Henry V by William Shakespeare ENG 400: BRITISH LITERATURE UNIT II: CELEBRATING HUMANITY PART V: DAYS

Day 11: What It Means to Be a King ACT IV PROLOGUE THEMATIC DEBATE ACTIVITY: DEBATE SUMMARY CLOSE READ #6: “CEREMONY” SOLILOQUY

Summary of Act IV Prologue LinesSummary 1 – 15The Chorus asks us to imagine that it is the dark of night. The two armies are close enough to see each other’s campfires. There is a quiet hum of activity in the camps, punctuated occasionally by the sounds of horses and hammers. 16 – 23The birds and clocks announce that it is 3am. The French soldiers are confident that they will win. They are spending the night gambling and wishing that morning would hurry up and arrive. 23 – 29The English soldiers are sad, sick, and depressed. They sit staring at the campfires and worrying about tomorrow’s battle. 29 – 48Now, imagine King Henry walking through the English camp, speaking to his men. He doesn’t show any signs of being tired or worried. All of his soldiers, noble and peasant alike, take comfort and cheer from his presence. He is like the sun, melting their fears away. 48 – 54The action must soon move to the battle. The Chorus again apologizes that their little set and few actors will not do the battle of Agincourt justice.

Thematic Debate: What It Means to Be a King (IV.1) Debate with Michael Williams During this scene, King Henry disguises himself and walks among his soldiers. He ends up debating with Michael Williams, a common soldier, about the responsibility that the king bears for the sins and souls of his soldiers. What arguments does each man make? What, if any, resolution do they reach on this topic? “Ceremony” Soliloquy Remember, a soliloquy is a monologue delivered when a character is onstage alone. Since only the audience hears the speech, it is like the character is thinking out loud. In this soliloquy, King Henry reflects that the only difference between kings and common men is ceremony, all of the showy splendor that comes with being famous and powerful. What does Henry decide about the ceremony that comes with being king?

Debate Summary Activity Work in your group to read and understand your assigned lines. (10 minutes) Write a summary of your lines and bring it to me for approval. Then, write your summary on the designated section of the board. (5 minutes) Copy the full debate summary into your notes. (5 minutes) GroupSection 1lines 99 (“I pray you”) – 116 2lines 117 – 133 3lines 134 – 151 4lines 152 – 182 (“now visited”) 5lines 182 (“Every subject’s”) – 203 6lines 204 – 231

Close Reading #6 – In the Camps / “Ceremony” (IV.1) 1.Listen closely as I read lines 233 – 244. a)How did my tone of voice change after the stage direction? Write your answer under the box titled, “Change in Tone.” b)King Henry’s language changes on line 241. In the box titled “Change in Language,” explain how his language changes and why. (Hint: Think about prose and verse.) c)If you were directing the play, what movements would you have the actor playing King Henry do as he is speaking these lines to indicate his change in mood? Jot down your ideas in the box titled “Stage Directions.” 2.For the next 2 minutes, discuss the following questions with your tablemates: a)How does the daily life of a celebrity differ from that of a regular person? b)What are some pros and cons of being rich, famous, and/or powerful?

Close Reading #6 – In the Camps / “Ceremony” (IV.1) 3.Listen as I read lines Underline an example of antithesis. a)Under the heading “Questions for Ceremony,” paraphrase any three of the questions that King Henry asks in the section that I read. (2 minutes) 4.Now, as I read lines 266 – 274, try to match each image with the phrase in King Henry’s speech that describes it. a)In the box titled “The King,” jot down notes on the images Henry uses to illustrate a king’s life of “ceremony.” (1 minute)

Close Reading #6 – In the Camps / “Ceremony” (IV.1) 5.Listen as I read lines 275 – 286. Make any notes you like. a)In the box titled “The Peasant,” summarize King Henry’s description of a peasant’s (or “slave’s”) life. (1 minute) 6.Next, listen as I read lines 287 – 293. a)Talk with your tablemates to answer comprehension questions 1 and 2. (3 minutes) 7.Finally, listen as I read King Henry’s prayer on lines 300 – 316. a)Talk with your tablemates to answer the comprehension questions for Henry’s prayer. (7 minutes)

Day 12: The Battle of Agincourt AGINCOURT WAR CRIMES CLOSE READ #7: ST. CRISPIN’S DAY

Henry V – Reference Maps England and FranceEnglish Army’s Travel and March