“Henry V”
Details
Minneapolis Central Library: Room N-202.
There is underground parking beneath the library, off 4th St. S., for about $5. Go in to the Library lobby and then in to the book stacks area. Take the elevator or stairs up to the 2nd floor, then go all the way to the left.
This is a discussion about the play, not a reading or showing of it.
SYNOPSIS (from the Folger Library)
• Henry V begins at the English court, where the young king is persuaded that he has a claim to the throne of France. When the French dauphin, or heir apparent, insults him by sending him tennis balls, Henry launches his military expedition to France.
• Before departing, Henry learns that three of his nobles have betrayed him, and he orders their execution. Meanwhile, his old tavern companions grieve over Sir John Falstaff’s death, and then leave for France.
• Henry and his army lay siege to the French town of Harfleur, which surrenders. The Princess of France, Katherine, starts to learn English, but the French nobles are sure of success against Henry. Instead, Henry’s forces win a great victory at Agincourt.
• After a brief return to England, Henry comes back to France to claim his rights and to set up his marriage to Princess Katherine. The play’s epilogue points out that Henry will die young and that England will as a result lose most of his French territories.
FREE VIDEO PERFORMANCES (YOUTUBE)
• Film (Laurence Olivier) (1944)
• Film (Kenneth Branagh, Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, and Judi Dench) (1989)
LOCAL LIVE PERFORMANCE
• BRICK BY BRICK PLAYERS
Elision Playhouse, 6105 42nd Ave N, Crystal, MN
May 24, 2025 - one day, two shows only: matinee and evening
KANOPY APP
Download the free app. Then link your library account to it. This will allow you free access to many Shakespeare plays.
VIDEO ARTICLE
• Tim Nance (NanceNotes and Narwhals): Shakespeare’s Henry V
ARTICLES
• Wikipedia: “Henry V”
• “About Shakespeare’s Henry V” by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine
• “A Modern Perspective: Henry V” by Michael Neill
• SparkNotes: Henry V - Key Facts
• SparkNotes: Henry V - Full Play Summary
• SparkNotes: Henry V - Full Play Analysis
• Further Reading: Henry V
GENERAL INFORMATION
• The Folger Shakespeare Library has free and paid (includes notes) downloadable texts of all of Shakespeare’s plays.
• The Folger Library: Shakespeare Documented has copies of original documents from Shakespeare’s time.
• PlayShakespeare: The Ultimate Free Shakespeare Research
• Podcast: “Approaching Shakespeare”
• SparkNotes 101: Shakespeare [Excellent synopses of all the plays.]
• Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber [Excellent analysis of all the plays.]
FACEBOOK PAGES
• The Official William Shakespeare Page
• Shakespeare Study Group
• William Shakespeare: His Works and His World
FORUM DISCUSSION
• Shakespeare Staging Problems
APP
• Shakespeare App
“Henry V”