Henry V

    OCR
    GCSE

    King Henry V, formerly the wayward Prince Hal, asserts his claim to the French throne, navigating the complexities of political legitimacy and the moral weight of leadership. Following the rejection of the Dauphin's insult, Henry suppresses domestic treason before leading his 'band of brothers' into France, capturing Harfleur through rhetorical mastery and military siege. The narrative culminates at the Battle of Agincourt, where a famished English army miraculously defeats the superior French forces, validating Henry's divine right and tactical genius. The play concludes with a political marriage to Princess Katherine, uniting the realms, though the Epilogue ominously foreshadows the loss of these gains under Henry VI, complicating the patriotic tone.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • AO1: Develop a critical, informed argument tracking Henry's character arc from the 'wild' Prince Hal to the 'mirror of all Christian kings', utilizing precise textual references.
    • AO2: Analyse Shakespeare's manipulation of form, specifically the shift between blank verse for the court and prose for the Eastcheap characters, and the meta-theatrical function of the Chorus.
    • AO3: Integrate contextual understanding of Elizabethan anxieties regarding succession, the concept of the Divine Right of Kings, and Machiavellian political theory.
    • AO4: Demonstrate high technical accuracy (SPaG) and sophisticated vocabulary; note that comparison is NOT assessed in this specific component.

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have identified the metaphor here; now explain specifically how it shapes the audience's view of Henry's authority"
    • "Your reference to the 'Divine Right' is accurate, but you must link it to specific lines in the speech to gain AO3 marks"
    • "Do not just retell the scene at Harfleur; analyse how the violent imagery contrasts with Henry's earlier rhetoric"
    • "Ensure you explicitly quote from the provided extract; general discussion of the play alone limits your AO2 mark"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • AO1: Develop a critical, informed argument tracking Henry's character arc from the 'wild' Prince Hal to the 'mirror of all Christian kings', utilizing precise textual references.
    • AO2: Analyse Shakespeare's manipulation of form, specifically the shift between blank verse for the court and prose for the Eastcheap characters, and the meta-theatrical function of the Chorus.
    • AO3: Integrate contextual understanding of Elizabethan anxieties regarding succession, the concept of the Divine Right of Kings, and Machiavellian political theory.
    • AO4: Demonstrate high technical accuracy (SPaG) and sophisticated vocabulary; note that comparison is NOT assessed in this specific component.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Allocate 5-10 minutes to annotate the extract and plan the links to the wider text before writing
    • 💡Ensure the introduction explicitly addresses the 'Explore' command, establishing a thesis about the character or theme
    • 💡Select 2-3 'memory moments' from elsewhere in the play (e.g., the tennis balls scene, the St Crispin's Day speech) to support the extract analysis
    • 💡Integrate context (AO3) into the analysis of language (AO2) rather than writing a separate history paragraph

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Treating the extract in isolation without making significant links to the wider play
    • Descriptive narration of the plot (e.g., the events of Agincourt) rather than analysis of dramatic method
    • Bolting on historical facts about the real Henry V that are irrelevant to Shakespeare's dramatic construct
    • Ignoring the function of the Chorus and treating the play as a purely realistic historical document

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Explore
    How does Shakespeare present
    In what ways
    Discuss
    To what extent

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