English 241:  Shakespeare's Plays

HENRY V QUESTIONS

Prologue

What mental faculty is the Chorus trying to get us to use in his first speech, and what is there about the nature of this play that makes it necessary that we do so?

1.1

How does the appearance of the two scheming Churchmen in the opening scene undercut the elevated rhetoric of the Chorus?

How will the Archbishop encourage (manipulate) the King to go to war against France?

1.2

What reason do we have for thinking that the King is not being entirely forthright when he calls in the Archbishop of Canterbury to ask whether England is justified in going to war against France?

2.1

Where in this first scene is an example of the juxtaposition ("counterpoint") of the Chorus's speech with what actually happens?

What's the significance of the advice the three conspirators give to the King about how to deal with the man who criticized him yesterday?

2.4

What advice does the French dauphin give to his father the King of France about going to war with France? How does the dauphin look to his fellow warriors at the end of the scene?

3.1

How is the heroic rhetoric of King Henry's "Once more unto the breach, dear friends" undercut by what the tavern cronies do?

What is Shakespeare attempting to show by bringing the four captains, English, Welsh, Scots, and Irish, together in the play, and how is this attempt undercut

by what happens between Fluellen and MacMorris?

3.3

What does King Henry threaten his army will do to the citizens of Harfleur if the town doesn't surrender to him? How serious is he in this threat do you think?

3.4

What are two functions of the scene in which the French Princess Katharine learns English words from her gentlewoman Alice?

3.6

Why does the King have Bardolph executed and what does this action indicate about his character?

How do the French lords feel about their chances on the field of Agincourt?

4.1

Why does the King wander out among his men the night before the battle?

What do the King and William the foot soldier argue about and whom do you think is right?

4.3

Why does the King give his famous St. Crispian's day speech and what does he promise his soldiers?

Does he follow through on his promise? What does this suggest about his character?

5.1