Don Carlo
English Language Arts Lesson
TEKS:
ELA, Grade 6: 15A, 16
ELA, Grade 7: 15A, 16
ELA, Grade 8: 15A, 16
ELA, Grade 9: 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E
ELA, Grade 10: 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, 16F
ELA, Grade 11: 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, 16F
ELA, Grade 12: 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, 16F, 16G
Objectives:
Read a synopsis of the opera Don Carlo
Collaboratively discuss the thematic ideas (i.e. marriage for political gain) presented in the
opera
Identify with one of the main characters and compose a contemporary version of the opera
to be performed as a skit during class
Materials Needed: Synopsis of Don Carlo, each student will need a sheet of paper and a pencil
Setting the stage: Don Carlos was betrothed to Elizabeth of Valois, the daughter of France’s King
Henry II. For political reasons, Elizabeth was ultimately married to Carlos’ father, Philip II of
Spain.
Teaching Suggestions: Students will write and perform a skit based on their own contemporary
interpretation of the opera Don Carlo. Skits should be roughly 5 minutes in duration. First,
students will be placed into groups of 5. Each student will take on one role of the 5 main
characters: Phillip II, Don Carlo, Rodrigo, The Grand Inquisitor and Elisabeth of Valois. Each
group will be given time to reflect their character’s role to ensure understanding. Allow students
to be creative with their skit and discuss their personal opinion of the Opera (marriage for political
gain) vs. real life (marriage for love).
Reflection: Classroom discussion of the societal repercussions of each skit’s final outcome.
Characters
Philip II – The King of Spain, Son of Charles V and Father of Don Carlo
Don Carlo – Infante of Spain, Son and heir to the King
Rodrigo – Marquis of Posa and friend of Don Carlo
The Grand Inquisitor
Elisabeth of Valois – A French princess initially betrothed to Don Carlo but then married to King
Philip
Don Carlo
Summary
Characters
Carlo – Prince
Rodrigo - Marquis of Posa, friend of Don Carlo
Eboli - Princess
Elizabeth - Queen
Lady in Waiting
King Phillip
Background - Elizabeth (of France) is supposed to marry Prince Carlo (of Spain) in an arranged
marriage. They meet and fall in love. However, Elizabeth’s father decides that it is better for her to
marry Carlo’s father, King Philip. Their marriage will help maintain peace between France and
Spain. Therefore, the woman that Carlo loves, becomes his stepmother, Queen Elizabeth.
ACT I - St. Just Monastery
SCENE I - Graveyard
Carlo prays at the tomb of his grandfather, Emperor Charles V. He notices that one of the Monks
resembles his grandfather. His friend, Rodrigo, enters. Rodrigo reminds Carlo that he has agreed to
help the people of Flanders in their fight for freedom. He and Carlo sing of their pledge and they
swear eternal friendship. “Dio, che nell’alma infondere amor”
SCENE II - Garden
Princess Eboli sings to the ladies of the court as they await the arrival of the Queen. Elizabeth
enters, followed by Rodrigo. Rodrigo hands Queen Elizabeth a secret letter from Carlo, asking her
to meet with him. The ladies exit and Carlo enters.
Carlo asks Queen Elizabeth to convince King Philip to allow him to go to Flanders. She agrees.
Carlo cannot control his emotions and suddenly declares that he is in love with her. Elizabeth
rejects him and Carlo rushes off. King Philip enters and is angry when he finds Queen Elizabeth
alone. He then sends her Lady in Waiting back to France for not staying at her side.
Rodrigo, who is now alone with King Philip, bravely asks him to end his control of Flanders. The
King refuses but is impressed with Rodrigo’s courage. He tells Rodrigo that he suspects that Queen
Elizabeth and Carlo are in love. King Philip asks Rodrigo to spy on them. Rodrigo agrees, knowing
that being on the King’s side could help him in the future.
Don Carlo
Summary
ACT II - MADRID
SCENE I - Queen’s Garden
Carlo gets an unsigned letter asking him to meet in the garden at midnight. He thinks he will be
meeting with Queen Elizabeth. Carlo sees a masked woman and sings of his love for her. The
masked woman turns out to be Eboli. She declares her love for Carlo but he rejects her. Eboli
realizes that the words he sang were intended for Queen Elizabeth and she threatens to tell the King
Philip. Rodrigo enters and threatens to kill Eboli to keep her from telling the King. Carlo stops him.
Rodrigo explains that he is now in danger from the Inquisition. Rodrigo convinces Carlo to give
him some secret papers.
SCENE II - In front of Valladolid Cathedral
Carlo brings in a group of deputies from Flanders. They are scheduled to be killed but they beg the
King for freedom. The King denies them freedom. Carlo asks his father, King Philip, if he can go to
Flanders, but the King refuses. Carlo draws his sword threatening the King but Rodrigo takes away
the sword and Carlo is arrested. The King is impressed by Rodrigo so he gives him a promotion,
making him a Duke. The deputies from Flanders are executed as an angelic voice welcomes their
souls into heaven.
ACT III
SCENE I - King Philip's Study
King Philip sadly reflects that he is married to a wife who doesn't love him. “Ella giammai
m’amò!” He asks advice from the old and blind Grand Inquisitor. The King asks if he could
ever be forgiven if he kills his own son. The Grand Inquisitor points out that their God
sacrificed his own son therefore the King could be forgiven. The Grand Inquisitor also asks
the King to give up Rodrigo as he is a traitor.
Queen Elizabeth enters, after finding out that her jewelry box has been stolen. Eboli has
given the jewelry box to King Philip. Eboli knows that there is a portrait of Carlo in a locket
inside. Phillip asks Elizabeth to open it. When she refuses he breaks it open and finds the
portrait of Carlo. The King accuses Elizabeth of being in love with Carlo. Elizabeth faints
and King Philip calls for help.
Don Carlo
Summary
Act III (continued)
Eboli and Rodrigo enter. Eboli sings of her guilt for what she has done as Rodrigo sings about how
he cannot believe that a great King, who rules half the world, cannot rule his own emotions.
Alone with Elizabeth, Eboli confesses that she has caused Elizabeth to be falsely accused. She also
confesses that she has been having an affair with King Philip. Elizabeth orders her to leave Spain.
Eboli expresses her sadness that her beauty has caused so much trouble. She swears to spend her
final day in Spain trying to save Carlo.
SCENE II - Prison
Rodrigo visits Carlo in jail. He tells Carlo that he has used the secret papers to take responsibility for
the rebellion in Flanders. Carlo must take over as the leader in Flanders as the Inquisition now
wants to kill Rodrigo. Assassins of the Inquisition enter and kill Rodrigo. As he dies he tells Carlo
that Elizabeth will meet him at the Monastery of St. Just. Rodrigo sings that he is happy to have
sacrificed himself so that Carlo may live. He believes that Carlo is the man who will save Flanders.
ACT IV
Monastery of St. Just
Queen Elizabeth dreaming of her home country (France) has come to the Monastery and
she sings of wishing for her own death. “Tu, che le vanità”. Carlo appears and she
encourages him to take up Rodrigo's fight for freedom in Flanders. They both sing of their
hope for happiness in the next world. As they hug and say goodbye, King Philip and the
Grand Inquisitor arrive. Seeing them hugging, the King demands that Carlo be
immediately killed. Carlo once again sees the monk who resembles his grandfather. The
monk insists that suffering cannot be avoided in this world and will only stop in heaven.