The History of King Henry the Fourth Part 1 Quotation Workshop
For each of the quotations assigned, the groups in charge should determine the following:

1. Who is speaking to whom
2. When in the play the speech takes place (act, scene, line)
3. What it means in its immediate context
4. How it "resonates" with the play as a whole

The purpose of these quotations is to help you think about the play, both microscopically and macroscopically. Read these passages carefully. Identify where they come from in the play and who is speaking to whom. Then, determine what the passages mean within their specific location: what is the character saying, what does it mean at the moment? Last of all, think about what the passage means in terms of the play as a whole: does it have a larger significance when you think about those words against the backdrop of the whole play? Is the passage prophetic? Ironic? Illuminating? All of the above? Something else?

Quotation Two
2) Percy is but my factor, good my lord,
To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf;
And I will call him to so strict account
That he shall render every glory up,
Yea, even the slightest worship of his time,
Or I will tear the reckoning from his heart.
This, in the name of God, I promise here,
The which if he be pleased I shall perform,
I do beseech your majesty my salve
The long-grown wounds of my intemperature;
If not, the end of life cancels all bonds,
And I will die a hundred thousand deaths
Ere break the smallest parcel of this vow.

Group 2: P.C. Paul, Holly S. Daugherty, Robert Yu, Amber Shipp, Benjamin G. Field-Pickering, Minmin Bao
Questions:
1) Who is speaking to whom
2) When in the play the speech takes place (act, scene, line)
3) What it means in its immediate context
4) How it "resonates" with the play as a whole.
5) Look up words

1) Prince Harry is speaking to his father, King Henry IV.

2) 3.2.147-159 The dialog takes place in King Henry's palace in London. Only Prince Harry and King Henry are on the stage.

3) Harry has been summoned by his father, King Henry, to the palace. Henry begins with a long lecture and with sadness and anger describes his grievances with his son. Fist Henry describes how he is displeased with Harry's actions of carousing with the commoners on the wrong side of the tracks. Henry continues by explaining that Harry should emulate Henry's actions by only making rare appearances within the community and remain aloof with the commoners. This will gain the people's respect. Harry's current actions emulate the actions and behavior of Richard II, who, Henry over through from the throne. Henry cites that it was Richard's carousing that caused him to loose respect with the people and allowed Henry to take the throne. Harry listens to his father allowing him to vent his frustration. Harry interjects one sentence within the father's rant where Harry concedes to yield to his father. Henry continues. Henry then explains that it is Hotspur, even though he is not of Henry's bloodline is the more likely successor to the throne than Harry because of his qualities and valor. In the last few sentences, Henry finally tells Harry what is troubling him most. Henry is afraid that Harry hates him and if offered money by his enemies will join forces with them against his father. Harry has waited all this time and has held his tongue during his father's rant.

Harry delivers this quote with heart-felt passion and the language is finely crafted, refined, and exhausted. The language or the speech Harry delivers is that of a noble man who shall prove to the King and the people through his deeds and actions that he is the most worthy candidate for succession to the throne. Many of Harry's words demonstrate respect and kinship with his father. Harry in Present Day English says the following:

Percy (Hotspur) is but my errand boy/go-for, my good lord (I am on your side),
I intend to build and amass Hotspur's glorious deeds for my own purposes;
And I will account for each and every one of his deeds
I will make Hotspur give up every sliver of admiration he has earned to me,
Yes, even the honor of his life,
Or I will rip it out of his heart by force on the battlefield.
I swear to God this is what I will do to Hotspur,
If this is what will please you, father,
My action should act as a healing ointment
Healing the long-grown wounds I have inflicted upon you through my disorder;
If not, I shall die trying on the battlefield separating us forever,
And I will die a hundred thousand deaths in Hell
If I break one iota of my promise to you.

Shakespeare shows us King Henry is deeply moved by Harry's speech because the King responds with only two short sentences. The second sentence the most important in which Henry tells Harry he shall take charge of a military command.

