Question

commonlit
discussion questions
directions: brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. be prepared to share your original ideas in a class discussion.

1. king john says he taxed the people to support england, after the expensive wars that were fought to get british land back – good and fair things in his eyes. do you think that king john treated his people fairly? how could he have behaved differently if he wanted to avoid having the barons write the magna carta?
2. do you believe that people should have the same rights around the world regardless of their government? what are some rights you would include in a universal bill of rights?
3. in this piece, king john repeats the bad things that people say about him. why do you think he does this? how does it add to the humor of the piece?

Explanation:

Question 1

King John taxed people to fund wars. From his view, wars to regain land were just, so he thought taxing was fair. Without the Magna Carta, he might have continued heavy taxation and unfair treatment, as he had the power to do so without a charter limiting his authority.

The idea of universal human rights (same rights regardless of government) is a core principle of human rights theory. A universal bill of rights should include rights like freedom from discrimination, right to a fair trial, freedom of speech, and the right to education, as these are fundamental to human dignity and well - being, applicable across all societies and governments.

King John repeats bad things said about him to either mock his critics (showing he doesn't care about their opinions) or to use irony/satire. By repeating these negative claims, he adds humor as it creates a contrast between the negative image and his (possibly sarcastic) self - presentation, making the piece more engaging and light - hearted while also emphasizing his defiance or indifference.

Answer:

From King John’s perspective, the wars to reclaim British land were necessary, so he likely saw the taxes as a fair means to achieve that goal (funding the wars). Without the Magna Carta, he would likely have continued to tax heavily and rule with less regard for the barons’ rights, as there was no formal document to limit his power and hold him accountable for unfair treatment.

Question 2