Shakespeare: Henry V - Leadership - offline version
Objectives and set scene focus:
Students consider the whole play, but could be directed to look closely at the set scenes. All will be able to make an assessment of how successful a leader Henry is. Most will be able to use evidence to support their ideas. Some will be able to articulate the complexities of Henry and the pressures on him.
National Curriculum:
En 2: 1b, 1c, 1d, 1f. 1h
Resources required:
- Copies of 'Henry V', OHP of an extract from 'Macbeth' Act 4 scene 3 lines 91-95- 'the king-becoming graces'
Teaching Activities:
Introduction
Ask students to brainstorm what qualities a good leader needs. Write these on the board.
Activities
- In groups, students should consider whether Henry has these qualities and should find examples from the play to support their ideas.
- Show students an OHP of 'the king-becoming graces'. Gloss some of them. Ask them to find examples from the play which show that Henry has these graces, or lacks them.
- Class feedback.
- Ask students to compare the king-becoming graces and the qualities of good leadership. How similar are the lists? Do they see any tensions between them?
Summary
Recap what students have learnt. Begin by saying 'One quality a leader should have is the ability to inspire morale in his subjects'. Ask a student to provide evidence for this quality and then begin another sentence, nominating a classmate to provide the evidence etc.
Suggested homework:
- A mini-essay :consider the arguments for and against Henry being a good King
- Students write a summary of the reign of Henry V in the style of '1066 and all that' beginning 'Henry V was a good King'
- Research into how Elizabethans viewed Henry V
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