Over 400 years ago, a man named Guy Fawkes was part of the group Gunpowder plot – who were a group of English Catholics who wanted to kill King James I.
The Gunpowder plot members had devised a plan to blow up the House of Lords on 5th November 1605 during the State Opening of England’s Parliament– where King James I and several other important targets were.Guy Fawkes was in charge of the barrels of gunpowder which had been placed underneath the House of Lords. A letter was sent to King James I, warning the king of the plan to blow up the House of Lords and so he sent out his men to find those responsible for the plot.
Guy Fawkes was found guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder and was later executed, along with other members of the Gunpowder plot, who had tried to run when they heard about Fawkes getting busted.To celebrate the fact that the king had survived people lit bonfires around London. Since then the Observation of 5th November Act was enforced – an annual day which celebrated the failure of the plot.
Vocabulary:
• murder - the crime of intentionally killing a person.
• among - in the middle of or surrounded by other things.
• caught - past simple of the verb "to catch", meaning to take hold of something, especially something that is moving through the air.
• gunpowder - an explosive mixture of substances in the form of a powder, used for making explosive devices and fireworks.
• plot - a secret plan made by several people to do something that is wrong, harmful, or not legal, especially to do damage to a person or a government.
• led (lead) - to control a group of people, a country, or a situation.
• backlash - a strong, negative reaction to something.
• bonfire -a large fire that is made outside to burn unwanted things, or for pleasure.
• taunt - to intentionally annoy and upset someone.
• wearing (wear) - to have clothing.
• stage - to organize an event.
• coup - a sudden illegal, often violent, taking of government power, especially by part of an army