King Henry IV, Part I | Short Essay Answer Key

Short Essay Answer Key

1. Who is King Henry the Fourth?

The King, known as Bolingbroke, is an ambitious man who arranged the murder of the previous monarch, Richard II, and took the throne not by birthright, but by force. His kingdom is now is general disarray and civil war is boiling up against him.

2. Who is Henry, Prince of Wales?

Henry, commonly called Prince Hal by his friends, is the eldest son of King Henry IV. He is a complex character who, in the span of this play, finds his place in both the common world and the royal one.

3. Who is Lord John of Lancaster?

John is the younger son of King Henry and brother to Prince Hal. He does not appear often in the play but shows the quality of his character in the Battle of Shrewsbury where he fights with skill and commitment.