Henry VI, Part 1 story
Henry VI, Part 1, often referred to as 1 Henry VI, is a history play by William Shakespeare—possibly in collaboration with Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Nashe—believed to have been written in 1591. It is set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England. Whereas Henry VI, Part 2 deals with the King's inability to quell the bickering of his nobles and the inevitability of armed conflict and Henry VI, Part 3 deals with the horrors of that conflict, Henry VI, Part 1 deals with the loss of England's French territories and the political machinations leading up to the Wars of the Roses, as the English political system is torn apart by personal squabbles and petty jealousy.
6 total · 1 choice · 4 major · 1 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| war | choice | England lost its French territories and we saw the beginning of the Wars of the Roses |
| absolute monarchy | major | King Henry VI came of age |
| civil war | major | the beginning of the Wars of the Roses |
| history | major | especially the Wars of the Roses, and Joan d'Arc |
| the lust for power | major | Somerset and Margaret lusted for royal power by way of controlling the king |
| coping with the defeat of one's people | minor | the English lamented losing territory in France and being forced to a shameful peace |