Henry IV Part 2

No Fear Translation
Study Guide

Henry IV, Part 2 is a play by William Shakespeare that was first performed in 1598. Read Henry IV, Part 2 here, with side-by-side No Fear translations into modern English.

Act 1

Prologue
Rumor picks up from the end of Henry IV, Part 1.

Scene 1
The Earl of Northumberland learns that the rebels have lost the battle, Hotspur is dead, and the Earl of Worcester has been taken captive.

Scene 2
Falstaff has earned a measure of social rank and importance by falsely claiming that he killed Hotspur. Nonetheless, Falstaff's poor health, poor reputation, and criminal past still follow him.

Scene 3
The rebels agree that they should mobilize their forces against King Henry, even though they are unsure whether Northumberland will send his much-needed soldiers to support them.

Act 2

Scene 1
Mistress Quickly attempts to have Falstaff arrested for his unpaid debt, but he manages to get her to lend him the money to pay the debt. Falstaff learns that King Henry is returning to London after fighting in Wales.

Scene 2
Prince Henry returns home, tired from battle, concerned at his father’s ill health, and regretting his drunken younger days. He and Poins decide to dress as servants in order to play a trick on Falstaff.

Scene 3
Northumberland is convinced by his wife and daughter-in-law to stay away from the fighting.

Scene 4
Falstaff has dinner with Doll Tearsheet, his favorite prostitute, and insults Prince Henry and Poins, who are disguised as barmen. The resulting argument is broken up when news arrives that King Henry is back in London, causing Prince Henry to leave to see his father.

Act 3

Scene 1
King Henry muses to himself about how anxious and restless the burdens of rulership have made him. Then King Henry, the Earl of Warwick, and the Earl of Surrey discuss the current state of affairs of the various rebellions.

Scene 2
Two Justices meet Falstaff with recruits for his army unit. In typical fashion, Falstaff lets anyone who pays a bribe return home without having to join.

Act 4

Scene 1
The rebel leaders have assembled their armies when Westmoreland arrives saying that if the rebels’ demands are reasonable, Prince John is willing to grant them on the King’s behalf. John accepts their demands and agrees to grant them if they send their armies home. They agree, but as soon as their armies have dispersed, John orders the arrest and execuction of the rebel leaders.

Scene 2
Coleville meets Falstaff in the forest and surrenders to him because Falstaff has a false reputation for being a skilled fighter. Falstaff presents Coleville to Prince John, who sends him off with the other rebels for execution.

Scene 3
A very ill King Henry tells his younger sons that he wants to join a crusade when all the rebellions are put down. News arrives that the rebel leaders have been executed and Northumberland is overthrown. King Henry and Prince Henry reconcile.

Act 5

Scene 1
Falstaff returns to Gloucestershire and criticizes Justice Shallow.

Scene 2
King Henry IV has died, and Prince Henry is now King Henry V. The Lord Chief Justice worries that because he was always reprimanding Prince Henry, he will suffer under the new King, but Henry V says that he understands that the Justice was right, and that Henry would like the Justice to serve as a mentor.

Scene 3
Word arrives to Falstaff that Prince Henry is now king. Everyone is excited because they all assume that Falstaff, as Prince Henry's closest friend, will now be elevated to a position power.

Scene 4
Mistress Quickly and Doll are arrested for their part in the death of a man whom Pistol beat up.

Scene 5
Falstaff meets King Henry V during his coronation march, but Henry viciously rebukes him and casts him off. Falstaff and his companions are arrested.

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