# of Words: 318

Henry IV Part 1 is the story of Prince Hal (the future King Henry V of England), a fifteenth century crazy child who carouses with offenders and commoners, helps his loser chums rob his father's treasury, and spends all his time at seedy bars. This, needless to say, all takes place before Prince Hal's glorious "reformation," when he transforms himself out of a total disgrace into a noble leader, that will help set down a rebel uprising that threatens his father's reign, also kills the man whose been bad-mouthing him around England.

Wow. Being a young prince is busy work, and this is only Part 1 of the story.

The play is preceded by Richard II and can be followed by Henry IV Part two and Henry V. Henry IV Part 1 covers significant historical events (history based to Shakespeare anyhow) and political characters from the beginning of Henry's reign. But a number of the most notable characters and amusing moments in the play are completely Shakespeare's invention. For audiences, the many memorable moments in the play frequently surround Falstaff, Shakespeare's authentic personality, as well as the crazy tavern scenes, that are among the most beloved and written about topics in literary history.

Shakespeare wrote the play during the latter part of Queen Elizabeth I's reign and several of its themes and concerns resonate with late sixteenth century political events, particularly the Irish rebellion headed by the Earl of Tyrone (1595), England's ongoing warfare with Spain, along with the Northern Rebellion (1569). Shakespeare's portrayal of the issue of kingly succession also echoes a significant concern in Elizabethan England. In the time the play was composed, Queen Elizabeth I was in her 60s and had no heir to inherit the throne.

Shakespeare's resources for Henry IV Part 1 comprise an ancient play of unknown authorship known as The Famous Victories of Henry V, Raphael Holinshed's history Chronicles, along with Samuel Daniel's poem "The Civil Wars."

Related Papers

All Quiet On The Western Front Erich Maria Remarque

The narrator gives us a highlights and background characters. Kat, who is twenty five, is the respected leader of the team and can be admired by Paul because of his practical abilities and gut instincts. He is contrasted with Himmelstoss (a former postman), who's largely incompetent, but has adopted every ounce of power his army rank has given him. Paul goes back to visit his buddy Kemmerich at the hospital, only to see him die. Hospital orderlies quickly eliminate his entire body so another......Read More

Angela's Ashes Frank McCourt

Well, it is certainly not a genie in a bottle or a space filled with Grammy awards or a museum in Ireland. It is the archetypal rags-to-riches caliber of their stories. It is when a generally obscure person rises from poverty to Gatsbyesquewealth and fame. Our boy Frank McCourt, a child from the slums of Limerick who suffers from starvation and poverty during the majority of his early life, went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in his robe because of his comic memoir (yeah, that is right--comedian),......Read More

The Cherry Orchard Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov was a Russian author known for his short stories and plays. The Cherry Orchard was his last play, made by the famed Moscow Art Theatre soon before his death in 1904. You may have discovered that Chekhov was a doctor. He started writing to encourage himself through medical school, also you may see the bedside way from his writing. He is a guy who has seen a great deal, and thinks of people with a combination of affection and ridicule. You are certainly able to see this aspect of......Read More

Related Topics