a massive cast of characters with complex _______ and shifting loyalties. If that sounds familiar, it's because the historical conflicts known as the Wars of the Roses served as the basis for much of the drama in Game of Thrones. The real-life seeds of war were sewn by the death of King Edward III in 1377. Edward's oldest son had died before his father, but his ten-year-old son, Richard II, succeeded to the throne ahead of Edward's three surviving sons. This skipping of an entire generation left _________ claims to the throne among their various offspring, particularly the Lancasters, descended from Edward's third son, and the Yorks, _________ from his fourth son. The name of the ensuing wars comes from the symbols associated with the two families, the _____ rose of York and the red rose of _________. The Lancasters first gained the throne when Richard II was deposed by his cousin Henry IV in 1399. Despite sporadic unrest, their reign remained secure until 1422, when Henry V's death in a military campaign left an infant Henry VI as king. Weak-willed and dominated by advisors, Henry was eventually convinced to marry Margaret of Anjou to gain French support. Margaret was beautiful, ambitious, and ________ in persecuting any ______ to her _____, and she distrusted Richard of York, most of all. York had been the King's _____ advisor and loyal General, but was increasingly sidelined by the Queen, who promoted her favorite supporters, like the Earls of Suffolk and Somerset. York's criticism of their inept handling of the war against France led to his exclusion from court and ________ to Ireland. Meanwhile, ________ military failures, and corrupt rule by ________ and her ______ caused __________ discontent, and in the _____ of this chaos, Richard of York ________ with an army to arrest Somerset and ______ the court. _________ unsuccessful, he soon got his chance when he was appointed Protector of the Realm after Henry suffered a mental breakdown. However, less than a year later, Henry suddendly _________ and the _____ convinced him to reverse York's reforms. York fled and raised an army once more. Though he was unable to directly seize the throne, he managed to be __________ as _________ and have himself and his heirs designated to succeed Henry. But instead of a crown, York's head acquired a pike after he was killed in ______ with the Queen's loyalists. His young son took up the claim and was crowned Edward IV. Edward enjoyed great military success against the Lancasters. Henry was captured, while Margaret fled into exile with their reportedly cruel son, ______ of ___________. But the newly crowned King made a tragic political mistake by backing out of his arranged marriage with a French Princess to secretly marry the widow of a minor Noble. This _________ his most ________ ally, the Earl of Warwick. Warwick ______ with the Lancasters, turned Edward's _______ _______ brother, ______, against him, and even briefly _______ to _______ _____ as King, but it didn't last. Edward __________ the throne, the Lancaster Prince was killed in battle, and Henry himself died in captivity not long after. The rest of Edward IV's _____ was peaceful, but upon his _____ in 1483, the bloodshed resumed. Though his twelve-year-old son was due to succeed him, Edward's younger brother Richard III declared his nephews ____________ due to their father's ______ marriage. He assumed the regency himself and threw the boys in prison. Though no one knows what ultimately became of them, after a while, the Princes disappeared and Richard's power seemed ______. But his downfall would come only two years later from across the ______ sea of the English Channel. Henry _____ was a direct descendant of the first Duke of Lancaster, raised in exile after his father's death in a previous rebellion. With Richard III's power grab causing a split in the York faction, Henry won support for his royal claim. Raising an army in France, he _______ the _______ in 1485 and quickly defeated Richard's forces. And by marrying Elizabeth of York, elder sister of the disappeared Princes, the newly _______ Henry VII joined the two roses, _______ ending nearly a century of war. We often think of historical wars as decisive conflicts with clearly _______ winners and losers. But the Wars of the Roses, like the fiction they inspired, show us that victories can be uncertain, alliances unstable, and even the power of Kings as fleeting as the seasons.