4) Harry's speech is the climax and the turning point of the play. Harry throws off his vagabond ways and now assumes the role of one fit of being an heir to the throne. From this point forward, Harry's language is never the same as it was before this point. When Harry speaks, he commands respect. Even in quick-witted dialogs with Falstaff there is a change. I think even Falstaff recognizes this and correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't Falstaff somewhere latter on reveal to the audience that Falstaff envisions that Harry when he does become king, Harry will eventually turn on him? I am not clear on this.

5) factor=perpetrator
to engross up=to get together, collect from all quarters
glorious deeds=boastful deeds
render=give back
reckoning=the action of rendering to another an account of one's self or one's conduct
The which if he (King Henry) be pleased I shall perform
beseech=supplicate, entreat, implore
?salve=healing ointment for application to wounds or sores?
intemperature=lack of moderation or restraint of action or passion
ere=?
parcel=an item of an account; a detail, a particular, a point
?vow=A solemn affirmation or asseveration? ~P.C. Paul

3. In its immediate context this quote is about Prince Henry, or Hal, vowing to make up for all the dishonorable things that he has done. He proposes to do this by defeating Hotspur. He makes this vow to his father, and it facilitates their reconciliation. --Holly Daugherty

Group 5: Andrea D. Clarke, Laura M. Duffy, Gursimran K. Grewal, Jessica D. Richardson, Rebecca L. Stern
This quote is from Act 3 scene 2 lines 146-159. It is taken from the end of a monologue given by Prince Hal. He is responding to his father, the King. King Henry has just expressed how he is disappointed in Harry and how he is scared that he might one day revolt against him. The King talks about Hotspur, Douglas and Mortimer discussing how they are his enemies and they are planning to fight against him. He expresses how Percy is the same age as Prince Henry but has done a lot more. He has fought in battles and has won respect of many people. Prince Henry in this quotation is discussing how "Percy is but my factor" or in other words 'agent' as stated in the Norton. He tells his father how he is going to make Percy exchange all his glorious deeds for all of his bad ones. He swears to God that he will do this and asks his father to heal his wounds caused by his bad behavior. --- Rebecca

(3.2. 146 - 59) King Henry exhorts young Prince Harry about his inexcusable behavior. The prince is trying his very best to reassure his father that there is no place for treachery in his heart! Quite the opposite, in fact. Harry wants to meet up with Hotspur on the battlefield in order to hold a duel. This duel will wipe away all of Harry's transgressions and will humble Hotspur. Hotspur's real name is Henry Percy (but that would have been confusing to us readers), so he is conveniently called Hotspur. When Prince Harry says that 'Percy' is his 'factor', I think that he means he has used this inevitable duel with Percy as a way to redeem himself in the eyes of his father's court. What glory and fame had belonged to Percy/Hotspur before will now belong to Harry. "The long-grown wonders of my intemperature" Harry refers to is the looooong list of imperfections and mischievous ways that he often prefers. However, Harry is tell his father that he desires to change and be more princely in the future. The fight with Hotspur is almost like a test. ~Laura

This quote is in Act 3, scene ii, lines 146- 159 and is being said by Prince Henry to the King. The King has just told the prince how he feels about his behavior, and how he can not even say that he is his father. The prince is now reassuring his dad that he will live up to his name. He explains that Percy is basically working for him and he is bringing him his glories, and he will make sure he does. He will have to surrender all the glories he is bringing, it doesn't matter how big or small, or he will take it himself from his heart. He swears to God that if God lets him do all these things, then he is sorry for the past "bad" years of his life. If the king doesn't forgive him, then death will. He would die many deaths than to break the promise he has just made to the king. -Simran

I agree with the above comments, this passage takes place in (3.2.146-159) and is Prince Henry's response to the kings concerns about his recent behavior. He ensures his fathers that Percy is working in his behalf and that he doesn't need to worry, because Prince Hal will make sure that Percy gives him all that is his. He says that he has to either hand him all the benefits that he has gained or Prince Hal will go and fight him and take them from him. Her he is showing to his father that he wont be a let down to the king or the kingdom and that he is willing to fight and stand up for what he believes to be rightfully his. Prince Harry is hoping that his plans for getting what is his and taking charge can be a way that he can show his father that he is willing and ready to one day take the throne. He makes this promise to his father and also says that if he doesn't go through with it then he would rather be killed. By making this statement he is making it known to the reader and to his father that he is very serious. -Andrea

Quotation One
By heaven, methinks it were an easy leap
To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon,
Or dive into the bottom of the deep,
Where fathom-line could never touch the ground,
And pluck up drowned honour by the locks,
So he that doth redeem her thence might wear,
Without corrival, all her dignities.

