戏剧历史课件.pptVIP

Shakespeares Histories BELINDA Introduction Shakespeare wrote ten plays about English kings (from John to Henry VIII), as well as several plays based upon Roman history (the most famous of these are Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra). The English history plays reflect the nationalism of England under Queen Elizabeth. （sovereign power） Common Features of the Shakespeare Histories: Set against Medieval English history. Not historically accurate. Provides social commentary. Explores the social structure of the time The 6 plays classified as history are as follows: King John Richard II Henry IV, Part I Henry IV, Part II Henry V Henry VIII Henry IV (plot) The plot between the troubled realm of Henry IVs court and the vulgar world of the tavern in which Sir John Falstaff presides over his group of rascals and joined by Prince Henry The plot encompasses rebellion and the struggle for power. Prince Hal and Falstaff join the fighting and Hal kills the rebel Hotspur. The rebels are finally defeated and peace reigns. Hal becomes King Henry quotation He will give the devil his due The better part of valour is discretion Characters, Technique and Theme Henry IV is in many ways a study of contrasting characters, including Harry, Hotspur, Falstaff, and King Henry and?does not really revolve around a particular protagonist Henry IV explores the qualities of a king (Henry possesses a certain regal grace; By contrast, Prince Harry has spent a great deal of his time fraternizing with commoners; Hotspur is rash, crude, impatient, and violent, not a viable candidate ) The play contains many instances of symmetry (Hotspur’s and his uncle’s similar complaints about Henry IV; the contrast between Harry and Hotspur; the contrast between Henry and Falstaff) The Nature of Honor (honor is merely a lofty reflection of an individual’s personality and conscience:For the complex Prince Harry, honor seems to be associated with noble behavior, ) Richard II (pl