Henry 4 Part 1

Question 1

Henry 4 (The Person) context

Answer 1

• Reign in 1399-1413
• Chaucer wrote under his predecessor, Richard 2
• Richard deposed by Genry at end of R2, killed in Pomfret castle under Henry’s orders
• Hal’s dad

Question 2

Henry 4 P1 Tetrology

Answer 2

• part of second tetralogy (R2, Henry 4 P1,P2, and Henry 5)
• Before the first tetrology (Richard)

Question 3

Henry 4 P1 General Info (+Source)

Answer 3

• High point in English History (Rise of Henry 5)
• Based on The Famous Victories of Henry V (Anonymous), about Hal’s youth to kingship
• well known and loved story of Shakespeare’s contemporaries/ time

Question 4

Henry 4 P1, Success

Answer 4

• one of/ still is Shakespeare’s most popular history plays
• looking at print records (was best seller)
• why:
  1- Hal reformation
  2- Falstaff
  3- Comic subplot

Question 5

H4P1 Censorship

Answer 5

• oaths removed to comply with Act to Restrain the Abuses of players
• Falstaff’s OG name was Sir John Oldcastle (descendants objected), still referenced

Question 6

H4P1: History Play (contextual meaning)

Answer 6

• Relatively new genre
• idea of English self-definition,
  (political traditions, what sets them apart?)
• second tetrology concerned with Kingship, what makes a ruler strong and effective

Question 7

H4P1, Historical Context and idea of Kingship (R2 and H4)

Answer 7

• feudal system on decline (kingship on inhertiance) not good if king is weak
• Richard 2 overturned by noble, (Bolingbroke/ Henry 4, Percy etc)
  -Hebry 4 charismatic, plans to go to Jerusalem
• attonement, redirect attention from civil conflicts

Question 8

H4P1 Hal General Info/ Kingship

Answer 8

• theatricality of kingship (power depends on appearances and ability to play roles)
• Hal is consummate actor

Question 9

Hotspur vs Hal

Answer 9

• Hotspur: fiery, impatient, warrior but not politician (loves battle and hates language/ poetry)
• Hal: Good language, witty, “be himself”

Question 10

H4P1 Tavern

Answer 10

• where Hal builds his character, opposition to the court
• Disorder and rebellion among the nobility similar to lower class (authority challenged at all levels)

Question 11

Hal Language

Answer 11

• ability to switch from language of commoners (prose) to language of the court (verse)
• Hotspur does not have the gift of tongue (hates poetry)
• Very witty as well

Question 12

Theatricality of Kingship (Play Function)

Answer 12

• Metatheatre?, commentary of performativity of kingship

Question 13

Falstaff, end of play (role in play)

Answer 13

• foil to Hal
  -Hal hangs out with people at tavern but ultimately not like them