Shakespeare's *Henry IV Part One*, a masterpiece of historical drama and its sources

We will look closely at Henry IV, Part One, perhaps the greatest of all English history plays, seeing how Shakespeare transformed his story's sources in chronicle and legend into a triumph of brilliant plot construction and memorable characterisation. We will also consider how this great play ties freewheeling historical fiction to thought-provoking exploration of real historical issues.

Aims

This course aims to: 

• equip you to assess the relationship between Henry IV, Part One, and its main sources
   
• enable you to appreciate the dramatic construction of a great Shakespearean history play
   
• explore how Shakespeare uses historical fiction to comment on real historical issues

Content

A usurper-king is in peril from the imminent rebellion of his powerful former allies; but meanwhile his son and heir, seemingly careless of the fact that the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance, is absent from his father’s court, leading a profligate life with debauched and criminal companions. But is all as it seems? In the first place, will the prince reform his life in time to help his father save his throne? Secondly and more deeply, what suspicions will be raised regarding this superficially simple narrative of moral reformation – and will the high world of the nobility to which the prince is summoned prove any more ‘honourable’ than the lowly world of thieves which he must renounce?

Shakespeare creates this compelling story by combining two distinct narrative strands: on the one hand, the key political events of the reign of Henry IV as recorded in Holinshed’s Chronicles, and on the other, the popular legend that the king’s son (the future Henry V) led a riotous youth before finally reforming, a legend which had figured centrally in an earlier, anonymous play, The Famous Victories of Henry V. We will examine what Shakespeare takes from each source, the dramatic craftsmanship by which he modifies and combines the two stories, and the extraordinary new life he breathes into the hybrid tale, not least by populating it with some of the most memorable and ambivalent characters he had yet created, including the enigmatic Prince Hal, his rival the valiant but naive Hotspur, and (last but not least) the irrepressible ‘tutor of his riots’, Sir John Falstaff.

In looking at how Shakespeare constructs his play, we will gain insight not only into some of the means by which he creates enduringly entertaining drama, but also into how, in the process, he enriches and complicates at every turn our perspective on the story he retells, provoking deep questions by means of historical fiction about the meaning and interpretation of historical fact.

Presentation of the course

The course will be taught as a seminar, using a flexible mix of class discussion, lecture-style presentation, and tutor-led collaborative reading of key scenes and passages from the play.

The course will involve extensive close reading of the set text, so you must bring a copy of Henry IV, Part One to every class, and you should also become as familiar as possible with the play in advance. It is also recommended that you read in advance the sequel, Henry IV, Part Two.

Course sessions

1. Henry IV, Part One  -  Act One
    
2. Henry IV, Part One  -  Act Two
    
3. Henry IV, Part One  -  Act Three
    
4. Henry IV, Part One  -  Act Four
    
5. Henry IV, Part One  -  Act Five

The above is a rough indication of what will be covered each day in class, which you may use as a guide to what parts of the play to reread carefully in preparation for the day’s class.

Learning outcomes

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course. 

The learning outcomes for this course are:

• to be able to assess the relationship between Henry IV, Part One, and its main sources
   
• to appreciate in detail the dramatic construction of a great Shakespearean history play
   
• to understand how Shakespeare uses historical fiction to comment on real historical issues

Required reading

Shakespeare, William, The First Part of King Henry IV, ed. Herbert Weil and Judith Weil (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2007, updated edition) 

Shakespeare, William, The Second Part of King Henry IV, ed. Giorgio Melchiori 
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2007, updated edition) 

You should read both plays in full before arriving, and you should bring a copy of the specified edition of The First Part of King Henry IV to each lecture. The use of other editions is acceptable but be aware that the line numbers may differ significantly from those in the edition used by the lecturer (especially in prose scenes), and that having to navigate these differences in class can make it more difficult to follow the discussions.

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.