The consequences for Guy Fawkes and the other plotters and how the events of 1605 are commemorated in present day Bonfire Night celebrations.
Remember remember the 5th of November: gunpowder treason and plot! I’ve made my own rhyme up ready? I don’t need the bonfire rhyme. My family’s stories go back through time…
Guy Fawkes and the other plotters smuggled 36 barrels of gunpowder into a room under the Houses of Parliament. Guy Fawkes was waiting for King James I to arrive on 5th November to blow him up – but he was arrested… before he got the chance.
We are arresting you in the name of King James.
The guards took Guy Fawkes to a dungeon in the Tower of London.
Ooooh ‘eck.
Sorry fella but the king told me you did the worst crime in the world … you committed ‘treason’ you were trying to kill the king. I’ve got to treat you… Really. Badly. Now.
But… I didn’t commit treason. I just like to blow things up. And I didn’t even get chance t’do that.
If you try to blow up the king that’s treason – the law says that’s th’reason I must treat you… badly. And call you a traitor. Traitor!
Aaaagh! That hurts.
Wait until the torture starts.
Oooh that’s me favourite ‘at.
Tell me the names of the other plotters. Who came up with this gunpowder plot? We’ve got to find those traitors - they committed treason too.
Did they? Did they get to blow up the king then?
No. But. Plotting. To. Blow. Up. The. King. is. treason!
Aghhhhhh!
Talking to you is… torture!
Right – let’s get crackin’ then. This is not going to be pleasant…
After three days of torture Guy Fawkes eventually gave away the names of all the other plotters so now they could be arrested and punished for treason too. Treason was the worst thing anyone could do. If you were caught plotting against the King or Queen… you were seriously punished! Like badly. Guy Fawkes didn’t get burnt on a bonfire. The king sentenced him to death for committing treason. The plotters were found and killed in horrible ways… Catesby who masterminded the plot was killed when guards tried to arrest him. But even that wasn’t enough. Things ended even more… Badly. Their heads were stuck on spikes to warn off anyone else who might want to commit treason.
Hooray for me!
King James was so happy that he was alive and the plotters were dead that he made a new law.
From now on every 5th November people must remember the day I stopped the gunpowder plot and celebrate that I’m alive and the plotters are dead. Hooray for me!
And that’s what happened. A special church service the ringing of church bells and bonfires became part of the celebrations. It’s not the law to go to church to remember the gunpowder plot anymore. People invented other ways to celebrate like …. …making a guy for the bonfire fireworks and FOOD! …cake! …. Treacle toffee! There’s enough here to keep me chewing for a year! So … Remember remember the 5th of November gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot…
3. What happened after The Gunpowder Plot?
Guy Fawkes was discovered and arrested in the early hours of 5 November 1605 in a chamber under the House of Lords. He was surrounded by 36 barrels of gunpowder and had the fuses to detonate them on his person.
Fawkes initially gave his name as John Johnson to hide his identity. He was taken to the Tower of London where pupils will hear (but not witness) that he revealed the names of his co-conspirators after three days of torture. Catesby died during his arrest and many of the other plotters were subsequently executed - their heads being put on display as a warning against acts of treason.
Pupils will also learn how the events of 1605 are still commemorated each year on 5 November - Bonfire Night.
Further resources
Teachers' notes. document
Download / print the notes including illustrations, poetry templates and worksheets (pdf)
Shadow puppet templates. document
Download / print templates for shadow puppets of Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes, Maureen and James I (pdf)
The Tower of London illustration. document
Download / print an illustration of The Tower of London to colour in and label (pdf)
Songs
Consolidate pupils' learning about The Gunpowder Plot with these three catchy songs from our Music pages.
1. Shadows in the night
A hushed, conspiratorial song about the plotters.
2. Hundreds of years ago
A song about the main events of the The Gunpowder Plot.
3. Remember, remember
A song incorporating the words of the famous rhyme 'Remember, remember'.
Teachers' Notes
Before the video
What does the word 'traitor' mean?
What do you think will happen to the other plotters?
Should Guy Fawkes tell the truth?
Was it right to treat Fawkes in the way that he was?
Why did Fawkes use a false name?
During the video
What is the Tower of London? (A historic castle / fortress by the River Thames. At the time it was used as a prison.)
How long was Fawkes tortured for? (Three days.)
What happened to the plotters? (Fawkes did receive the death penalty but leapt from the gallows breaking his neck in the process. Most plotters were executed - but Catesby and others were killed in a gunfight during their arrest and another died from illness before he could stand trial.)
Why were the heads of the plotters put on public display? (As a warning not to commit treason.)
What was James I’s new law? (A celebration to commemorate the capture of the plotters, every year on 5 November.)
After the video
Explore how Bonfire Night has changed throughout time.
Sequence the events of the story. This could be done through drama.
Create a comic strip to show the events.
Class debate: should we still celebrate Bonfire Night? Why? Why not?
This video is relevant for teaching History at KS1 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 1st Level in Scotland.
More from this series
1: Why did The Gunpowder Plot happen? video
The story begins in the present on Bonfire Night before going back in time to explain the circumstances that led to the Plot and introduce the key people involved.
2: What happened during The Gunpowder Plot? video
We learn how the plotters planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The story progresses to the night of 4 / 5 November and Guy Fawkes’ arrest.
Who were the famous people involved in The Gunpowder Plot? image
An image slideshow showing the main characters in The Gunpowder Plot.
See also...
The Great Fire of London. collection
Three short animations covering the events and conditions that led to The Great Fire of London, what happened when the citizens, Lord Mayor and King tried to put it out – and the consequences of their actions.
Castles and Knights. collection
A series of six animations exploring the topic 'Castles and Knights' with additional photos, illustrations and worksheets.
