A young queen who lost everything.
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Before we read, let's learn the important words. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.
1 = D (queen) · 2 = A (king) · 3 = E (palace) · 4 = G (rich)
5 = B (to spend) · 6 = C (poor) · 7 = H (revolution) · 8 = F (to blame)
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
Marie Antoinette was born in Austria in 1755. When she was only 14 years old, she married a French prince. She was very young, and she went to live in a new country.
Later, the prince became King Louis XVI. So Marie Antoinette became the Queen of France. She lived in a huge, beautiful palace called Versailles.
Marie Antoinette loved expensive clothes. She loved big parties. And she loved spending money. She was rich, and her life looked wonderful.
1. Where was Marie Antoinette born, and how old was she when she married?
2. What did she love?
1. She was born in Austria. She was only 14 years old when she married a French prince.
2. She loved expensive clothes, big parties, and spending money.
The French people did not like Marie Antoinette. She was from another country, and they thought she did not care about them. They watched her spend a lot of money, and they were angry.
There is one famous story. People say she said "Let them eat cake" when she heard the poor people had no bread. But this is probably not true. She never really said it. It is only a story.
At this time, France was poor. Many people were hungry. They had no money and no bread. And they blamed the queen for their problems.
1. Why did the French people not like the queen?
2. Did Marie Antoinette really say "Let them eat cake"?
1. She was from another country, they thought she did not care about them, and she spent a lot of money while the people were poor and hungry.
2. No. This is probably not true — she never really said it. It is only a story.
In 1789, the French Revolution began. The people were tired and angry. They wanted to change their country.
The people removed the king and the queen from power. Marie Antoinette was not a queen any more. She lost her palace, her money and her beautiful life.
In 1793, Marie Antoinette was killed. The young queen from Austria lost everything in the end. Today, many people still know her name and her story.
1. What happened in 1789?
2. What happened to Marie Antoinette in the end?
1. The French Revolution began. The people wanted to change their country.
2. The people removed the king and queen from power. In 1793, Marie Antoinette was killed. She lost everything.
We use I wish and if only when we are sad about something — when we want it to be different. If only is stronger: it shows a big, strong feeling.
Put the verb into the past simple after wish and if only.
1. The people were poor. They wished they (have) more food.
2. I wish her story (be) happier.
3. If only the queen (understand) the poor people.
4. I wish I (know) what she was really like.
1. had
2. were (or: was)
3. understood
4. knew
Complete these sentences in your own way. Then read them out loud.
1. I wish I had…
2. I wish I were…
3. If only I could…
1. "I wish I had more free time."
2. "I wish I were on holiday right now."
3. "If only I could speak five languages."
Your ideas can be different — that is fine! Just use wish / if only + the past simple.
There is a real podcast about Marie Antoinette. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast network. Hosted by historians, roughly 50 minutes. Open the episode on the Noiser site (it streams in the page), or search “Short History Of Marie Antoinette” on Spotify.
Play on Noiser →Prefer Spotify? Open the show and find the Marie Antoinette episode.
Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of Marie Antoinette in your own words. Use these steps to help you: born in Austria → married a prince at 14 → became Queen of France → lived in a big palace → loved spending money → the people were poor and angry → the revolution → she lost everything.
Try to use some key words (queen, king, palace, rich, poor, revolution, to blame). You can also show regret with one wish or if only sentence: "If only the people were not so poor", "She wished she understood them better."
The people blamed the queen for everything. Is it fair to blame one person for big problems? Why or why not? Tell me what you think.
Talk about a regret — something you wish were different. It can be your own, or a famous person's. Talk for as long as you can. Use I wish… and if only… many times.
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: