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REVIEW the vocabulary / background.
WATCH the video.
ANSWER the questions.
CHECK your answers. (Show Answers)

Vocabulary

far and wide [exp] - far away (everywhere)
a reign [n] - the time when a king rules
terror [n] - fear
well-rid [adj] - gone
the hand of the king [exp] - the king's top adviser
prosperity [n] - a time of success
spiral into insanity [exp] - become more and more crazy
dragon-spawn [n] - comes from dragons
forefathers [n] - ancestors
erratic [adj] - crazy and unpredictable
a scab [n] - the dry hard crust (skin) that forms over a cut or wound
horrific [adj] - terrible
bloodlust [n] - liking violence
falling out [exp] - argument
subsequent [adj] - next
abduct [v] - kidnap / steal
betrothed [n] - a person promised to be married
spirited [adj] - lots of energy and spirit
inflict [v] - cause
outraged [adj] - very angry
confront [v] - meet with a hostile purpose
execute [v] - kill
call for the head [exp] - demand someone be killed
foster [v] - raise a child that is not your own
call their banners [exp] - call for their armies
their days are numbered [exp] - they will soon be dead

[n] - noun, [v] - verb, [adj] - adjective, [exp] - expression

Background

The story is being told by Robert Baratheon.
King Aerys Targaryen is the king of the Seven Kingdoms.
Prince Rhaegar is King Aerys' son.
Targareons (are rumored to) come from dragons.
The Iron Throne is the throne (chair) of the Seven Kingdoms.
The Iron Throne is in a city called King's Landing.
The Iron Throne is a made of many sharp swords.
Wildfire is a chemical like gasoline - it burns and is very dangerous.

Questions

This story is being told by ____.
King Aerys
Robert Baratheon
Eddard Stark
King Aerys Targaryen was the last ____.
king to ride a dragon
Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne
man to see Robert Baratheon
King Aerys' nickname was ____.
the Mad King
the Father of Dragons
the Wise
Tywin Lannister was ____.
the king of the North
the last Lannister
the hand of the king
During King Aerys' reign, there ____.
was generally peace
many wars
lots of dragons
Targareons kept their bloodlines pure by ____.
eating healthy
marrying their brothers and sisters
avoiding war and conflict
People called King Aerys "King Scab" because ____.
he fought in many battles
he was very weak
he often cut himself on the Iron Throne
There was a rumor that King Aerys ____.
was obsessed with wildfire
could make wildfire
was scared of wildfire
King Aerys liked to ____.
play music.
burn his enemies alive.
keep many wives.
As time passed, King Aerys became more ____.
greedy
violent
generous
fearful
Tywin served King Aerys ____.
with help from the Starks
for 20 years
until he died
Rhaegar (Targaryen) was ___ and ___.
Aerys' son
the crown prince
Robert's best friend
Brandon's brother
Rhaegar abducted Lyanna Stark, who was ___ and ___.
the daughter of Rickard Stark
the wife of Aerys Targaryen
the betrothed (future wife) of Robert Baratheon
Rhaegar hid Lyanna in ____.
the North
Dorn
King's Landing
Brandon Stark came to King's Landing in order to ____.
get his sister back
help Robert Baratheon
talk to Tywin Lannister
King Aerys then had ___ and ___ executed (killed).
Lord Rickard Stark
Brandon Stark
Eddard Stark
Robert Baratheon
King Aerys also wanted to have ___ and ___ executed (killed).
Tywin Lannister
John Arryn
Eddard Stark
Robert Baratheon
John Arryn was the man who fostered (raised) ____ and ____.
Rhaegar Targaryen
Leanna Stark
Eddard Stark
Robert Baratheon
___, ___ and ___ all joined together to fight Aerys Targaryen.
the Lannisters
the Starks
the Baratheons
the Tullys

Script

Aerys Targaryen was the last of his name to sit on the Iron Throne. Known far and wide as the Mad King, his was a reign of instability and terror. The Seven Kingdoms are well rid of him and his kind. Oh, he may have appeared to be a capable ruler at first, but that was due in no small part to his councilors, led by the Hand of the King, Tywin Lannister. There may have been years of peace and prosperity during Aerys' reign, but it was Tywin who was really running the country, as Aerys spiraled further and further into insanity.

The dragon spawn were famous for losing their minds. It was the price they paid for centuries of keeping the bloodlines pure. And Aerys more than happily continued the noble sister-fucking tradition of his forefathers.

As the years passed, Aerys' behavior became increasingly erratic. He cut himself so often on his Iron Throne, many referred to him as King Scab, though never to his face. It was rumored he had developed an obsession with wildfire, and was known to inflict horrific punishments on those he considered enemies, including burning them alive. As his paranoia and blood-lust grew, he had a bitter falling-out with Lord Tywin who had served the Crown faithfully for 20 years. At least Tywin was able to leave the job with his life and fortunes intact. Subsequent Hands of King Aerys weren't so fortunate.

Then the Targaryens went too far. The Crown Prince Rhaegar abducted Lyanna Stark, daughter of Rickard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell. She was my betrothed. She was my beloved. Beautiful and spirited woman. And I loved her more than life itself. Rhaegar went south with Lyanna, hiding her away in Dorn. What harm he inflicted on the poor girl, the gods only know.

Brandon Stark, Lyanna's eldest brother, was outraged. He rode to King's Landing to confront the king and demand his sister's safe return. Instead, Aerys had him executed. His father, Rickard Stark, as well.

There wasn't much left to discuss after that. Aerys feared their loved ones would seek revenge for what he did. He was right to be afraid. Aerys wasted no time in calling for the heads of Brandon's younger brother, my friend Eddard Stark, and my head, too, of course. I'm sorry he didn't come looking for it himself.

Alongside Jon Arryn of the Vale - the man who fostered Ned and I as children - Baratheons, Starks and Tullys all called their banners. Once our rebellion began, the Mad King's days were numbered.

Mad King Aerys (1)

Published: 8.12.2017

Level 6 | Time: 3:22

Accent: British

Source: Game of Thrones

Directions

Vocabulary

Background

Questions

Script