Study Questions for Henry V

From A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Henry V
By JAMES E. McGINN, Ed.D and JEANNE M. McGLINN, Ph.D.

ACT I

2. What was Harry’s life like before he became King?
3. On what principle does Henry claim the throne of France?
4. According to the Archbishop of Canterbury, how is the state like a beehive?
5. How does Henry explain the nature of a Christian King in I, ii, 241-243?
6. How does the Dauphin of France insult Henry, and how does Henry respond?
7. What insight do you get about Henry’s character in this act? What contributes to your evaluation of Henry?

ACT II

1. How does the exchange between Henry and the French ambassador in the first act contrast with the exchange between Pistol and Nym in II, i?
2. Why does Nym say that the King has run "bad humors" on his knight Falstaff in II, i, 125?
3. In II, ii, 155, Richard the Earl of Cambridge says that he was not seduced by gold in his plot to overthrow the King. What other motive could he have?
4. How does Henry treat his former friends Falstaff and Scroop in this act? What does this say about Henry’s character?
5. After Falstaff ’s death, what motive does Pistol reveal for fighting in the war with France? How does this contrast with Henry’s motives revealed in Act I?
6. What message does Henry deliver to the Dauphin at the end of Act II? What might this say about Henry’s character?

ACT III

1. In his speech before the walls of Harfleur, what does Henry say will cause his men to go "[o]nce more unto the breach"?
2. How do Nym and Pistol in III, ii contrast with Henry’s description of the yeomen in III, i, 28-34?
3. What does Henry threaten the people of Harfleur with if they do not surrender? What does this say about his character?
4. What feeling does Shakespeare convey in the scene in which Katherine the French Princess practices her English?
5. What has Bardolph done to be sentenced to hanging?
6. In Henry IV, Part 2, the young Henry is a crony of Bardolph’s. What is King Henry’s response to Bardolph, and what does this say about Henry’s character?
7. What does Henry reveal to the French ambassador Montjoy about the state of readiness of his army as they approach the bridge that the Duke of Exeter has taken?
8. What image of the French army does Shakespeare portray at the end of Act III?

ACT IV

1. How do Henry’s interactions with Pistol and Williams contrast with the image given of how the King inspires his men in the prologue to Act IV? Why do you think Shakespeare made this contrast?
2. How does Williams argue that a soldier is not responsible when the war is unjust?
3. What is Williams’ response when Henry says the King had said that in the event of defeat he would not be ransomed?
4. Why does Henry get so angry at Williams?
5. According to Henry, what advantages does the common man have over the king?
6. What is Henry’s prayer to the "God of battles"? Why does he ask God not to consider Henry’s father’s fault?
7. How many troops does each side have on the eve of battle?
8. What does Henry’s Crispian Day speech say about his character?
9. How does Pistol’s treatment of the French knight in IV, iv contrast with Henry’s answer to Montjoy about his ransom in IV, iii?
10. What is the response of the French nobles when they realize that their army is beaten?
11. How is chivalry described in IV, vi? What image is given?
12. Why do you think the soldier Williams refuses to take any money from the King after he is aware that it is the King with whom he quarreled?
13. What is the number of casualties on the French side and on the British side according to the play?
14. To what does Henry attribute his great victory?

ACT V

1. How does Fluellen’s treatment of Pistol contrast with Henry’s treatment of the French King?
2. What roles do Queen Isabel and Princess Katherine play in the negotiations? What do you infer was the status of noble women during this time period?
3. According to the Duke of Burgundy, what are some of the effects of the war on France?
4. Why does Shakespeare devote so much time to Henry’s wooing of Katherine?
5. What is the ultimate fate of England described in the Epilogue?
6. What is the function of the chorus in this play?
7. In looking over the whole play, what are the clues that suggest that Henry was an ideal King, and what are the clues that suggest that he was less than ideal?

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