... to be heard. This is of course is a political gesture, so as to appear willful and compassionate. Yet when the messenger reveals the "tun of treasure" to be tennis balls, Henry is enraged, "We will in France, by God's grace, play a set. Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard" (1.2.262-263). With this offering, the Dauphin ... fighting for him, even though he can supply both names and titles for the French nobles who died on the other side. The fictional scene before the battle exposes the real dependency that fifteenth and sixteenth century monarchs had on the common soldiers w...

• Word Count: 1885
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... interests in annexing lands in France that England had previously held. The messenger states that his master wishes to trade a "ton of treasure", which turns out to be a box of tennis balls. Henry is furious and quickly launches into a masterful speech in which he condemns the master's action, saying that he will have quite a match with France when he enters the ... drunk when he was raving against the invasion. The conspirators urge Henry to punish the man, but Henry concedes to release the man. This event, though probably fictional, shows the real humility of Henry that made him a her...

• Word Count: 2049
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... gain respect as a king, so that he isn't treated in the same way as he had been in the beginning of the play when the French Dauphin had sent him tennis balls as compensation for the French throne. We know from the previous scenes that the king is a deeply religious man: he shows us this by consulting with bishops before deciding ... to go to war with France. In this scene however his real skill is as a manipulator as he threatens to allow his troops to carry out atrocities if necessary to gain control of Harfleur. However as an audience we know the king ... about being an illegitimate...

• Word Count: 2119
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School