Solution

allied
edward
threat
secret
involving
margaret
reign
finally
defined
battle
managed
crowned
transfer
tudor
allies
westminster
powerful
initially
henry
midst
power
narrow
crossed
queen
death
motives
close
white
lancaster
restore
england
lingering
younger
jealous
alienated
protector
george
widespread
ruthless
secure
channel
descended
reform
recaptured
returned
recovered
illegitimate
reinstated
mounting

Original Text

As far as we know, Medieval England was never invaded by ice zombies, or terrorized by dragons, but it was shaken by a power struggle between two noble families spanning generations and involving a massive cast of characters with complex motives and shifting loyalties. If that sounds familiar, it's because the historical conflicts known as the Wars of the Roses served as the basis for much of the drama in Game of Thrones. The real-life seeds of war were sewn by the death of King Edward III in 1377. Edward's oldest son had died before his father, but his ten-year-old son, Richard II, succeeded to the throne ahead of Edward's three surviving sons. This skipping of an entire generation left lingering claims to the throne among their various offspring, particularly the Lancasters, descended from Edward's third son, and the Yorks, descended from his fourth son. The name of the ensuing wars comes from the symbols associated with the two families, the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster. The Lancasters first gained the throne when Richard II was deposed by his cousin Henry IV in 1399. Despite sporadic unrest, their reign remained secure until 1422, when Henry V's death in a military campaign left an infant Henry VI as king. Weak-willed and dominated by advisors, Henry was eventually convinced to marry Margaret of Anjou to gain French support. Margaret was beautiful, ambitious, and ruthless in persecuting any threat to her power, and she distrusted Richard of York, most of all. York had been the King's close advisor and loyal General, but was increasingly sidelined by the Queen, who promoted her favorite supporters, like the Earls of Suffolk and Somerset. York's criticism of their inept handling of the war against France led to his exclusion from court and transfer to Ireland. Meanwhile, mounting military failures, and corrupt rule by Margaret and her allies caused widespread discontent, and in the midst of this chaos, Richard of York returned with an army to arrest Somerset and reform the court. Initially unsuccessful, he soon got his chance when he was appointed Protector of the Realm after Henry suffered a mental breakdown. However, less than a year later, Henry suddendly recovered and the Queen convinced him to reverse York's reforms. York fled and raised an army once more. Though he was unable to directly seize the throne, he managed to be reinstated as Protector and have himself and his heirs designated to succeed Henry. But instead of a crown, York's head acquired a pike after he was killed in battle with the Queen's loyalists. His young son took up the claim and was crowned Edward IV. Edward enjoyed great military success against the Lancasters. Henry was captured, while Margaret fled into exile with their reportedly cruel son, Edward of Westminster. But the newly crowned King made a tragic political mistake by backing out of his arranged marriage with a French Princess to secretly marry the widow of a minor Noble. This alienated his most powerful ally, the Earl of Warwick. Warwick allied with the Lancasters, turned Edward's jealous younger brother, George, against him, and even briefly managed to restore Henry as King, but it didn't last. Edward recaptured the throne, the Lancaster Prince was killed in battle, and Henry himself died in captivity not long after. The rest of Edward IV's reign was peaceful, but upon his death in 1483, the bloodshed resumed. Though his twelve-year-old son was due to succeed him, Edward's younger brother Richard III declared his nephews illegitimate due to their father's secret marriage. He assumed the regency himself and threw the boys in prison. Though no one knows what ultimately became of them, after a while, the Princes disappeared and Richard's power seemed secure. But his downfall would come only two years later from across the narrow sea of the English Channel. Henry Tudor was a direct descendant of the first Duke of Lancaster, raised in exile after his father's death in a previous rebellion. With Richard III's power grab causing a split in the York faction, Henry won support for his royal claim. Raising an army in France, he crossed the Channel in 1485 and quickly defeated Richard's forces. And by marrying Elizabeth of York, elder sister of the disappeared Princes, the newly crowned Henry VII joined the two roses, finally ending nearly a century of war. We often think of historical wars as decisive conflicts with clearly defined winners and losers. But the Wars of the Roses, like the fiction they inspired, show us that victories can be uncertain, alliances unstable, and even the power of Kings as fleeting as the seasons.

Frequently Occurring Word Combinations

ngrams of length 2

collocation	frequency
newly crowned	2

Important Words

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