The depiction of England and France within William Shakespeare’s "Henry V."
The depiction of England and France within William Shakespeare’s

Author: Rolf Reimbold

Publisher: GRIN Verlag

Published: 2012-03-26

Total Pages: 26

ISBN-13: 3656158959

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Seminar paper from the year 2012 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, University of Würzburg (Neuphilologisches Institut), course: Shakespeare’s History Plays, language: English, abstract: 1. Introduction “Normans, but bastard Normans, Norman bastards!” (Shakespeare, Arden 3.5.10) This exclamation of the Duke of Britain when he thinks of the English invader King Henry and his approaching army is a testimony of the cordial dislike of the French towards their English enemy. Within Henry V there are many more instances of the French being prejudiced against the English but also vice versa. However, the quotation above does not only contain a token of the French aversion against their opponent in the Hundred Years War – the setting of this history play by William Shakespeare – but also alludes to the fact that the two nations are somehow interwoven – a circumstance that will be dealt with later on. Within this paper on Shakespeare’s Henry V, I will take a closer look at the ways in which the two nations describe themselves and are described by others, as well as at the textual evidence that sheds light on some of the national prejudices that the English and the French have against each other. Finally, I will search for those points in the play that indicate a sort of closeness between the two parties. Concerning the choice of words, it has to be mentioned that, for the sake of simplicity, the terms England and the corresponding adjective English shall be synonymous with the totality of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, the four peoples that are fighting together under King Henry against the French.

The Depiction of England and France Within William Shakespeare's Henry V
The Depiction of England and France Within William Shakespeare's Henry V

Author: Rolf Reimbold

Publisher:

Published: 2012-03

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13: 9783656159391

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Seminar paper from the year 2012 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, University of Wurzburg (Neuphilologisches Institut), course: Shakespeare's History Plays, language: English, abstract: 1. Introduction "Normans, but bastard Normans, Norman bastards " (Shakespeare, Arden 3.5.10) This exclamation of the Duke of Britain when he thinks of the English invader King Henry and his approaching army is a testimony of the cordial dislike of the French towards their English enemy. Within Henry V there are many more instances of the French being prejudiced against the English but also vice versa. However, the quotation above does not only contain a token of the French aversion against their opponent in the Hundred Years War - the setting of this history play by William Shakespeare - but also alludes to the fact that the two nations are somehow interwoven - a circumstance that will be dealt with later on. Within this paper on Shakespeare's Henry V, I will take a closer look at the ways in which the two nations describe themselves and are described by others, as well as at the textual evidence that sheds light on some of the national prejudices that the English and the French have against each other. Finally, I will search for those points in the play that indicate a sort of closeness between the two parties. Concerning the choice of words, it has to be mentioned that, for the sake of simplicity, the terms England and the corresponding adjective English shall be synonymous with the totality of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, the four peoples that are fighting together under King Henry against the French.

Henry V
Henry V

Author: Teresa Cole

Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited

Published: 2015-03-15

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13: 1445636956

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The life of the warrior king and the Battle of Agincourt 1415

The History Plays
The History Plays

Author: William Shakespeare

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Published: 2014-10-28

Total Pages: 987

ISBN-13: 1466884363

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It is part of Shakespeare's extraordinary contribution to our culture that, through his dramas based on English history, he played a unique part in forming our view of ourselves and our nationhood. From King John, in which through Magna Carta the king's absolute power was first limited and the people's freedoms assured, to--almost in his own lifetime--Henry VIII, Shakespeare wrote a series of ten plays portraying the course of history. It represents almost one third of his entire dramatic output. The overarching theme of these plays is the vital importance of the sovereign's legitimacy if the nation is to be stable. They cover revolutionary times and events--the deposition and murder of Richard II, the Wars of the Roses, the usurping of the throne by Richard III--but they always affirm the principle that a legitimate king, circumscribed by an agreed constituion, is the only proper guarantee of the nation's liberties. There are many other ways in which Shakespeare's patriotism has become definitive. In Henry V's St. Crispin's Day speech to the troops before Agincourt, for example, or John of gaunt's 'scepter'd isle' speech, a sense of Englishness is expressed which still lives in English minds today. The E;izabethan's pride in nationhood was perfectly embodied by Shakespeare, but the poetry of it transcends its own time. In this edition the history plays are brought together with a large group of illustrations which echo and amplify their themes. Gloriously vivid images of England's story are presented here, putting the great plays in a magnificent setting.

King Lear
King Lear

Author: Jeffrey Kahan

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2008-04-18

Total Pages: 385

ISBN-13: 1135973652

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Is King Lear an autonomous text, or a rewrite of the earlier and anonymous play King Leir? Should we refer to Shakespeare’s original quarto when discussing the play, the revised folio text, or the popular composite version, stitched together by Alexander Pope in 1725? What of its stage variations? When turning from page to stage, the critical view on King Lear is skewed by the fact that for almost half of the four hundred years the play has been performed, audiences preferred Naham Tate's optimistic adaptation, in which Lear and Cordelia live happily ever after. When discussing King Lear, the question of what comprises ‘the play’ is both complex and fragmentary. These issues of identity and authenticity across time and across mediums are outlined, debated, and considered critically by the contributors to this volume. Using a variety of approaches, from postcolonialism and New Historicism to psychoanalysis and gender studies, the leading international contributors to King Lear: New Critical Essays offer major new interpretations on the conception and writing, editing, and cultural productions of King Lear. This book is an up-to-date and comprehensive anthology of textual scholarship, performance research, and critical writing on one of Shakespeare's most important and perplexing tragedies. Contributors Include: R.A. Foakes, Richard Knowles, Tom Clayton, Cynthia Clegg, Edward L. Rocklin, Christy Desmet, Paul Cantor, Robert V. Young, Stanley Stewart and Jean R. Brink