Henry IV, Part 1

Name: Henry IV, Part 1
Author: William Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part 1 is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1597. It is the second part of a tetralogy, preceded by Richard II and followed by Henry IV, Part 2 and Henry V. The play is set in England during the late Middle Ages and follows the story of King Henry IV, who is struggling to maintain his throne against a rebellion led by the powerful Percy family. The rebellion is led by Henry Percy, nicknamed "Hotspur," and his father, the Earl of Northumberland. Hotspur is joined by his uncle, the Earl of Worcester, and the Welshman Owen Glendower. The play follows the events leading up to the Battle of Shrewsbury, where the forces of King Henry IV and the rebels clash. The play also focuses on the relationship between Henry IV and his son, Prince Hal, who is more interested in carousing with his friend, the low-born Sir John Falstaff, than in assuming his royal duties. The play ends with the death of Hotspur in battle and the reconciliation of Henry IV and Prince Hal.

By William Shakespeare · First published 1597 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Drama, Comedy · 19 chapters · 28,530 words

First lines

Enter HOTSPUR, WORCESTER, and DOUGLAS

HOTSPUR Well said, my noble Scot: if speaking truth In this fine age were not thought flattery, Such attribution should the Douglas have, As not a soldier of this season's stamp Should go so general current through the world.

What this Textopian page supports

Henry IV, Part 1 is listed on Textopian as a play by William Shakespeare, dated 1597 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Play
Author: William Shakespeare
Date: 1597 CE
Language: English
Genres: Historical Fiction, Drama, Comedy, Romance, Tragedy
Length: 28,530 words
Structure: 19 chapters, 1,098 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Henry IV, Part 1?
How does this play by William Shakespeare fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Historical Fiction — The play is based on the life of King Henry IV of England and is set in the late Middle Ages.
Drama — The play is written in a dramatic style and follows the story of King Henry IV and his son, Prince Hal.
Comedy — The play contains many comedic elements, such as the witty banter between characters and the humorous situations they find themselves in.
Romance — The play contains a romantic subplot between the characters of Falstaff and Doll Tearsheet.