Using the following extracts as a starting point, discuss the ways in which Shakespeare establishes Henry's status at various points, through a range of other characters, during the play.
Using the following extracts as a starting point, discuss the ways in which Shakespeare establishes Henry's status at various points, through a range of other characters, during the play. Throughout the of the play, Henry V, Shakespeare establishes Henry's status through a range of other characters. This essay will focus on the linguistic features and the specific words used by these characters to achieve their view of Henry. In the first extract (Act I, scene I, line 22-37) the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely discuss Henry's status as a war mongering Christian king 'full of grace (Christian goodness) and fair regard' (line 22). Throughout this extract Canterbury uses highly loquacious language, which Shakespeare has characterised by using various types of imagery, elevating the importance of Henry's status to the audience. This incorporates the use of metaphor to establish Henry's status on 'commonwealth affairs' expressing his position on war to the audience. The metaphor 'List his discourse of war, and you shall hear/A fearful battle render'd you in music' (line 43-44) compares Henry's talk of war to a battle of music conveying Henry as a war-mongering king to the audience, stressed by the imperative mood of the command verb 'list'. The use of the second person pronoun 'you' effectively addresses Ely and the audience directly stressing Henry's status as a
Shakespeare's Henry V: More Pageant than Play?
Shakespeare's Henry V: More Pageant than Play? Shakespeare's plays can be divided into three distinct categories: histories, romances and comedies. Henry the fifth is a history. Henry V is the last of four plays by William Shakespeare which tells of the rise of the house of Lancaster. It was written in 1599 but is set in 1415, two years after the death of his father and Henry has made a favourable impression on his courtiers and the clergy. He has constantly been encouraged to seize the throne of France with the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury. When the King of France responds with a mocking gift of tennis balls it presents Henry with the perfect excuse to begin the invasion. The invasion ends up in triumph but Henry still had more to do. In 1420 Henry returns to France on peace terms. His demands were granted, one of which was the hand in marriage of Katherine, the Dauphin's daughter and subsequently Henry is made the heir to the French crown. But was this play a pageant or a play? Did it actually display history or was it just a showcase of brave Britain as a story. The story of Henry V is not simply an exert from the imagination of William Shakespeare. Many historical details of the play were taken from Raphael Holinshed's the Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland. Shakespeare also made some references to an anonymous play dating from 1594, The Famous
The Subplot: Consider the significance of the subplot and examine Shakespeare's dramatic use of it to illuminate and contrast with the main story line.
The Subplot: Consider the significance of the subplot and examine Shakespeare's dramatic use of it to illuminate and contrast with the main story line. Shakespeare uses the subplot in many ways; it both accents the main story line and reminds the audience of Henry's tainted past. The subplot helps to dramatise the play through contrasting moods and movement from one view point to another, therefore this the play can be seen on many levels. This also helps to give a rounded view of events, and through comedy, acts as a form of light relief from the tension that the main plot provides, and also gives the audience a better insight into the characters and what public view is on events. This gives his character's depth and believability because they are seen from different perspectives. Through the subplot Shakespeare has also found a vehicle to show the story line in a simple way, and it gives everyone a character that they can relate to. This means that the plays are more attractive and therefore appeal to a wider audience. The subplot helps Shakespeare to put across his message on many levels, while developing the characters and increasing the audience's comprehension of the play. Henry V was written at a time where the people of Britain were very undecided over going to war and this served as a reminder of Britain's courage and valour. The play was
Explore how Shakespeare creates humour for the audience in the scenes in which the wives humiliate Falstaff.
