This document provides a summary of William Shakespeare's play King Henry IV Part 1. It includes background information on the plot, characters, and historical context. The plot involves King Henry IV's plans to cleanse his conscience from usurping the throne being interrupted by a rebel uprising. His son, Prince Hal, is initially a drunkard but decides to join the army and defeat the rebels, gaining his father's respect. The main conflict is resolved when Prince Hal slays the rebel leader Hotspur in battle.

3. General Background Information.
• The play is King Henry the IV Part 1.
• Historical Play.
• Set in England in the years 1402-1403.
• Prince Hal is the protagonist.

4. Plot Synopsis.
King Henry IV is recent to the throne and is
planning to cleanse his conscience when there is
a rebel uprising. His son, Prince Hal, is a low life
drunkard. He decides to earn respect from his
father and become a general in the army. He
vanquishes the rebel leader, Hotspur, and gains
the respect from his father.

5. Conflict
• The conflict for King Henry IV is ‘Man against
Man’ (Prince Hal vs. Hotspur) and ‘Man
against Society’ (Prince Hal when he is drunk
and robbing people).
• The main conflict is the rebel uprising vs. the
English army.
• Prince Hal resolves the conflict by slaying the
rebel leader, Hotspur.
• Another conflict is the conflict of guilt within
King Henry IV after killing Richard II.

6. Plot Structure-Beginning
• Exposition/Introduction: King Henry talks of
his trip to the Holy land but cannot go
because of the rebel uprising. Also he wishes
that his son, Prince Hal, could be more like
Hotspur, a brave and noble soldier(but later
leads the rebel uprising).
• Exciting Force: In this play there are two plots
running simultaneously; the rebel uprising and
Prince Hal becoming a hero from a slob.

7. Plot Structure-Middle
• Conflict/rising action: This would be the rebel
uprising and Hal realising that foolishness is
not the way to being a good Prince/King.
• Turning Point: One would be Hotspur turning
against King Henry IV and joining the rebels
and Hal joining the army.
• Catastrophe/Falling Action: Hal and Henry
teaming up and planning to kill Hotspur.

8. Plot Structure-End
• Resolution: The resolution is Prince Hal killing
Hotspur at the battle of Shrewsbury.
• Denouement/Untangling: The untangling is
Prince Hal becoming a hero from a low life
drunkard.
• Comic Relief: is Sir John Falstaff, Hals not-so-
smart friend who is the comedy throughout
the play. For example he plays dead on a
battlefield.

10. Character-Beginning
• Prince Hal is a low life drunkard who just
drinks and steals at the start of the play.
• He has a bad relationship with his father
because his father wished he could be more.
He has many friends.
• He has no motivation at the beginning but
seeks to be more throughout the play.
• He behaves as the ‘top dog’ of his group.

11. Character-Development
• Prince Hal changes from a low life slob at the
start of the play to a Hero and noble prince by
the end.
• Prince Hal is influenced by Hotspur, who is a
local hero. Hal decides to be more like him.
• Hal effects the change by leading the attack
against the rebels.
• Prince Hal keeps the conflict going, and also
ends it but does not necessarily start it.

12. Character-End
• Prince Hal is a Nobel, respected person by the
end of the play.
• Hal has achieved great things and earned
respect from his father.

13. Quotes…
• King Henry: “ Brake off our business for the
Holy Land” meaning he wants to cleanse
himself of guilt with a trip to the Holy Land.
• Prince Hal: “ Thou art so fat-witted with
drinking of old sack and unbuttoning thee
after supper.” this is Hal Insulting Falstaff in a
friendly manner.
• Prince Hal: “Who, I rob? I a thief? not I, by my
faith.” This is Hal denying being a robber

14. Quotes
KING HENRY IV
“Stay, and breathe awhile:
Thou hast redeem'd thy lost opinion,
And show'd thou makest some tender of my life,
In this fair rescue thou hast brought to me.”
PRINCE HAL
“O God! they did me too much injury
That ever said I hearken'd for your death.
If it were so, I might have let alone
The insulting hand of Douglas over you,
Which would have been as speedy in your end
As all the poisonous potions in the world
And saved the treacherous labour of your son.”
This is a conversation between Hal and King Henry
IV where King Henry expresses his respect for Hal
as Hal has redeemed himself, from a low life slob
to a Hero.

15. Bibliography-Websites
• www.wikipoedia.org/wiki/Henry_IV_Part_1
Synopsis and other background info.
• www.shakespeare-online.com Character and
background info.
• www.absoluteshakespeare.com General info.
• http://www.shmoop.com/henry-iv-part-1/
Quotes.

16. Bibliography-Books
• SHAKESPEARE, William, The Complete Work
Of William Shakespeare.1996 Wordworth
Limited. Quotes.
• WALTER, J.H, King Henry IV Part One.
Heinemann Educational ltd. Quotes.