Explore Shakespeare's presentation of Hal and Falstaff in the tavern in Act II Scene IV
John Cummins 10x1 Explore Shakespeare's presentation of Hal and Falstaff in the tavern in Act II Scene IV In act II, scene IV, Shakespeare presents Hal as someone who is devious and cunning. As shown in the soliloquy in act I scene V, he is someone who enjoys playing tricks on people. However, Hal can also be presented as someone who is interested, and likes people, and so he will be ready to take on his future responsibility as king. Falstaff is presented as someone who is foolish, never tells the truth, and is dependent on other people such as Hal. Also, however he can be presented as an escape for Hal, but later in the scene, he is the only person who can bring Hal back to reality from his fantasy world. I think there could be different reasons why Hal spends a lot of his time in the tavern. If he was being presented as devious and cunning, he could be at the pub to play tricks on people, or he could be listening out to news of any invasions by the rebels. If Hal was presented as someone who was there to get to know people, it could be said that he was there to have fun, make friends talk to people, and make people happy. In this act, Hal plays tricks on people such as Francis and Falstaff. This could be to impress people in the tavern, or it could be to try and forget about his future responsibilities of being King. There is a lot of humour in this scene, with
What makes Prince Hal an Unusual Hero?
What makes Prince Hal an Unusual Hero? What makes Prince Hal an unusual hero? This question is filled with many different opinions and views, which sometimes all contradict each other. From the very beginning of the play, we see Prince Hal and Falstaff sitting in the Boars Head Tavern in East cheap drinking. This is the place where Hal and Falstaff spend the majority of their time, and almost every scene they are in is set here. This initial portrayal of Prince Hal as a lazy drunk who spends his time with unsavoury characters, does not give the impression of a hero at all. At first glance he seems to have no understanding of how a true Prince should behave. From the outset, the King is seen making a comparison between his son, Prince Hal and the more honourable Harry Hotspur (Act 1, Scene 1, 77-87) He wishes that Hotspur was his son, a great man possessing all the characteristics a Prince should have, bravery, loyalty and respect. If only his own son could be more like this great man. "In envy that Northumberland should be father to so blest a son." However, could this have been the reason that Prince Hal turned out the way he did? With a father where nothing is enough and always demands the best. Could it be that Prince Hal knew he would never live up to his father's expectations and decided to behave the way he did? He does tell his father in some highly charged
How Successfully Does Shakespeare Present To An Audience Henry As The 'Ideal King'
How Successfully Does Shakespeare Present To An Audience Henry As The 'Ideal King' In this essay I will show you how successfully Shakespeare presents to an audience Henry as the 'ideal king'. In this essay I will first examine the historical context of the play (what actually happened), then I will discuss how Shakespeare portrayed Henry in the play compared to the real Henry and how successfully did Shakespeare present to an audience Henry as the 'ideal king'. Third I will demonstrate how Shakespeare is able to show these events on a stage. Finally I will end the essay with my own conclusion of how successfully Shakespeare presents to an audience Henry as the 'ideal king'. In reality the king at the time Henry did not have a right to the throne of France- after all he had no right to that of England's either- but it was an ineluctably traditional claim: a real king in England was obliged to pretend to the throne of France. When countries went to war it brought the country together and Henry partly wanted to do this and of course partly wanted to be the ruler of France. According to the legend, the war displayed Henry's military genius. Really it was a story of gambler's luck. Henry V, aged 28, set sail from Southampton, UK on 11 August, 1415, with a fleet of about 300 ships to claim his birthright of the Duchy of Normandy. They landed at Harfleur, Northern France,
The character of Henry V fulfilled the Tudor ideal of the perfect leader and king, yet for 21st century audiences, he remains an ambiguous figure. Consider the difficulties faced by a director of this play.