Explore how Shakespeare creates humour for the audience in the scenes in which the wives humiliate Falstaff Through history, there have been many explanations at to why Shakespeare wrote the "Merry Wives of Windsor". Some have argued that the play was written for the Garter Ceremony held on April 23, 1597, when the patron of Shakespeare's company, Lord Hudson, was installed; supposedly, the play was later revised for public performance, around 1601. Shakespeare wrote the "Merry Wives of Windsor" as a comedy, however it does not obey all typical conventions of a Shakespearean comedy as noticeable differences in the plot show. Key parts of the play in which Shakespeare creates the main humour are the scenes in which the wives manage to humiliate and deceive Falstaff, a fat knight with a devious mind and inflated ego. A convention used repeatedly in this play to create verbal, and physical humour, is disguise and misunderstanding. Within the category of disguise and misunderstanding comes incongruity and ironic knowledge. In act 3, scene 3, the wives have discovered Falstaff's identical letters to them both, and have secretly planned their revenge on him. The fact that the wives received the same letters in the first place shows the audience how little Falstaff actually cared for the women, and shows his desperation. This has a great affect on the audience's reactions.
Why do critics consider Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor to be inferior to the same character in the Henry IV plays?' Discuss, showing you have considered more than one point of view.
A2 English Literature Coursework 'Why do critics consider Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor to be inferior to the same character in the Henry IV plays?' Discuss, showing you have considered more than one point of view. In the Henry IV plays, Sir John Falstaff is the companion of Prince Hal. He is a liar, a thief, a drunkard and a coward, but he has the gift of making light of everything. His easy-going good nature makes others willing to indulge his outrageous behavior, and he gets out of scrapes by using his quick wit and his ability to play on words. Falstaff cares nothing for authority and is cynical about martial ideals such as honor. He simply looks out for himself. Despite Falstaff's outlandish behavior, Prince Hal finds him a lovable and entertaining companion, and his other friends, such as Poins and Bardolph, are also fond of him. Indeed, the Falstaff of the Henry plays has been described as the supreme comic character on the English stage. In The Merry Wives of Windsor, however, Falstaff, although he retains some of the former character's verbal extravagance, no longer uses his wit to stay one step ahead of everyone else. Quite the reverse. He becomes merely the butt of the humor. He is vain and stupid-stupid enough to believe that the "merry wives" will welcome his attentions. Not only does he make this big mistake, he repeats it, falling for the same ruse,
It is easy to see how Henry V can be seen as an inspirational play, to its original audience. When Shakespeare was writing this play, he obviously used a variety of different methods to inspire his English audience.
It is easy to see how Henry V can be seen as an inspirational play, to its original audience. When Shakespeare was writing this play, he obviously used a variety of different methods to inspire his English audience. In this presentation I plan to point out what methods were used, and explain why they are effective. These methods are Shakespeare's use of characterization (specifically with Henry and the French), the use of dialogue, and also, the use of imagery. While this play may not have been one of Shakespeare's greats, it certainly was one of his better-written plays. If one were to only read Henry V, they would not understand why Shakespeare is considered such an amazing playwright. This particular play does not have the same appeal to it when compared to his other works. It lacks the betrayal of Julius Caesar, the passion of Romeo and Juliet, of the intrigue of Macbeth. This play is simply, a retelling of past events. The one, and only, character from this play that is somewhat developed in the main character, Henry. Henry is a static character, far from the other main characters of Shakespeare's greats. There is next to no delving into his psyche, he simply starts as a "monarch better feared than loved" (Shakespeare, 28). This way of thinking about him remains constant. Shakespeare would have done this for a specific reason. He starts the play by basically comparing
What are the functions of the Chorus in Shakespeare's Henry V?
