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Act 4, Scene 8
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Henry V, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Kingship
Warfare
England
Appearances
Language
Summary
Analysis
The Chorus asks the audience’s pardon for the play’s omission of events that cannot “in their huge and proper life” be represented on stage. He recounts these events: Henry V travels to Calais and on to London where, though the populace is giddy with pride and his soldiers wish to throw him a victory parade, Henry refuses personal glory and gives full credit to God. The Holy Roman Emperor travels to England on behalf of France to order peace between them. Henry then returns to France, where the act opens.
As usual, the Chorus focuses on the disparity between real events and their diminished portrayal on stage. His account of off-stage action shows that Henry maintains his humble, Christian attitude even in the face of mass crowds eager to celebrate him.
Themes
