Two Stars
Just before Hotspur's death, Prince Hal triumphantly informs him that "Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere; / Nor can one England brook a double reign, / Of Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales" (5.4). In this simile, Hal compares himself and Hotspur to stars that cannot occupy the same orbit (therefore justifying Hotspur's death and his own claim to the throne). This quotation showcases Hal's willingness to take up the role as king, as well as his recognition that Hotspur was a formidable opponent.
Henry the Comet
King Henry IV is quite vocal about his disapproval of his son's pastimes throughout the play, as he fears that Hal's public exposure among commoners will limit his popularity as king. In Act Three, he says, "By being seldom seen, I could not stir / But like a comet I was wonder'd at; / That men would tell their children 'This is he' (3.2). Here, King Henry uses a simile to compare himself to a comet shooting across the sky, arguing that by limiting his public appearances in his youth, his kingship has become fascinating for the people of England.
Hotspur's Garden
In describing how the Percy family helped King Henry IV depose King Richard II and assume the crown for himself, Hotspur says they "put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose, / An plant[ed] this thorn, this canker, Bolingbroke" (1.3). Here, Hotspur uses a metaphor to compare King Henry (formerly Henry Bolingbroke) to a "thorn" in the garden of England, portraying Henry as a dangerous threat to Britain rather than its appropriate leader.
The Straightest Plant
When King Henry and Westmoreland debrief about Hotspur's military achievements, Westmoreland says that Hotspur's accomplishments are befitting of a prince. King Henry agrees, calling Hotspur "the very straightest plant" (1.1). Here, King Henry is using a pun on Hotspur's family name (Plantagenet), but he is also using a metaphor to compare Hotspur to the best "plant" in the garden of England. Henry is jealous that Northumberland gets to call Hotspur his son rather than himself, who is stuck with a debauched son who has "grafted" himself to unsavory characters (3.2)
The Body of England
In his opening speech, King Henry IV announces that England will no longer suffer from civil unrest, warfare, or infighting. He compares England to a "mother" who has been "bruised" by the consequences of these conflicts. This was a common metaphor deployed in both early modern and medieval England, in which the country was perceived as a body with the king at its head. By making his version of England a feminine body, specifically a mother, Henry emphasizes the vulnerable state England is in at the time he assumes the throne.
