Henry V

by

William Shakespeare

Henry V: Prologue Summary & Analysis

Read our modern English translation of this scene.
Summary
Analysis
Before the play begins, the Chorus delivers a prologue wishing for a grand, lifelike portrayal of history and apologizing for the limitations imposed by the stage. He asks audience members to fill out the theater’s meager representations with their own imaginations.
This one-man chorus recalls the group choruses that commented on the action in classical Greek plays. This piece of theater opens with a long-winded apology for theater’s artifice, introducing the theme of appearances.
Themes
Appearances Theme Icon
Quotes
Literary Devices