Henry V (Play) Plot & Characters

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Overview

Synopsis

Under sinister pressure from the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the young King Henry the Fifth is lured into claiming much of Medieval France as property of the English Crown. After being insulted by The Dauphin of France, Henry leads a small but brave band of soldiers into a painful and arduous war with France. The war culminates at the Battle of Agincourt where despite being outnumbered five to one, the English forces are rallied by Henry's epic speech and go on to victory. After peace is declared and the treaty is signed, the French king grants Henry the hand of his daughter, Katherine of Volois, in marriage and England and France are united. However, the show ends with the chorus/narrator giving an ominous reminder that the son of Henry and Katherine, Henry VI, will have a tumultuous reign.

Show Information

Book: William Shakespeare

Category: Play

Age Guidance: Thirteen Plus (PG-13)

Number of Acts: 5

First Produced: 1599

Genres: Historical/Biographical

Settings: Multiple Settings

Time & Place: 15th century; england and france

Cast Size: large

Orchestra Size: None

Dancing: None

Licensor: None/royalty-free

Ideal For: College/University, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen, Young Adult, Elderly Characters

Lead Characters

Chorus

Lead, Either Gender, Spoken

Henry V

King Henry V

Lead, Male, Spoken

Henry V

Pistol

Lead, Male, Spoken

Henry V

View all characters in Henry V

Context

Like many of William Shakespeare’s plays, Henry V is very difficult to date with any certainty. The primary source for many of his history plays, Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles, was published in 1587. However, there are some references in the play that place it in the late 1590s. However, the play was entered into the Register of the Stationers Company in August 1600, and the first quarto was printed before the end of the year.

The first performances are also a mystery. Famously, the

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Plot

ACT ONE

The prologue. The Chorus enters (a lone speaker), wishing that the “wooden O” could portray the “vasty fields of France.” He asks the audience to imagine the great king and battles they are about to witness.

At the English court, the Bishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Ely discuss a proposed bill that would harm the finances and income of the church. In order to secure the church’s financial resources, they decide that it is necessary to support King Henry V’s invasion of France

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Characters

Name	Part Size	Gender	Vocal Part
Chorus	Lead	Either Gender	Spoken
King Henry V	Lead	Male	Spoken
Pistol	Lead	Male	Spoken
Duke of Exeter	Supporting	Male	Spoken
Archbishop of Canterbury	Supporting	Male	Spoken
Captain Fluellen	Supporting	Male	Spoken
King Charles VI of France	Supporting	Male	Spoken
Louis, the Dauphin	Supporting	Male	Spoken
Princess Katherine	Supporting	Female	Spoken
Charles Delabreth, the Constable	Supporting	Male	Spoken
Duke of Bedford	Featured	Male	Spoken
Duke of Gloucester	Featured	Male	Spoken
Duke of York	Featured	Male	Spoken
Earl of Salisbury	Featured	Male	Spoken
Earl of Warwick	Featured	Male	Spoken
Earl of Westmoreland	Featured	Male	Spoken
Richard, Earl of Cambridge	Featured	Male	Spoken
Henry, Lord Scroop of Masham	Featured	Male	Spoken
Sir Thomas Grey	Featured	Male	Spoken
Bishop of Ely	Featured	Male	Spoken
Sir Thomas Erpingham	Featured	Male	Spoken
Captain Gower	Featured	Male	Spoken
Captain Jamy	Featured	Male	Spoken
Captain Macmorris	Featured	Male	Spoken
John Bates	Featured	Male	Spoken
Alexander of Court	Featured	Male	Spoken
Michael Williams	Featured	Male	Spoken
An English Herald	Featured	Male	Spoken
Bardolph	Featured	Male	Spoken
Nym	Featured	Male	Spoken
Boy	Featured	Male	Spoken
Nell (Hostess)	Featured	Female	Spoken
Queen Isabel	Featured	Female	Spoken
Alice	Featured	Female	Spoken
Duke of Bourbon	Featured	Male	Spoken
Duke of Bourbon	Featured	Male	Spoken
Duke of Britain	Featured	Male	Spoken
Duke of Burgundy	Featured	Male	Spoken
Duke of Orleans	Featured	Male	Spoken
Earl of Grandpre	Featured	Male	Spoken
Lord Rambures	Featured	Male	Spoken
Governor	Featured	Male	Spoken
Montjoy	Featured	Male	Spoken
The French Ambassadors to the King of England	Featured	Male	Spoken
Monsieur Le Fer, a French Soldier	Featured	Male	Spoken
Earl of Huntingdon	Ensemble	Male	Silent
Duke of Clarence	Ensemble	Male	Silent
Duke of Berry	Ensemble	Male	Silent
Attendants, Lords, Soldier, Citizens of Harfleur	Ensemble	Either Gender	Spoken

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