Middle School
The Faces of King John
Grades:6–8
Time: 30 minutes
Materials Needed: Images 1 and 2,
as handouts or projected
Images of the scene at the June 15, 1215, sealing
of Magna Carta at Runnymede depict King John
in a variety of ways, with each providing clues
to the artist and the history that they are sharing.
This image analysis activity asks students to
compare depictions of King John at Runnymede
and discuss what the similarities and differences
might mean.
Students analyze Images 1 and 2 using the
following discussion questions. Ask students
to discuss what they see in each image and
then compare the two. Handout and presentationready copies of both images are available at
www.lawday.org.
Image 1: “King John Signing Magna Carta,” by James Edmund William Doyle in
Chronicle of England, 1864.
Discussion Questions
1. What is happening in Image 1? Image 2?
What do you notice most in the picture?
2. Who is shown in each image? How are they
dressed? Are they holding weapons? What does
their social status or function appear to be?
3. What is the setting in each image? What is in
the background? Foreground?
4. How are the faces in Image 1 similar or different
to the faces depicted in Image 2? What feelings do
you think King John is expressing in each image?
5. How is the document on the table, Magna Carta,
similar or different in each image?
6. What tone does each image create, based on
colors, faces, and other elements?
7. What story about the sealing of Magna Carta
do you think each image tells?
8. What do you think the intent of the artist was
for Image 1? Image 2? Where do you think these
images appeared?
Image 2: “Magna Carta being signed by King John, 1215,” by John Leech, 1875.
Law Day 2015 Planning Guide • © 2015 American Bar Association 27