Henry IV, Part 1

history

Henry IV Part 1 is one of Shakespeare's best-loved history plays, as much comedy as history. King Henry's son, Prince Hal, would rather drink in taverns with the fat, funny old rogue Sir John Falstaff than act like a future king. Meanwhile a fierce young rebel nicknamed Hotspur is raising an army against the crown. As the country tips toward war, Hal has to decide who he really is, and proves himself at last on the battlefield at Shrewsbury.

▸SCENE I. London. The palace.▸SCENE II. London. An apartment of the Prince's.▸SCENE III. London. The palace.

SCENE I. London. The palace.

SCENE II. London. An apartment of the Prince's.

SCENE III. London. The palace.

▸SCENE I. Rochester. An inn yard.▸SCENE II. The highway, near Gadshill.▸SCENE III. Warkworth castle ▸SCENE IV. The Boar's-Head Tavern, Eastcheap.

SCENE I. Rochester. An inn yard.

SCENE II. The highway, near Gadshill.

SCENE III. Warkworth castle

SCENE IV. The Boar's-Head Tavern, Eastcheap.

▸SCENE I. Bangor. The Archdeacon's house.▸SCENE II. London. The palace.▸Scene III

SCENE I. Bangor. The Archdeacon's house.

SCENE II. London. The palace.

Scene III

▸SCENE I. The rebel camp near Shrewsbury.▸SCENE II. A public road near Coventry.▸SCENE III. The rebel camp near Shrewsbury.▸SCENE IV. York. The ARCHBISHOP'S palace.

SCENE I. The rebel camp near Shrewsbury.

SCENE II. A public road near Coventry.

SCENE III. The rebel camp near Shrewsbury.

SCENE IV. York. The ARCHBISHOP'S palace.

▸SCENE I. KING HENRY IV's camp near Shrewsbury.▸SCENE II. The rebel camp.▸SCENE III. Plain between the camps.▸SCENE IV. Another part of the field.▸SCENE V. Another part of the field.

SCENE I. KING HENRY IV's camp near Shrewsbury.

SCENE II. The rebel camp.

SCENE III. Plain between the camps.

SCENE IV. Another part of the field.

SCENE V. Another part of the field.

Characters

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Sir John FalstaffKnight and companion to Prince Hal Prince HalPrince of Wales, heir to the throne HotspurHenry Percy, heir to the Earl of Northumberland King Henry IVKing of England

Famous Quotes

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“The better part of valour is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life.”
Falstaff — Act 5, Scene 4

“What is honour? a word. What is in that word honour? what is that honour? air.”
Falstaff — Act 5, Scene 1

“Honour pricks me on. Yea, but how if honour prick me off when I come on?”
Falstaff — Act 5, Scene 1

Further Reading

Best Lines by Shakespeare: Quotes on Life, Love and More

A curated collection of Shakespeare's most famous lines, organised by theme, from love and loss to daily wisdom, sport and celebration. Each quote includes the play it comes from and why it still resonates.

Who Was William Shakespeare? A Complete Life and Biography

The life of Shakespeare: born in Stratford 1564, the Globe, his death in 1616, and the First Folio. The facts, checked.

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