What is Guy Fawkes?
[[File:Guy Fawkes by Cruikshank.jpg|right|thumb|230px|Guy Fawkes as imagined by the 19th century artist George Cruikshank. A picture from William Harrison Ainsworth's novel ''Guy Fawkes''.]] [[File:Gunpowder Plot conspirators.jpg|right|thumb|230px|The plotters]] '''Guy Fawkes''' (13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606), sometimes known as '''Guido Fawkes''', was a member of a [[Roman Catholic]] revolutionary group based in [[England]] who planned to carry out the [[Gunpowder Plot]]. Fawkes and the other plotters planned to kill the king, [[James I of England|James I]], and replace him with a Catholic monarch. The day 5 November 1605 is remembered each year in the UK during [[Guy Fawkes Night]]. People build large bonfires, light [[fireworks]], and burn figures of Fawkes (known as 'the guy'). November 5 was the date when Parliament re-assembled after a long recess. The plot was uncovered quite late, in the night before the day of the 5th. Fawkes was arrested as he sat in a [[cellar]], near the gunpowder, waiting for the right time to set it off. He was [[torture]]d to make him reveal the names of the other plotters. Later eight men, including Fawkes, stood trial for [[high treason]]. They were found guilty and executed by hanging in [[Westminster]], [[London]], except for Fawkes, who [[suicide|killed himself]] by jumping from the [[scaffold]] before he was to be hanged. Their remains were sent to the corners of the kingdom and displayed, as a warning to others. There were five other conspirators; the main man, [[Robert Catesby]], was killed by the [[Sheriff]] of [[Worcester]] when he tried to flee. ==Literature== There are many places to find Fawkes in popular literature. Here are some important examples, listed in chronological order. *1842: [[William Harrison Ainsworth]] - ''Guy Fawkes: A Historical Romance'', is a historical novel which portrays Fawkes, and Catholic refusal to co-operate in general, favorably and begins to challenge the official version of the plot, one of the first to do so.<ref>{{cite book