Group One: Bryan D. Dalina, Christopher Fenlon, Adrienne V. Hawkins, Thomas Noble, Katherine M. Schmitt
Questions:
1) who is speaking to whom
2) when in the play the speech takes place (act, scene, line)
3) what it means in its immediate context
4) how it "resonates" with the play as a whole.
5) Look up words

1) Hotspur to Northumberland and Worcester
2) 1.3.199-205
3) Hotspur is saying that honor sometimes requires difficult tasks- but that once done a person 'has' honor and can prove it, and 'show' it without competition.
4) Well, if he's talking about carrying around honor, and assuming its presence, he could definitely be talking about how Henry assumed his kingship, and how they now with to replace him and simply make Mortimer king. Sort of, talking about the fleetingness of easy prestige and honor. You have it, and suddenly you're great, with no competitor, but people tend to forget about how you got it.

"corrival" competitor.
"leap" both a jump, and 'an abrupt movement or change, a sudden transition'
"deep" the deep part of the sea --Katherine

This is a classic example of Hotspur shooting off at the mouth yet again. He really seems to value honor in the form of something he can go get: "pluck bright honor from the pale-faced moon"; "dive into the bottom of the deep." It's almost as if he views honor as a task to be completed, like a war. This speaks to the heart of his beef with King Henry, because Hotspur doesn't feel that King Henry went after his kingship; he had to get help, and from Hotspur no less. Hotspur always wants to settle his differences on the battlefield, or prove that he is a worthy competitor. This passage is a buildup for readers to the actual battle at Shrewsbury, because it gives a hint of what Hotspur will be like as a fighter for the rebellion. --Chris Fenlon

So we're supposed to comment on the quote AND write a report? Isn't that just doing the same thing twice? How bout if I just post my quotation report on the hamlet page? Would that help anybody? I don't see the point of this, in case you didn't notice.

I'm very disconcerted that I don't see my comment on this page, because I'm certain that I made one about how Hotspur is making honor an object that you can go and "pluck", and I'm sure I talked about this in class....but I'll make a link to this page anyway. --Adrienne

Hotspur's honor differs drastically from the honor that Prince Harry shows throughout the majority of the play. In the battle, however, it's interesting how similar they are in regards to honor, especially when the wounded Prince comes to his father's aid and gives Hotspur the deathblow. --Chris Fenlon

Group 4: Zachary M. Dow, Dorothy E. Garrett, Shanna M. Kibler, Sarah S. Sood, Fatimah Walee
In this scene, Hotspur is talking to Northumberland and Worcester. The quote comes from Act I Scene 3, lines 199-205 (I think). I'll post more later, I just wanted to get us started...I'm supposed to be working right now! ~Shanna

Hotspur and Northumberland are talking with each other about the wrongs that have been done to them, and the hatchlings of the rebellion are starting to come forth. In the quote Hotspur is talking to Worcester about honor, and that he doesn't find a problem with snatching or stealing honor, even if it means going to the moon or to the bottom of the sea to salvage it. In other words he will do whatever it takes -Zach

I think Hotspur's also saying that once you've earned honor then no one will contest it..." corrival" means competitor. -Dorothy

I think that this quote is written also to emphasize Hotspurr's obsession with honor. He's quite young in the story, yet is mad with this concept. --Sarah S

Quotation Three
Counterfeit? I lie, I am no counterfeit. To die is to be a counterfeit, for he is but the counterfeit of a man who hath not the life of a man. But to counterfeit dying when a man thereby liveth is to be no counterfeit, but the true and perfect image of life indeed. The better part of valour is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life.

