Henry IV ACTV Scenes 4 and 5 By: Oliver Payne

Historical Context Written by William Shakespeare , believed to be no later than 1597 Henry IV is part of a Tetralogy and is the second book in the series Richard II, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, Henry V The book begins in the year around 1402-1403

ACT V Scene 4 Plot Summary Harry refuses to leave battle even though he is heavily bleeding after the king orders him to. He then leaves with his brother and Westmoreland, leaving the King alone. Douglas finally finds the King and is substantially beating him in battle until Harry jumps in. Harry eventually scares him off, receiving his father’s upmost respect. Hotspur finds Harry in battle and they challenge each other until death. In the heat of the battle Falstaff enters, cheering Harry on and is confronted by Douglas. Falstaff plays dead during his battle and Henry kills Hotspur. Seeing Falstaff and Hotspur dead, Harry speaks fondly of them and leaves. Falstaff jumps up and stabs Hotspur in his leg to claim that he was the killer. Everyone is dumbfounded.

ACT V Scene 4 Literary Devices and Important Quotes Everything is strictly to the point with a tremendous amount of action, creating a busy scene Falstaff’s quote, “The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life,” (lines 119-120) King’s quote: “Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion, and showed thou mak’st some tender of my life, in this fair rescue thou has brought me,” (lines 46-49)

ACT V Scene 4 Literary Devices and Important Quotes Harry’s quote: “…Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere…” (line 64) (metaphor) Harry’s quote: “ When that this body did contain a spirit, a kingdom for it was too small a bound…” (lines 88-89) Personification: “…where stained nobility lies trodden on…” (line 12) Mythological Allusion/Simile: “Another king? They grow like Hydra’s heads.” (lines 23-24)

ACT V Scene 5 Plot Summary Henry has won the war and orders the execution of the rebels Worcester and Vernon. News arrives that Douglas is captures, but the King decides to release him because of his valor and integrity. Henry then plans to send John and Westmoreland to York to deal with Northumberland and the archbishop and himself and Harry to Wales to deal with Mortimer and Owain Glyndwr.

ACT V Scene 5 Literary Devices and Important Quotes Scene 5 leaves the book open to move on to the next series in the tetralogy, Henry IV Part 2 Not all problems are left solved Simile: “Three knights upon our party slain today, a noble earl, and many a creature else had been alive this hour, if like a Christian thou hadst truly borne betwixt our armies true intelligence.” (lines 6-10) (King to Worcester)

ACT V Scene 5 Literary Devices and Important Quotes Alliteration: “The noble Percy slain, and all his men upon the foot of fear, fled with the rest…” (lines 19-20) King: “And since this business so fair is done, let us not leave till all our own be won,” (lines 43-44)