The Shakespeare Book

164

T

he Chorus pleads with the

audience to overlook the

theater’s limitations and

to picture the epic events to come.

King Henry V, reformed from his

wild youth, is assured by the

Archbishop of Canterbury that his

claim to the French throne is just.

When the French ambassador

brings him a mocking gift of tennis

balls, Henry’s riposte is that he will

strike the French crown out of play.

In Southampton, the Chorus

describes how the youth of England

are eager to fight, but warns that

there are three traitors. Henry’s

HENRY V

old drinking pals meet in a tavern.

Bardolph stirs up trouble between

Nim and Pistol, now married

to Nim’s former betrothed, hostess

Nell Quickly. Henry unmasks

the traitors and sends them for

execution. Nell describes the death

of old Falstaff, broken by Henry’s

rejection of him, and the three pals

embark for France with Henry.

In France, the French king,

Charles VI, and his son, the

Dauphin, prepare for battle,

mocking the wild youth of Henry.

Henry’s ambassador Exeter warns

the French against resistance.

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

Chorus Sets the scene for

each of the Acts.

Henry V Once Prince Hal,

now a soldier monarch.

Duke of Exeter Henry’s uncle.

Dukes of Gloucester and

Clarence The king’s brothers.

Duke of York, and Earls of

Salisbury, Westmorland,

and Warwick English nobles.

Archbishop of Canterbury

and Bishop of Ely Church

prelates.

Earl of Cambridge, Lord

Scroop, Sir Thomas Grey

Traitors.

Fluellen and Gower Officers

in Henry’s army.

John Bates, Alexander

Court, and Michael

Williams English soldiers.

Pistol, Nim, and Bardolph

The Eastcheapers, former

drinking friends of Prince Hal.

Nell Quickly A tavern

hostess, wife of Pistol.

Charles VI King of France.

Louis the Dauphin Son

of Charles VI.

Montjoy French herald and

envoy to Henry at Agincourt.

Ambassador He delivers the

gift of tennis balls to Henry.

Isabel Queen of France.

Catherine The King of

France’s daughter.

Alice Catherine’s attendant.

Act 1 Act 2

2.1

2.2

1.1

1.2

2.4

Henry’s old drinking

friends quarrel in the

pub as Falstaff lays dying.

The prelates resolve to

support Henry V’s

claim to the throne

of France.

Henry V firmly

rebuffs the mocking

French approach.

The French

prepare for battle

with Henry.

Henry uncovers a

traitors’ plot.