Henry VI, Part 2 | Study Guide

William Shakespeare

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Henry VI, Part 2 | Infographic

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Check out this Infographic to learn more about William Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 2. Study visually with character maps, plot summaries, helpful context, and more.

henry-vi-part2-william-shakespeareHenry VI, Act IV, Scene 9 as never subject long’d to be a kingAs I do long and wish to be a subject!Sources: British Library, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Royal Shakespeare CompanyCopyright © 2017 Course Hero, Inc.Class ConflictAs the nobles fight among themselves, the commons grow restless.What Makes a King?Popularity helps, but a loyal army backs up claims of legitimacy.Saintly KingPious, peaceable Henry VI fails to defend himself from his foes.ThemesMachiavellian leading lady; the real power behind England’s throneQueen MargaretHenry VI’s uncle and Lord Protector of England; loyal but unable to protect the kingDuke of GloucesterRival claimant to the English throne; does not openly oppose the king until the endDuke of YorkEngland’s hapless but well-intentioned ruler; a nonviolent man in a violent ageKing Henry VIMain CharactersAlong with its companion plays, Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 2 is an early example of a trend that spanned his career: reinterpreting English history as national myth. In writing his history plays, Shakespeare frequently borrowed from the accounts of 16th-century chroniclers Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed.WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE1564–1616AuthorAlthough England and France are now at peace, King Henry VI’s troubles on the home front have only worsened. After instigating a popular uprising, the Duke of York makes his bid for the English throne, marking the beginning of the Wars of the Roses.A Kingdom Torn from WithinOVERVIEWThen, when all seems safe, the Duke of York claims the crown for himself.Act V: The War BeginsHenry’s rule is challenged by popular uprisings in England and Ireland.Acts III-IV: The Commons RevoltSurrounded by mutinous noblemen, King Henry VI seeks solace in religion.Acts I-II: Living on a PrayerEnglishOriginal Language1590–92Years WrittenWilliam ShakespeareAuthorHenry VI, Part 2DramaPlay
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