Download - Henry V Introduction
Henry V
Introduction & Overview
• Written 1599• Refers to a specific historical incident (5.0.29-
32)• Conclusion of a long series of history plays
begun in the early 1590s• What else was going on at this time?• Start with 1588 and find out the key events…• Why is Shakespeare writing about a medieval
warrior-king?
Some key points
• Importance of the Chorus• What other plays use a Chorus? What is a
Chorus?• Episodic narrative – lots of broken scenes
intercut by Chorus• What does that allow Shakespeare to do?• Tone of patriotic triumphalism in the Chorus
but the narrative is much more sceptical
Source material
• Holinshed’s Chronicles• Attempt to write a full record of English history• The play is historically inaccurate – e.g. the
Dauphin wasn’t present at the battle of Agincourt
• Who was on the English throne?• What is the importance of me writing ‘English’?