Henry V
Theater in Focus: Henry V
King Henry V strives to gain respect during England’s growing unrest, and he takes his father’s advice to turn the people’s attention toward foreign conquests, resolving to make a claim to the French crown. The conquest not only turns a divided realm into a unified nation — it secures Henry’s place as one of England’s greatest warrior kings.
Register below to bring the epic conclusion of Shakespeare's Henriad to your classroom, and then explore the free resources below.
Educator resources
Play Guide
Dig deeper into Henry V
Table of Contents
Plan your learning experience
Curriculum & Pause Points
Your guide to the film
Activity library
Temperature Check
Warm-up activity: Explore Shakespeare and Henry V
Shakespeare Embodied: "O for a Muse of Fire"
Speak and embody the words of the chorus
Listen and Respond: Shakespeare in a Diverse World
Reflect on how Shakespeare speaks to our diverse society
Speaking Shakespeare: Scansion and Meter
Dive into Shakespearean verse
Creative Activity: Write Your Own Iambic Poem
Try out iambic pentameter
Comic Wordplay: The Taming of the Shrew
Speak and analyze comic wordplay
Social Hierarchies: Henry V
Analyze and categorize social hierarchies in Henry V
Social Hierarchies: Church vs. State
Reflect on the relationship between church and state in Henry V
Debate: Claim to the Throne
Analyze and interpret the context of the Hundred Years’ War
Image Analysis: Henry V
Use iconography to analyze and embody images from Henry V
Stage a Scene: The Captains
Analyze textual and directorial choices and adapt a scene
Creative Activity: Character Profile
Meet the characters of Henry V
Analyze and Visualize: The King’s Responsibility
Close reading to analyze arguments in a key thematic debate
Connecting Past and Present: War and Loss
Reflect on the conflicts of war represented in Henry V
Writing Activity: Holding Out for a Hero
Argue for or against the idea of Henry as a “hero”
Exploring Nationalism: Leagues and Leeks
Scrutinize nationalist symbols in Henry V and in the modern world
Design a Costume: Henry V
Design a costume for a character from Henry V
Henry V the Musical!
Reimagine Henry V as a jukebox musical
What Happens Next?: Henry V
Imagine your own sequel to the play