Henry V Lesson Plan

How does Shakespeare use the tools of theater to influence pacing in this act?

Students might notice that in this act, the pace changes much more from scene to scene. Shakespeare cuts quickly and abruptly from the chorus to Scene 1 to Scene 2, with very active language that generates urgency and energy. The pace of action in Scene 3 is much slower - here, the characters spend long stretches of text discussing details of the battle, indicating that perhaps the urgency of the battle has let up. Catherine's English lesson in Scene 4 is the slowest moment of the act, devoid of urgent conversation and exclamations. The French court scene is also slow, but we can sense the...