Quotes & Possible Essay Questions for Henry IV, Part 2

Quotations:

1. "Your means are very slender, and your waste is great." Lord Chief Justice (1.2)

2. "You that are old consider not the capacities of us that are young . . ." Falstaff (1.2)

3. "God send the companion a better prince! I cannot rid my hands of him." Falstaff (1.2)

4. "Before God, I am exceeding weary." Prince Hal (2.2)

5. "It shall serve among wits of no higher breeding than thine." Prince Hal (2.2)

6. "Thou’lt forget me when I am gone." Falstaff (2.4)

7. "Then, happy low, lie down! / Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." Henry IV (3.1)

8. ". . . if the young dace be a bait for the old pike, I see no reason in the law of nature, but I may snap at him." Falstaff (3.2)

9. "Be it thy course to busy giddy minds / With foreign quarrels . . ." Henry IV (4.4)

10. "Let us take any man’s horses; the laws of England are at my commandment. Blessed are they that have been my friends; and woe to my lord chief justice!" Falstaff (5.3)

11. "I know thee not, old man: fall to thy prayers . . ." Henry V (5.5)

Possible Essay Questions:

1. Discuss the BBC version of Henry IV, Part 2. What view of the play does it present?

2. Discuss Chimes at Midnight as a version (or adaptation) of Shakespeare’s material. What elements has Orson Welles chosen to highlight in his reshaping?

3. Compare and contrast the Falstaffs in the BBC version of the Second Tetralogy and in Chimes at Midnight.

4. Discuss the relationship between Prince Hal and Falstaff, comparing the BBC and Welles versions and also going back to the text.

5. Ted Turner has asked you to direct Henry IV, Part 2 for TNT. Discuss the problems a director faces and indicate how you would solve them.

6. The BBC Second Tetralogy has been called a Henriad by its director, producer, and many critics. Is such a description justified? Why or why not?

7. Discuss Falstaff’s character and his place in Henry IV, Part 2. What points did Shakespeare make by including him?

8. A.D. Nuttall has described Prince Hal as a white Machiavel. Agree or disagree and support your position.

10. Discuss the tragedy of Henry IV. How does Hal add to the tragedy? Does he redeem himself in his father's dying moments?

11. Why are there two parts of Henry IV? Does the second play make any points which the first one did not? Why does Hal go through two reformations?

12. Discuss the rejection of Falstaff. Was Hal right or wrong? How do Hal and Falstaff really feel about each other? How should an ideal version of the rejection scene be staged or filmed? If possible, use examples (good or bad) from the BBC and Welles films.

13. Discuss the use of humour and comic subplots in Henry IV, Part 2.

14. Discuss Henry IV, Part 2 as a history play, indicating how it adheres to the conventions of the genre.

15. Discuss Shakespeare’s view of power politics as evidenced in Henry IV, Part 2.

16. Compare and contrast the two versions of the Second Tetralogy.

17. Compare the versions of Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, including Chimes at Midnight.

18. Discuss the English Shakespeare Company version of Henry IV, Part 2.