In this task, students research medieval England, and use this contextual information to strengthen their understanding of the text. The task can also be adapted as an introductory task, to familiarise students with the context of the play’s setting before engaging with it.
Henry V is set in medieval England in the year 1415. Research Medieval England and answer the following questions:
- What was life like for women, children, and the poor during this time?
- How did the nobility interact with people of lower social statures?
- What did warfare look like during this time? What kind of armour was used? What were the combat styles and strategies of the period?
- What modes of transportation did people use?
- What was the relationship like between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales?
- What was the Hundred Years’ War?
After your research is complete, write a paragraph explaining what your knowledge of Medieval England contributes to your understanding of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Does it help you to understand the characters and their actions better? What do you understand now that you didn’t understand before about the events or characters in the play?
