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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. After witnessing a poignant scene involving the deaths of two soldiers, what is Exeter's emotional response?

2. What is Williams' response to Henry (who is in disguise) when Henry says that the king would not be ransomed?

3. Henry had seen this duke fall in battle several times and covered in blood so he asks Exeter whether he might still be alive:

4. Which gruesome metaphor does Exeter use to describe the death of one of the English nobility who died at Agincourt?

5. What characteristic does the Constable say has spoiled them, but will now be their friend as they return to the battlefield?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gower tell Pistol after Fluellen beats him and forces him to eat the leek?

2. Explain why Henry's post-war stay in England is cut short.

3. Describe England's celebratory mood as Henry and his army return home from France.

4. Summarize the message from the French king that Montjoy gives to Henry.

5. What does the constable mean when he tells the other soldiers, "straight to horse"?

6. What are some of the conjectures that the constable, Orleans, and Rambures make about Henry and the English?

7. Summarize the comments the boy makes after Pistol leaves with the French soldier to collect the ransom.

8. Describe the death toll of the battle of Agincourt. For example, were the losses lopsided or did both sides suffer fairly equally? How are the dead accounted for in terms of class and social status?

9. Describe what Henry is doing in the English camp the night before the battle of Agincourt.

10. Describe the poignant scene that Exeter witnessed on the battlefield.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare this play to another work with which you are familiar and that is similar to the Life of Henry the Fifth is some way in regards to genre, theme, setting, period, authorship, etc. For example, you might compare this play to another of Shakespeare's plays, a play by one of Shakespeare's contemporaries (Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Kyd, etc.), an epic war drama of any period (300, Braveheart, etc.), or a story set in the medieval or Renaissance period in Europe (The Princess Bride, Le Retour de Martin Guerre, etc.). Try to focus your analysis on the two works' similarities and how understanding of the one helps you appreciate the other.

Essay Topic 2

The societies of England and France in the time the play is set was strongly based on class. Discuss how characters in the play are treated based on their class and consider how class seems to affect how the characters view their world.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how the French language is used in the play and be sure to provide examples. Some questions you may want to consider: Is Shakespeare's use of French an effective rhetorical device; would audience members who do not understand French have a difficult time following and enjoying the play; should a director of the play consider using translations if he or she knows a majority of audience members will not understand the language?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,208 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample