When it comes to teaching Shakespeare, no other play is as celebrated or renowned among teachers and students alike as Henry V. It’s a classic text that speaks across time to various cultures, engaging readers with themes like courage, patriotism, leadership, and more.
With this in mind, planning an effective unit on Henry V doesn’t have to be daunting – take it step-by-step! Here we provide an overview of how you can use creative activities and lesson plan components to bring the world of King Henry V alive for your students.
Storyline of William Shakespeare’s Henry V
Act I
The play opens in the court of the young King Henry, who is successful after his victory in France. To get his nobles under control and avoid further discord, he sends them off on a campaign to France, where they will face off against the French forces at Harfleur and Agincourt. Meanwhile, Katherine of France is pressured by her father (the King) to accept a marriage proposal from the English prince, whom she initially rejects.
Act II
Henry’s army arrives in France and begins their march towards Harfleur. Along the way, Henry gives one of his famous speeches and rallies his troops for war. As they approach Harfleur, they realise that many French soldiers have fortified the town. After a tense battle, Harfleur falls to the English. The French King then offers terms for peace – if Henry agrees to leave France immediately and leave Katherine unmarried – but Henry refuses these terms and leads his men towards Agincourt instead.
Act III
On the day of battle at Agincourt, the English forces are outnumbered by an overwhelming number of Frenchmen. However, thanks to Henry’s leadership and strategic thinking, he manages to lead his army to victory despite their lack of numbers. The French forces are defeated, and their leaders agree to surrender on Henry’s terms – including that he can marry Katherine without any restrictions or demands from either side.
Act IV
Katherine meets her father before heading out with her new husband-to-be (Henry). Her father implores her not to forget her heritage or lose herself among so many English people; instead, she should stay true to who she is despite all that is happening around her. She agrees, and after several weeks of preparations for their marriage ceremony (which involves both French and English customs), she finally married King Henry V on November 15th 1420.
Act V
The final act brings us back home, where news has spread far and wide about how victorious the English are in France after their battle at Agincourt. England celebrates with feasts, tournaments & other festivities while peace is ensured between England & France through Henry’s marriage with Katharine. All seems perfect until tragedy strikes as Queen Katharine dies due to childbirth complications leaving King Henry heartbroken & alone once again.
Themes of William Shakespeare’s Henry V
Loyalty and Duty
The play is full of characters displaying loyalty and duty to their respective causes – England and France. Henry shows his commitment to the English people by leading them into battle against the French forces at Agincourt.
In contrast, the French King exhibits similar loyalty towards his daughter through his steadfast refusal to let her marry an Englishman. This theme is also explored more personally between Henry and close confidants like Exeter or Falstaff, showing that loyalty transcends national boundaries.
War and Glory
The goal of war for both sides in Henry V is glory – with each victory comes tremendous honour for the victor, while defeats are embarrassing and shameful. In Act I, we see both King Henry and the French nobles vying for glory through their tactics. Still, it eventually culminates in Act III with the epic Battle of Agincourt, where both armies clash, desperate for victory.
Love and Marriage
Love also plays a prominent role in this play, particularly regarding Henry’s pursuit of Katherine of France. After she initially rebuffs him, he continues to pursue her, although diplomatic tensions between their two countries parallel traditional courtship rituals. Ultimately, they marry after England’s victory at Agincourt, symbolising peace between the two nations amid all this turmoil.
Betrayal and Revenge
Betrayal is used as a tool by both sides throughout the story – when Pistol betrays Fluellen (who later takes revenge) or when Katharine hides her true thoughts about their marriage from Henry during Act IV, only to reveal them moments before their wedding.
There is also an air of revenge surrounding some key events. After discovering Dauphin has insulted him behind his back rather than offering terms for peace, Henry vows revenge at Agincourt, which sets up one of the most memorable acts in Shakespearean Theatre.
Characters of William Shakespeare’s Henry V
King Henry V
The titular character is a young English king who has recently succeeded to the throne two years before the start of the play. He is a charismatic leader who quickly earns loyalty from his subjects before leading them into battle against France.
He initially appears relatively carefree and unruly but eventually demonstrates that he has the strength of character required to lead an entire nation into war.
Katherine of France
The daughter of Charles VI, she is the main female character in this play and becomes betrothed to King Henry after England’s victory at Agincourt. She initially rejects his marriage proposal due to her strong sense of duty for her people; however, she eventually agrees when it becomes clear that she must if peace between England and France is to be maintained.
Though she does not get much stage time, Katherine is essential in demonstrating how love can transcend even during great tension and conflict between two nations.
The French King Charles VI
The father of Katharine and ruler of France during this period, Charles was determined to protect his people while maintaining a diplomatic stance with England – trying desperately to avoid war. He often clashes with his nobles over issues like whether or not Katharine should marry Henry and generally deals with internal politics within his court (i.e., Burgundy vs Orleans).
Exeter & Falstaff
Henry’s two closest confidants provide him with support throughout the play both on-stage and off-stage – particularly Exeter, who is always by Henry’s side no matter what situation he finds himself in. They both serve as mentors for young King Henry, and their presence helps drive home the themes of loyalty, friendship, and honour in this story.
