Henry V

Many modern critics have commented on the attitudes to war presented in the play. Using the two speeches,

“… deliver up the crown … in this controversy” (Act II, Scene 4)

“… On your noblest English … And teach them how to war,” (Act III, Scene 1)

And any further productions you might have seen or heard, e.g. Olivier, Branagh and OU cassette versions,

· Explore the ways, in which you think Shakespeare dramatically presents war and its consequences in the play as a whole.

· How the attitudes of war have been dramatically presented in the play as a whole have affected the Olivier, Branagh and OU productions.

Many modern critics have commented on the attitudes to war presented in the play. This can be seen in the two speeches, “Deliver up the crown … in this controversy”, (Act II, Scene 4) and “On, on you noblest English … And teach them how to war,” (Act III, Scene 1).

Within Act II, Scene 4, we see the French King orders his nobles and his son to strengthen the defences against the English invasion, ‘It is most meet we arm us ‘gainst the foe’ (Act II, Scene 4, pg.90). The Dauphin agrees that precautions should be taken but refuses to accept that the English King is a serious threat. He brushes asi

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In the Chorus’s description of the preparation for invasion, at the beginning of Act II, we are given some idea of the excitement generated by the prospects of the glory and honour to be won in battle. The Battle of Crécy, 1346, when the French were defeated by Edward III and his son, the Black Prince, is mentioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, (ActI, Scene 2), and by King Charles, (Act II, Scene 4). In the Chorus and in some of Henry’s speeches there are elements of rhetoric, repetition of words or phrases, the building up of lists or questions and the balancing of phrases, for example,

‘We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. He prompts his nobles to live up to the exploits of their forefathers and to set an example to people of more common blood. In his speech we are given a graphic description of the brutalities of warfare, ‘I will not leave the half-achievéd Harfleur, Till in her ashes she lie buried’, (Act III, Scene 3, lines 8/9) and ‘The blind and bloody soldier … your naked infants spitted upon pikes,’ (Act III, Scene 3, lines 34-37). Many leading characters are warriors or kings who come to power or overturn the established powers. In the latter, prodigious numbers of French are killed, ‘ This note doth tell me of ten thousand French/That in the field lie slain’ (Act IV, Scene 8, lines 79-80). Weak elements are destroyed and the stronger elements are given room to grow and flourish. There are two interesting and quite different film versions of the play.

Henry’s physical courage is never in doubt. Shakespeare seems aware of the horror of war but he also likes to revel in the pageantry and glory of war. ’ (Act II, Scene 4)

‘Therefore in fierce Tempest is he coming

In thunder and in earthquake, like a Jove,’ (Act II, Scene 4)

and

‘Let the brow o’erwhelm it

As fearfully as doth a galled rock

O’erhang and jutty his confounded base,

Swilled with the wild and wasteful ocean. Even if they die, their names will live forever.

Approximate Word count = 2424
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

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