Henry VThe Chorus describes the confident French and anxious English armies on the night before the battle of Agincourt, and portrays Henry as passing among his troops cheering them up. Again the Chorus laments that the stage and actors are so inadequate to the presentation of the battle to come.
From The Folger Shakespeare Library Edition of Henry V
Henry V begins at the English court, where the young king is persuaded that he has a claim to the throne…
The Chorus wishes for a far greater stage, actors, and audience. He apologizes for the scanty resources that are available…
The Bishop of Canterbury informs the Bishop of Ely of a bill threatening Church revenues and of a plan to…
At the King’s request, Canterbury provides an extensive interpretation of French law to support Henry’s claim to the French throne….
The Chorus announces the enthusiastic support of English youth for Henry’s French campaign, but also advises that the French have…
King Henry’s former tavern companion Bardolph prevents Pistol and Nym from fighting over Hostess Quickly, Pistol’s wife. They are interrupted…
Henry, informed of the treachery of three of his friends, confronts them with their crimes. They throw themselves on his…
The tavern crew—Bardolph, Pistol, Nym, and the Boy—join the Hostess in mourning the dead Falstaff and, saying good-bye to the…
The King of France and his court plan their defense against Henry’s invasion. Exeter arrives to present the King with…
The Chorus describes the embarkation of Henry’s fleet for France, Henry’s preparations to besiege the town of Harfleur, and the…
Henry delivers an oration to inspire his troops to take Harfleur.
Bardolph, Pistol, Nym, and the Boy withdraw from the assault on Harfleur. They are driven back to it by Captain…
Henry threatens the men of Harfleur with the destruction of the town and its population if they do not yield…
An old gentlewoman, Alice, begins to teach English to Katherine, Princess of France.
The French nobles speak of their shame at the success of Henry’s invasion. The French King plans to block Henry’s…
Captains Fluellen and Gower meet Pistol, who pleads for Bardolph, sentenced to die for robbery. Fluellen refuses to intervene and…
On the eve of battle, the French nobles, confident of their army’s superiority, engage in verbal competition.
The Chorus describes the confident French and anxious English armies on the night before the battle of Agincourt, and portrays…
Henry borrows Erpingham’s cloak and, in this disguise, passes through his camp, meeting Pistol, overhearing a conversation between Fluellen and…
The French nobles, about to fight, lament that the English are so few and so weak.
Henry delivers an oration to his troops urging them on to win glory in the battle. Montjoy again comes to…
A French soldier surrenders to Pistol, who threatens him with death until the soldier promises to pay a ransom of…
The French nobles, shamed in their defeat, decide to die fighting.
Henry, in doubt about the outcome of the battle, hears of York’s and Suffolk’s deaths, and then, when a French…
Fluellen, in conversation with Gower, compares Henry to the classical world-conqueror Alexander the Great. Montjoy arrives to concede the French…
Williams and Fluellen are prevented from fighting by Warwick and Gloucester. Henry arrives and accuses Williams of promising to strike…
The Chorus describes the great welcome accorded the English army when it returns home, the visit by the Holy Roman…
Fluellen avenges Pistol’s insults by making Pistol eat a leek. Pistol, humiliated, plans to return to England in the guise…
The Duke of Burgundy has brought about a meeting between French and English to sign a peace treaty. Henry delegates…
The Chorus reminds the audience that Henry died very young, leaving the kingdom to his infant son, during whose reign…