Group 3: Mark D. Denz, Holly L. Johnson, Shira M. Pilarski, Eric J. Smith, Arthur T. Williamson
This quote is from Act 5, scene 4, line 113-118 spoken by Falstaff. Thanks to group six for this information. Falstaff has just previously faked being dead to get out of a fight with Douglas. Prince Harry has just seen Falstaff and he thinks he's dead. He remarks he will have Falstaff embowelled soon. Here, Falstaff talks to himself. Prior to this quote, Falstaff remarks that he had to fake his death or the Scotsman would have killed him. He says "Sblood" which is short for "God's blood" which was a way of swearing back then. It shows that he was angry and disappointed with himself. However, being such a con man he doesn't let himself remain disappointed for long. So, he rationalizes what he has just done. He's saying that dying is not honorable. Doing whatever it takes to stay alive is honorable. This reminds of the old saying "he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day." Furthermore, where Falstaff says "The better part of valour is discretion.." , I think he is saying that all these people who are celebrated as being brave, just take precautions and make sure the odds are in their favor.

All this is just a first stab at this quote. What do you guys think? Holly

Group 6: Jasmine L. Curry, Meghan M. Fay, Heidi A. Harrison, Amy Lynn Herstein, Sarah A. Melchior, Emily H. Saltsman
This is in Act 5, scene 4, lines 113-118. Falstaff is speaking. -Sarah

It is interesting that Falstaff uses the word counterfeit. That word applies to many people in the play one being Prince Henry. He does not have the guts to stand up to his posse and tell them he doesn't really want to steal and he also decides to become just like them and use this scheme to make him seem like he is a good king to everyone. Falstaff himself is a counterfeit person he walks around quoting scriptures and talking about God when all he really is a thief and a liar. --Jasmine Curry

That's true, Falstaff is rather counterfeit when he quotes the scriptures, applying them to stealing. Falstaff has just gotten up from pretending to be dead on the battlefield. He begins by saying that he was counterfeit dead. Then he says, no, I wasn't lying or being cowardly: Dead men are counterfeit men because they resemble men, but are not living and are therefore pretend men. He says, actually, I am the perfect image of what living is or should be. He faked death to save his own life. He had enough courage (valour) to decide (have the discretion) when to counterfeit death. In typical Falstaff fashion, he is excusing his cowardly behavior and instead praising himself as a hero. --Meghan Fay

Both of you make good points. I think that being "Counterfeit" is one concept that is important in this play. In some ways Henry is somewhat of a "counterfeit" king. He was not the chosen Heir to the throne, he took it over. Prince Harry is also a "Counterfeit" bum. He realizes that he does nothing with his life; especially not what a prince should be doing but knowingly acts like a bum as part of his plan. I also think that it is interesting that for everyone in the play who is somehow or does something "counterfeit", it seems to work out for the best. In my examples above Henry gets to be king, Harry's plan to make him seen as a better prince works and Falstaff gets to live. This of course excludes Hotspur being a counterfeit man, as Falstaff puts is. Although one might say it was "better/more honorable" for Hotspur to die in battle than be executed by the King. I think that the most obviously "counterfeit" person, as you guys mentioned, says this line to give it more meaning throughout the play. If Harry were just to call Falstaff counterfeit for pretending to be dead, I don't think the quote would mean as much. Plus it gives a little comic relief after all the killing and death. -Sarah

The Oxford Dictionary online mentions that the word counterfeit also relates to: "fake", "brummie", "bogus", "snide", and "supposititious". As an adjective it is defined as " made in exact imitation of something valuable with intention to deceive or defraud."; as a noun it means, "a forgery; and as a verb "to imitate fraudulently, pretend to feel or possess a emotion." Another word for all of this is "acting". Falstaff is an excellent actor. Not only is he acting his death in this scene, but he acts like a friend to Hal (for his money and power), and acts superiority to get money out of people, for example when he hustles the hostess. He claims in these lines that he is no actor , "I am no counterfeit....for he is but the counterfeit of a man, who hath not the life of a man", because a man who has no life is only pretending to be a man. Falstaff's pride gets the better of him in most situations like, for example when he is describing his fight with the robbers to Hal and Poins. --Emily Saltsman