Reader’s Guide to “Henry IV, Part 1”

Before beginning Henry IV, Part 1, it is important to note that this is a play written by William Shakespeare. Throughout the text, you will need to look for implications and ambiguous meaning.

On this being a play, know that Henry IV, Part 1 was meant to be seen and performed on stage. As you are reading, try to imagine the characters on stage and how they could deliver each line differently. One rendition of the play can differ by leaps and bounds to another by adding more or less emphasis to a specific piece of dialogue, or by taking artistic license and choosing to add in stage direction or omitting pieces of text.

On this being written by William Shakespeare, understand that it was thought to have been written in 1597. The English language has progressed more than many think since then. There was no standardized English at the time. The same words no longer mean the same thing, wordplay is quite popular in this work, and there are many instances of grammatical ambiguity.

All this contributes to a necessity of individual interpretation. Your take on Henry IV, Part 1 will most likely differ from your classmates. Don’t be afraid to defend your interpretation and why you see it that way; otherwise you will gain nothing from this piece of literature.