An Activity for Henry V

To get students excited about Shakespeare.

To introduce them to Shakespeare's Henry V.

Resource List Play Summary: Henry V 

     The young king, Henry V, had a difficult decision to make: Should he invade France or not?  His advisors urged him to and said that he has a lawful claim and loyal subjects who will support him.  Henry called in the French ambassador Montjoy who presented Henry with a gift from the French crown prince, the Dauphin.  It was tennis balls and the Dauphin said that King Henry V was a boy only fit to play games.  Henry became enraged and said that he will invade France and make the Dauphin pay for what he has done.

     Nearby the king’s palace, his old friends mourn as Sir John Falstaff lay dying.  Sir John had been one of King Henry’s closest friends when he was the Prince of Wales.  Yet, when Henry became king, he would have nothing to do with him because of his riotous ways.  This broke Sir John’s heart and killed him.  After his death, the rest of Henry’s old friends decide to enlist and go to France to fight.

     Before Henry leaves England, he got wind of a plot to assassinate him by three English lords who have been paid with French gold.  What made it more painful was that one of them was one of Henry’s closest friends.  Henry exposed them and after a difficult confrontation condemned them to death.

     Henry arrived in France and at first the war went well.  He conquered the town of Harfleur and then started the march to Calais.  Then he met the French army at Agincourt.  They were fresh while his soldiers were exhausted.  Henry was outnumbered five to one.  Henry urged his soldiers on and inspired them to such an extent that they won the battle.  Their victory was so total that only a few English soldiers died as opposed to the many French.

     After this victory, the French king and Henry met to negotiate a treaty.  Henry courted the French Princess Katharine and they were married. 

  

Doyle, Patrick. Henry V. Cond. Simon Rattle. City of Birmingham Symphony Orch.

     EMI Records Ltd., 1989.  This is the soundtrack to Kenneth Branagh’s amazing

     film.  This rousing music will remain in your heart long after the actual sound has

     faded.

  

Henry V. Dir. Kenneth Branagh. Perf. Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Judi Dench,

     Paul Scofield, Brian Blessed, and Ian Holm. DVD. MGM, 1989.  This is the film that

     got me into Shakespeare.  It makes Shakespeare come alive in ways few films have. 

     The battle scene is bloody therefore I would recommend previewing it first.  A

     wonderful film!

 

·      Ask students: What are inspiring leaders like?   What do they do?  What do they say, especially in difficult times?·      State: “Today we’re going to look at someone who was an inspiring leader, Henry V from Shakespeare’s play of the same name.”·      Briefly summarize Henry V.[1] ·      Show students a clip of Kenneth Branagh’s performance of the Crispin Crispian speech in the Henry V DVD.·      Include scenes from the battle of Agincourt and the exciting victory.·      Teach students the end of the speech beginning with “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers…”·      Have students make their own crowns and swords.  ·      Have them stand in groups with their crowns and swords and perform together Henry’s famous speech.·      Play Branagh’s Henry V soundtrack in the background as students perform.·      Make DVD recordings of each group’s performance to share with their families and friends.·      At the conclusion of this activity ask students: Why was Henry V an inspiring leader?  What did he do?  What did he say in difficult times?  What will you remember most of Henry and the play Henry V? What do you think you will do differently as a result of studying Henry V?

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[1] See Henry V play summary.

At the conclusion of this activity ask students: Why was Henry V an inspiring leader? What did he do? What did he say in difficult times? What will you remember most of Henry and the play Henry V? What do you think you will do differently as a result of studying Henry V?