Henry IV, Part 1The authoritative edition of Henry IV from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers. Family relationships are at the center of Henry IV, Part 1. King Henry IV and Prince Hal form one major father-son pair, with Henry in despair because Hal lives a dissolute life. The father-son pair of Hotspur (Lord Henry Percy) and his father, the Earl of Northumberland, is in seeming contrast; the king envies Northumberland “his Harry,” wishing he could claim the gallant Hotspur as his own. Meanwhile, Hal has entered into a quasi-father-son relationship with a disreputable but amusing knight, Sir John Falstaff. Another strand of action centers on still more family relationships. Hotspur’s stand against Henry focuses on Hotspur’s brother-in-law, Mortimer. Mortimer, who fought against the Welsh magician Owen Glendower, was defeated and captured and has married Glendower’s daughter. King Henry pronounces Mortimer a traitor whom he will not ransom. Hotspur, in declaring war on Henry, sees himself as fighting for Mortimer, his wife’s brother. This edition includes: -Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play -Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play -Scene-by-scene plot summaries -A key to the play’s famous lines and phrases -An introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language -An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play -Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books -An annotated guide to further reading Essay by Alexander Leggatt The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu. |
Contents
The Publication of Shakespeares Plays | |
Characters in the Play | |
Textual Notes | |
Sir John Falstaff and Sir John Oldcastle | |
A Modern Perspective | |
Further Reading | |
Key to Famous Lines and Phrases | |
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Common terms and phrases
acting companies actors Anon archbishop audience Bardolph battle blood called CARRIER chronicles cousin coward death devil dost doth Douglas Earl Eastcheap edition England English Enter exits faith father fear fight Folger Shakespeare Library Folio Francis GADSHILL Glendower Globe God’s grace Hal’s hanged Harry Harry Percy hath head hear Henry IV Henry’s honor horse HOSTESS Hotspur Jack John of Lancaster Kate King Henry king’s LADY PERCY London lord means modern Mortimer night noble Northumberland oath Oldcastle perhaps Peto play’s playhouses playwright POINS Prince Hal Prince of Wales printed prisoners prithee quarto rebels Richard Richard II rogue sack Scene Scot sentence sentence elements Shakespeare’s language Shakespeare’s plays Shrewsbury Sir John Falstaff Sir John Oldcastle Sir Walter Blunt soldiers speak speech sweet sword tavern tell texts theater thee There’s thou art thou hast Vernon villain Welsh Westmoreland William Shakespeare Worcester words Zounds