KING HENRY V The character of Henry V fulfilled the Tudor ideal of the perfect leader and king, yet for 21^st century audiences, he remains an ambiguous figure. Consider the difficulties faced by a director of this play. Does Shakespeare present Henry as a ruthless war-like figure in pursuit of victory whatever the cost, as a golden hero whose story glorifies war, or as a just, sincere man in search of everlasting peace? Discuss with close reference to the text and any film productions you have seen. There are two possible viewpoints to consider when answering this question, looking from the Tudors point of view, there is one simple answer, yes King Henry V was a heroic, patriotic and brilliant leader to his people. However the real depth of a question such as this one is in answering the question from a modern standing, looking back at an often naïve period of history. Over time, attitudes toward subject such as war, heroism, and what indeed makes a person "great" have undergone drastic changes, people have become individual in their way of thinking and personal viewpoints have become more widely accepted. It is because of this that we can begin to see other sides of Shakespeare's King, and begin to contemplate such things as motive, and personal gratification through Henrys behaviour and decisions. It is through doing this it is possible to
'Forster's vision is essentially a nostalgic one, hankering hopelessly after a romantic version of the English rural past' Is this a fair comment?
Joe Levy English Homework 'Forster's vision is essentially a nostalgic one, hankering hopelessly after a romantic version of the English rural past' Is this a fair comment? In 'Howards End' Forster attempts to make the distinction between rural, traditional England, and the more modern, industrial England. Forster explains the transition that England is going through, in becoming an up to date country, leaving behind all remnants of its traditional past. In Forster's opinion this is not a positive development, and in the novel reflects on the bitter contrast between city and rural life. Throughout the novel, Forster makes clear his opinions about England's rural past, and the path the country is taking in the future. In chapter X, Forster shows how London and its environment vary greatly from that of the countryside. Mrs. Wilcox is the symbol for Forster in the novel of the rural romantic countryside. Ruth is a character lives life at a leisurely rhythm, observing the 'periods of quiet that are essential to rue growth'. Mrs. Wilcox asks Margaret to help her with her Christmas shopping. When the two are out Ruth seems to be lost in the vulgarity of the commercial world. London is described as a 'clot of gray' with Ruth complaining about the loudness referring to it as a 'din'. The conversation moves on and Mrs. Wilcox picks out Margaret talking about her 'new house'. They
The opening few lines of scene two introduce Falstaff who immediately exemplifies his comic nature and makes a profound impression on the reader. This grand opening demonstrates the confidence in Falstaff who suggests that he's 'not only witty
Looking at the passage carefully discuss the ways in which Falstaff's larger than life personality is revealed in these comic exchanges In the opening few lines of scene two Falstaff's anarchic and witty personality manifests itself. He seems to undermine the nobility's values of legality and honour and gives the impression of being completely irreverent to upper class conventions. The striking and emotive language in Falstaff's long monologues convey a comic yet arrogant protagonist whose powerful rhetoric provides him with an unequivocal hold over the audience, as well as fellow characters. This is also coupled with Falstaff's physiognomy and facial expressions which further his prominent stage position and ultimately gives us one of the most 'larger than life' characters in all of Shakespeare. The opening few lines of scene two introduce Falstaff who immediately exemplifies his comic nature and makes a profound impression on the reader. This grand opening demonstrates the confidence in Falstaff who suggests that he's 'not only witty in (himself), but is also the cause of wit in other men'. The haughty arrogance here is part of a long monologue and is a manifestation of the control that Falstaff commands in conversation with other characters. In answering the Page (who has mocked him for his supposedly 'diseased' body) broken syntax such as 'man, is not able to invent
The Narrative Code of “Goodfellas”
The Narrative Code of "Goodfellas" Code of Dimensions: Setting: Brooklyn and Queens, New York. Time: 1950-1980 Imagery: Majority of the time we see images of drugs, cigars, guns and knives which are used and carried around by the goodfellas. This act as icons, which illustrate what the mafia are renound for and the real job of these characters, is to steal and to kill. City area is the basis of the scenes, where shots in restaurants and in bars are utilised. These are the places where these men negotiate their deals and handle their money as well as eat pasta, drink their whiskies and play poker. Pasta also is symbolic of Italy, where the Mafia originated from portraying that these gangsters are patriotic for their Sicilian roots, which are required to become the ultimate "wise guy". This imagery provides us with insight into the lives of people within the mafia and the power that they attain by being gangsters. Atmosphere: A constant tense atmosphere is built up within the film. This indicates the unpredictable lives of these people, and how one minute they have cars, money, rich homes and lots of girls but the next minute they could be in jail or killed. Also even though a sense of trust is build between the characters towards the start of the film, as the plot thickens we observe that negotiations are made behind each others backs, which indicates mistrust between
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Henry IV, Part One, (1596)'Hotspur's weaknesses of character outweigh his virtues.' Discuss.
