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Henry IV, Part 2 -

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Last updated: Fri, Jul 31, 2015

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Henry IV, Part 2 -

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Act and scene list

Characters in the Play
Entire Play Henry IV, Part 2, continues the story of Henry IV, Part I. Northumberland learns that his son Hotspur is dead, and he rejoins the remaining rebels. When Hotspur’s widow convinces Northumberland to withdraw, the rebels are then led by the archbishop of York and Lords Mowbray and Hastings, who muster at York to confront the king’s forces.Sir John Falstaff, meanwhile, glories in the reputation he has gained by falsely claiming to have killed Hotspur, and he uses his wit and cunning to escape charges by the Lord Chief Justice. Prince Hal and his companion Poins disguise themselves to observe Falstaff, and they hear him insult them both. After they confront him, Prince Hal and Falstaff must return to the wars. The king’s army is again victorious, but more through deceit and false promises than through valor.With the rebellion over, Prince Hal attends his dying father. Hal becomes Henry V, reassures the Lord Chief Justice, and turns away Falstaff, who had expected royal favor.
Induction Following the battle of Shrewsbury (where King Henry and Prince Hal were victorious and Hotspur killed), Rumor spreads the false information that Hotspur was the victor and the King and Prince were killed.
Act 1, scene 1 Northumberland, who had pleaded illness as an excuse for not appearing at the battle of Shrewsbury, learns that his son, Hotspur, is dead and that King Henry’s troops are up in arms. He throws away his crutch and prepares to do battle.
Act 1, scene 2 Sir John Falstaff is confronted by the Lord Chief Justice. Since Falstaff has come away from Shrewsbury with the reputation of a warrior and has been commanded by the king to march to York to join Prince John, the Lord Chief Justice forbears to arrest him for the Gad’s Hill robbery.
Act 1, scene 3 At York, the Archbishop discusses with Mowbray, Hastings, and Lord Bardolph whether they can defeat the king’s forces if their ally Northumberland, whose forces are strongest, does not appear. After comforting themselves by observing that the king’s army is divided so as to fight on three fronts, they set out to win the common people to their cause.
Act 2, scene 1 Sir John is arrested for the debt he owes Mistress Quickly. He persuades her to drop the charges and to lend him an additional ten pounds.
Act 2, scene 2 Learning that Falstaff will be dining that night in Eastcheap, Prince Hal and Poins decide to disguise themselves as waiters and observe him.
Act 2, scene 3 Northumberland is persuaded by his daughter-in-law, Hotspur’s widow, to abandon the other rebels.
Act 2, scene 4 At Mistress Quickly’s inn in Eastcheap, a fight erupts after Falstaff’s ensign, Pistol, insults Doll Tearsheet. The disguised Prince Hal and Poins hear Falstaff’s demeaning comments about them. Hal and Falstaff are summoned to the war.
Act 3, scene 1 An ill and anxious King Henry IV consults with Warwick.
Act 3, scene 2 On his journey through Gloucestershire, Falstaff selects recruits for the army and decides that, on his return, he will fleece his old friend, Justice Shallow.
Act 4, scene 1 The leaders of the rebellion reach Gaultree Forest, where they present their grievances to Westmoreland. After Prince John promises redress for the grievances, the army of the rebellion is dismissed. John then arrests the Archbishop, Mowbray, and Hastings.
Act 4, scene 2 Falstaff meets a rebel knight, who surrenders to him. When Prince John reproaches Falstaff for his late arrival, Falstaff turns over his captive and requests permission to return to London by way of Gloucestershire.
Act 4, scene 3 Just after receiving the good news about the defeat of all the rebel forces, Henry IV falls into a swoon. Prince Hal, sitting at the king’s bedside, thinks him dead and takes the crown. The king berates him, Hal explains and apologizes, and peace is made between them. The king is taken into the Jerusalem Chamber to die.
Act 5, scene 1 Falstaff observes Shallow and his servants in order to be ready to entertain Prince Hal with amusing stories.
Act 5, scene 2 Prince Hal reassures an anxious Lord Chief Justice.
Act 5, scene 3 On the news of Henry IV’s death, Falstaff and Shallow set off joyfully for London.
Act 5, scene 4 Doll Tearsheet is arrested.
Act 5, scene 5 The newly crowned King Henry V keeps his word to the Lord Chief Justice.
Epilogue The speaker apologizes for the play and promises another play with Falstaff in it.

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Induction

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