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William Shakespeare’s plays are generally categorized in anthologies either as comedies, tragedies, or histories. Most people have a pretty good sense of what a comedy or a tragedy is, but what is a history play? How is a history play structured, and what purposes does it serve? Why might contemporary people have gone to see one, and why would they be performed today?

In ENGL 421, we will study a group of four linked plays, sometimes referred to as the Second Tetralogy, that Shakespeare wrote probably between 1595 and 1599: Richard II, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, and Henry V. These plays tell the story of a turbulent period in English history from 1399–1415, during which a king was deposed and murdered by his cousin, the new king had to survive rebellions and betrayals while his son had to prove himself to be a worthy successor, culminating in a seemingly suicidal invasion of France that resulted in a stunning military victory still remembered today. Although these plays are not as often performed now as some of the comedies and tragedies, they are among Shakespeare’s finest plays, and include some of his most memorable characters. One in particular, Sir John Falstaff, is probably Shakespeare’s greatest creation: he was so popular with Shakespeare’s audience that he became the subject of his own play.

This course will explore how each play selects events and people from historical sources to create a narrative that makes sense, allowing audiences to understand complex historical events in terms of plausible characters who do things for comprehensible reasons. We will also examine how these plays work together to tell a larger story about English nationhood and political power. In addition to primary texts, we will also discuss a couple of important critical readings, whose purpose is to invite students to think about issues that are key to understanding the plays, but also to assessing what Shakespeare Studies might have to contribute to the modern world.