Rowen Salt 14th February 2002 William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Henry IV, Part One, (1596) 'Hotspur's weaknesses of character outweigh his virtues.' Discuss. When Shakespeare wrote this historical drama, not all of it was true to history. Shakespeare was concerned with dramatic effect, so he therefore made Hotspur the same age as Hal, which wasn't true historically but the public could then compare and contrast both Harry's qualities throughout the play and act as each other's foil. In reality, Hotspur was thirty- nine and Hal was fifteen. Hotspur wasn't actually killed by Hal at Shrewsbury and his body was actually crushed between two millstones, then beheaded and quartered. Shakespeare invented details and even characters and leaves out much a historian would consider important. A quote that perhaps best suits Hotspur; "By heaven, methinks it were an easy leap, To pluck bright honour from the pale- faced moon, Or dive into the bottom of the deep, Where fathom- line could never touch the ground And pluck up drowned honour by the locks, So he that doth redeem her hence might wear Without corrival all her dignities." Hotspur believes honour is so difficult to get that it lies only at the bottom of the deepest seas and on the moon. He does not like the arts he considers them perhaps below him or for weaker individuals; "I had rather hear Lady my
Henry V - Compare the relationship between Hal and Falstaff in two different scenes
Compare the relationship between Hal and Falstaff in two different scenes. The relationship between Hal and Falstaff is a very complex one. At first we think that as Falstaff is the older one of the two, that he would be the more mature and dominant one in the friendship, the one who leads Hal astray. However as the play develops we can see that Hal can actually look after himself and doesn't need Falstaff to supervise him. Later in the play we can see that Hal stops messing around and becomes more like a Prince rather than the type of character he has at the beginning. However Falstaff can not make this change. He can't adopt to the changes that he needs to make as the play goes on. In Act 1, Scene 2, Hal and Falstaff are dinking at the bar. We get the impression that Falstaff encourages the prince to go to the bar with him. We can tell this from Falstaff's characteristics. He is always drinking, eating, gambling and fornicating. This isn't the type of a life a Prince should be leading so we think its Falstaff that brings the Hal with him. At first the relationship between Hal and Falstaff is based a lot on their joking around. Hal teases Falstaff about his weight and drinking problems. At the very beginning of this scene, in the Prince's first speech, Falstaff has only asked the time and Hal is already putting him down, the Prince says to Falstaff, "Thou art so
Does Shakespeare successfully present Henry V as a hero to his audience?
Does Shakespeare successfully present Henry V as a hero to his audience? My interpretation of a hero is somebody who is sincere and caring. They must be polite and well mannered. Someone who is strong and has a strong will in a tough situation. A person who is heroic, fearless, brave and courageous all rolled into one. A person who isn't afraid to say what they believe in. They must be confident and determined to follow something through to the very end and to fight for what is theirs. A person who is a good speaker and can put their point across to an audience. They must be prepared to make sacrifices as part of their job. Although all of the above things are important attributes of a hero I think there are two more important attributes. The first is to be loyal. To be loyal to your friends, family and country. Without loyalty there can never be trust. The second is the ability to change. To realise there is something wrong with you or your attitude and to do something about it. Ely and Canterbury talk about one of these attributes in Act one Scene one of the play. The ability to change. Shakespeare writes about one of the main attributes of a hero in the very first scene. When Canterbury looks back on the prospect of Henry being a King he says that, "The courses of his youth promised it not." Canterbury believes this because as a youth, "His companies