Memoir Historical Planner For Ivan the Terrible By Julien Evon
Primary Source:
This is a painting of Ivan the terrible who is posing for the painting. I chose this painting because I thought this painting catches Ivan’s evil look. As you see Ivan loved to show off that he was rich so that is why he is wearing golden robes and a metal stick. I thought this painting could make reader’s understand Ivan even more than some words could. This painting is connected to the book because the book is about Ivan the terrible and this painting is a painting of Ivan the terrible, made back when he was alive. I don’t think this book would be as great without the paintings and pictures it has such as the one above. Some biographies just don’t make you form the image in your mind so that is why they include pictures or paintings of their character. Secondary Source:
I found this quote on a blogger site about Ivan the Terrible that says Ivan said this: “I will not see the destruction of the Christian Converts who are loyal to me, and to my last breath I will fight for the Orthodox faith” I was struck by this quote because for someone who killed so many of his own people how could he say that he could not see the destruction of the Christian converts who were loyal to him. It is true that he was very religious, but to do so much terror and have a quote like this. In the book we once stopped attacking a village because he thought God was against it. For someone who believes in that how could he kill so many people and think it was okay? It is true that at the end she asked forgiveness for his sins. But for someone who killed over thousands of people can he really be forgiven? Summary and Review: The whole book is about Ivan the Terrible. Ivan was the first Tsar of Russia who was born in 1530. Tsar means emperor in Russian. Ivan wanted to be called the Tsar because he wanted to expand his empire like the Romans did. The book talks about when Ivan was born and how he died. It also talks about his victories in defeats in battle. One thing that I found interesting in this book is one of Ivan’s hobbies that the book talked about. It said that when he was young, him and a group of noble friends would take their horses and trample the peasants for fun. If you have any question on Ivan the terrible, this is the book to read. Two Reasons: Some things that a grade 8 student would like in this book is the action, the violence. Some examples are: Pg. 27 “Ivan ordered Shuisky arrested. None of the boyars moved to stop him. Guards seized Prince Shuisky, who was beaten to death and fed to the hounds. Shuisky remains were left outside for two hours for others to see. Thirty boyars close to Shuisky were hanged as well,” and Pg. 92 “The slightest threat could lead to bloodshed. On a cold winter day in 1569, Ivan and some of his men were about to leave the palace. Suddenly, a horse broke its halter and got away from its owner. The owner chased the horse across the road in front of the tsar. Ivan thought the event signalled bad luck. He had the attendant and the horse cut to pieces and thrown in a swamp.” A lot of people probably would not enjoy this book because there is a lot of violence but there is also some, not many, really sad parts. For example on page 39, Ivan chooses his first wife. He loved her dearly and when she died it was really tragic. Ivan refused to eat or go outside. The same thing happened when he killed his son when they got into an argument. Over all I don’t think this is the right book for kids younger than 12.
LA Short Story The Good, the Bad, the Terrible Here is a tragic story where I began to show my true colours but before I tell you this story I must tell you another story. Sudden, violent thunderstorms raged across Russia the day I was born. My birth was a triumph for my father, Grand Prince Vasily III. Father had waited many years for a son who could extend the family’s reign. Now thanks to his second wife, Elena Glinskaya (my mother), he had one. He also got a son afterwards, a boy named Yuri. In 1533, my father noticed that he had a small sore in his leg. It turned out to be a pus filled boil. Doctors used a common cure, bleeding the patient and then pouring vodka on it. The only effect was a terrible case of blood poisoning. He died soon after that. My father appointed a council of advisors to run the country until I was of age. The real power of the throne was my mother. She had a ruthless hold on power. She once threw her own uncle into prison for meddling into her affairs. Her reign did not last long. She died suddenly in 1538. Some people expect poison, but I blame witchcraft. My mother’s death launched a violent power struggle. Two boyar families, the Shuisky and the Belsky's, fought for control of the throne. The goals for both sides were simple: turn me into a puppet. In their attempt to control me, they turned my childhood into a nightmare. They killed my loving nanny and a priest right before my eyes. It wasn’t long until the Shuisky’s were victories. One in particular, Prince Andrei Shuisky, emerged as the most powerful boyar. When I was 13, I figured I was the rightful ruler of Russia. In 1542, around Christmas I asked all the boyars to come for a feast in the Kremlin. My eyes quickly scanned the room. It seemed that all the Shuisky’s were present. For too long, these boyars were controlling me. For too long, have they
controlled my reign over my country. I am the first tsar of Russia and I was going to make them pay. They killed too many of my friends, for fear that they were spies or enemies. I was their puppet. It seemed that I was in control outside, to the people but inside they were the ones who drew the strings. While they were greedily eating my feast I stood up and decided to take a chance. I stood up and addressed the boyars, accusing them of destroying the country. “You stole from the people,” I claimed. I ordered my guards to arrest these men and throw them into the dungeons without proof of their crimes. “One man among you,” I said, “is the worst criminal of all: Andrei Shuisky.” I ordered Andrei arrested. None of the boyars moved to stop me. Guards seized Shuisky, who was beaten to death and fed to the hounds. His remains were left outside for two hours for others to see. Thirty boyars close to him were hanged as well. From this day on, everyone started to worship and fear me. My brutal killing of Andrew Shuisky made it clear to my enemies: I am no longer a boy, helpless and terrified.
Works Cited: Painting: Prokofiev Ivan The Terrible.. Photograph. EncyclopĂŚdia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 15 Oct 2012. Book: Price, Sean. Ivan the Terrible: Tsar of Death. New York: Franklin Watts, 2008. Print. A Wicked History. Blogger Quote on Ivan the Terrible: Chanchum, Nou. "Ivan the Terrible Quotes." Web log post. Blogger. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct.-Nov. 2012. Book Cover: Price, Sean. "Ivan the Terrible Vengeful." Introduction. A Wicked History. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Cover. Print.