Britain Refuses Rome

“The doors of Cymbeline's great hall swing open, their iron hinges groaning in the cold air.”

From Cymbeline, Act III Scene 1, by William Shakespeare

This scene is from Cymbeline, a late romance by William Shakespeare, first published in the First Folio of 1623. The play is set in ancient Britain during the reign of the historical king Cunobelinus, who ruled at the time of Augustus Caesar. Shakespeare uses the scene to dramatise a confrontation between British sovereignty and Roman imperial power, a question alive in his own era's debates about national identity, foreign influence, and the grounds of legitimate authority. The rhetoric here—mixing legal argument, historical precedent, natural imagery, and personal honour—is characteristic of early modern political speech. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. The scene rewards attention to how different speakers argue, what they take for granted, and what they reveal about the assumptions of their world. This reader covers one scene of the play; the play as a whole is not on the shelf.

Band

Silver · First-year university levelTypical starting range: adult

Length

long · about 1365 words in 4 sections · 1 picture

Source

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (10 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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