What are the functions of the Chorus in Shakespeare's Henry V? In Shakespeare's Henry V, the chorus plays a prominent role. There are few other plays written by Shakespeare that include a chorus, however in no other play does the chorus have such an important role. The principal purpose of the chorus is that of story telling. The chorus acts as a guide for the audience, narrating parts that wouldn't fit into the action of the play. For example in the Act II Chorus, we are told about treason: 'The sum is paid, the traitors are agreed, the king is now set from London, and the scene is now transported, gentles, to Southampton.' As we can see, the chorus reviews what has happened in previous scenes and also tell us where we are going next. Kenneth Branagh made a film version of Shakespeare's Henry V in 1989. He made several alterations to the script and especially to parts of the chorus. I think he chose to do this for two main reasons. Firstly, to sustain levels of dramatic tension and interest, as modern audiences have a far lower attention span. Branagh was also able to make cuts because he had created the play through a modern medium, not all the explanation of the action was necessary, as it could be shown. This is effective for Branagh, as stage technology has developed since Shakespeare's time. Shakespeare would need to explain several scenes in the play in close
How are the two sides of Prince Henry's nature conveyed in this passage? Look at the apparent banter between Henry and Poins. Henry's apparent dissatisfaction at the philandering, tavern lifestyle manifests itself in act two scene two
How are the two sides of Prince Henry's nature conveyed in this passage? Look at the apparent banter between Henry and Poins. Henry's apparent dissatisfaction at the philandering, tavern lifestyle manifests itself in act two scene two. His schizophrenic behaviour conveys both a juvenile, libertine boy, as well as a colder, pragmatic Prince. These two juxtaposing sides of Henry's nature are exemplified in the ambiguity of his banter with Poins, who seems unaware of Henrys boredom with the tavern. On the surface therefore, we see the same humorous, decadent Prince. In reality however, Henry's irreverence towards his former friend's portrays a more calculated, darker man, eager to emancipate himself from the sensualistic tavern world that imprisons him. The Page acts as an example of the hugely detrimental effects the tavern world can have and, at this point somewhat mirrors Henry's own position. Under the influence of 'the fat villain' (Falstaff) the Page has degenerated 'from Christian....to ape' and can now only talk of the 'red lattice' windows of alehouses. Henry responds to the Pages demeaned nature saying 'has not the boy profited'. This could be interpreted by Poins and Bardolf as a harmless sarcastic joke pointing out how the Page has moved from a 'Christian' life of virtue to a tavern life of vice and sin. It could however be inferred as meaning that Henry is now
Shakespeare - How do the Falstaff scenes relate to the main plot?
Falstaff is a fat witty knight who is the main source of comedy in play. He is one of the most wonderful and popular characters ever created by Shakespeare. Falstaff is not so much a person to be judged by realistic standards. Part comic fool and part vice figure from the morality plays, his role embodies a vast number of qualities that it is impossible to characterise him in simple terms. Here are four points that sum his character: * Falstaff is the play's fool, yet he shows great virtue with his language. He turns words inside out, deliberately mistakes what people have said to him. He boasts and lies without shame ' a hundred upon poor four of us' is how he describes the counter robbery at Gads Hill. He moralises on the serious themes of the play, honour being a 'mere scutcheon'. * Falstaff is Hal's best friend and at time treats him with almost parental tenderness, at one stage playacting King Henry 'Shall the son of England prove a thief, and take purses'. Hal feels the same way, but is aware of Falstaff's weakness, his potential to 'mislead' him. * Falstaff's speeches are often partly aimed at the audience, inviting it to join in with his hilarious dishonesty, and his jokes and his excuses are comparable to a stand up comedian. This is evident in Act II Scene 4, where Falstaff could be played as if he were leading Hal and Poins with his lies, that are 'gross as a
How ill white hairs become a fool and jester”-Do you consider this an adequate response to the character Falstaff as portrayed in Henry IV (ii)
C.Keaveny UVD "How ill white hairs become a fool and jester"-Do you consider this an adequate response to the character Falstaff as portrayed in Henry IV (ii) Falstaff was and still is one of Shakespeare's most popular characters, for many reasons. Proof of this can be obtained from the fact that Shakespeare had to write Falstaff his own play, Merry Wives of Windsor, after killing him off in another play. After reading this book and being immediately asked if you agreed with the above statement, you would probably say yes, due to the developments in Falstaff's character towards the end of the play. However, when one re-reads the book with this in mind you would come to a different conclusion. The reasons for this belief are shown below and under this are the reasons why these are not justified. From reading the book it is obvious that Falstaff is a jester of sorts, he is always making serious situations light hearted. For example in Act 1, scene 2, Falstaff is speaking to the Chief Justice and the Chief Justice is trying to reprimand Falstaff but is met with witty comebacks and anything he says is reversed by Falstaff and use for his own good. This is one of Falstaff's qualities that I will discuss later. Falstaff's idea that he is a jester persuades him that he amuses the Prince whereas this is not the case. The Prince does not like him much and does not find him