Story Arc of Charles VI
Charles VI is the King of France, striving to maintain a diplomatic relationship with England to avoid war. Despite his best efforts, events quickly spiral out of his control culminating in the Battle of Agincourt, where England defeats France – leading to England’s victory and, ultimately, Katharine’s marriage to Henry.
Throughout this story arc, Charles embodies loyalty and duty to his people and conflict resolution, exemplifying these themes through his reluctance to let Katharine marry an Englishman and his attempts at remaining civil with Henry throughout their negotiations.
Ultimately, he has little choice but to submit to the terms set by England, agreeing that Katharine will marry Henry, thus paving the way for peace between both nations.
Character Studies of William Shakespeare’s Henry V
Lesson Plan 1 – Loyalty and Duty
This lesson plan will explore the concept of loyalty and duty as showcased by Exeter, Falstaff, and King Charles VI in William Shakespeare’s play Henry V. Students will be prompted with discussion starters such as “Do the characters show any examples of loyalty and duty? What are they?” to analyse specific events in the play and come away with an understanding of how these themes can affect difficult decisions when faced with obstacles. Furthermore, students should apply what they have learned to their own lives to gain a better appreciation of these values.
First, students should be introduced to each character – Exeter, Falstaff and King Charles VI – and provided some background about them. Next, teachers should prompt students to focus on three scenes from the play (which should be predetermined by the teacher before each lesson) that showcase acts of loyalty or duty from either one or all of the characters. Through a period of discussion among students or even between students and teachers, everyone should come away with a few key takeaways from each scene.
Following this analysis, bring everyone together for a group discussion about what they have learned about loyalty and duty from these interactions between characters within the play. Finally, students should use what they have learned to formulate their conclusion based on how these themes are utilised throughout Henry V before offering advice on applying it personally regarding any challenges they may face.
Lesson Plan 2 – Conflict Resolution Through Diplomacy
This lesson plan will explore the concept of conflict resolution through diplomacy as showcased in William Shakespeare’s play Henry V. Students will be prompted with discussion starters such as “What diplomatic strategies does King Charles VI use to resolve conflicts?” to analyse specific events in the play and come away with an understanding of how diplomacy can be used effectively to bypass violent solutions. Furthermore, students should apply what they have learned by looking at cultural differences and analysing their approaches when confronted with difficult decisions.
First, students should be introduced to King Charles VI and provided some background about his approach towards foreign relations – specifically in dealing with England. Next, teachers should prompt students to focus on three scenes from the play (which the teacher should have predetermined before each lesson) that showcase moments where Charles employs diplomatic tactics to resolve issues between himself and England. Through a period of discussion among students or even between students and teachers, everyone should come away with a few key takeaways from each scene.
Following this analysis, bring everyone together for a group discussion about what they have learned about diplomacy from interactions between characters within the play. They should also consider any cultural differences or barriers in real-life negotiations. Finally, students should use what they have learned to formulate their conclusion based on how diplomacy is employed throughout Henry V before offering advice on how it can be applied outside its original setting personally within their own lives.
Lesson Plan 3 – Love Conquering All Obstacles
This lesson plan will explore the concept of love conquering all obstacles, as showcased by Katharine and Henry in William Shakespeare’s play Henry V. Students will be prompted with discussion starters such as “What obstacles does Henry face for marriage to Katharine?
How does he overcome these issues?” to analyse specific events in the play and understand how love can be a powerful force when faced with difficult decisions. Furthermore, students should apply what they have learned to their own lives to gain a better appreciation of this idea.
First, students should be introduced to Katharine and Henry and provided some background. Next, teachers should prompt students to focus on three scenes from the play (which should be predetermined by the teacher before each lesson) that showcase moments where love overcomes any challenges brought forth by social or political forces between France and England.
Through a period of discussion among students or even between students and teachers, everyone should come away with a few key takeaways from each scene.
Concluding this analysis, gathering and exchanging ideas with the group about what they have discovered regarding love is imperative. Also, having a dialogue on how these concepts are represented in today’s modern world could be incredibly beneficial.
Finally, students should use what they have learned to formulate their conclusion based on how love is portrayed throughout Henry V before offering advice on how it can be applied personally within their own lives.
10 Most Popular Shakespeare Plays
- Romeo and Juliet
- Hamlet
- Macbeth
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- The Taming of the Shrew
- Othello
- King Lear
- Twelfth Night, or What You Will
- The Merchant of Venice
- Much Ado About Nothing*
Resources:
- Henry V by William Shakespeare – This beautifully rendered version of William Shakespeare’s classic play tells the story of King Henry V, who must put aside his carefree lifestyle to take up the reigns of England’s crown and defeat its enemies in a war for the ages.
- The King’s Reformation: Henry VIII and the Remaking of the English Church – Historian G. W. Bernard argues that Henry VIII, not Thomas Cromwell or Martin Luther, was responsible for England’s break from Rome during his reign as King. This is a critical historical account for learning about Henry V’s role in reforming England’s church during his time as ruler.
