• Reading Levels 3 - 5
English

Henry V

Shakespeare's retelling of the Battle of Agincourt of 1415 is the final part in his second tetralogyA series of four. of history plays. Written in 1599, as England was at war in Ireland, Shakespeare turns to history to think about war and its myths. The series begins with Henry IV usurping Richard II's throne, and then follows his son Hal's transformation from a "wild" young man into the noble king we see in this play. Now that Henry V is ruling England, he decides to invade France and claim the crown there. The English army is outnumbered, but a rousing speech urges them on to achieve an extraordinary victory. First, however, Shakespeare offers a nuancedHaving or characterized by subtle and often appealingly complex qualities, aspects, or distinctions. discussion of the morality of warfare. Are the glory and honour worth the deaths of ordinary people? And is King Henry responsible for the lives lost in his pursuit of power?

Continue Reading

To access this article and more news for schools, try The Day now.

Start your free trial Already have an account? Log in / register