McGuffey's Sixth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XXXV · Part 4: Lessons XXV-XXXVI: Orators and soldiers

41. Henry V. to his Troops (William Shakespeare)

Goal: Your student delivers one of Shakespeare's great battle speeches with energy and explains its images.

⏱ About 35 minutes · 6 steps

Open it at the Internet Archive ↗

You'll need

  • The book, or the scan beside this guide
  • A notebook and pen
  • A dictionary

What's in the book

A note on Shakespeare, then King Henry's speech before the walls of Harfleur from King Henry V, Act III, Scene I, with notes on Henry V and on old words.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Words and meanings

    Read the book's notes: Henry V (1388-1422), whose reign saw almost continuous war in France and the battle of Agincourt; "fet," an old form of fetched; and "Alexanders," from Alexander the Great.

    Before reading, find these words in the selection and look up any your student does not know: breach, stillness, imitate.

  2. About the author

    The book calls Shakespeare (1564-1616) "the most illustrious of the sons of men" in the eyes of many critics, and notes that less is known of his life than of almost any other famous name: he was born at Stratford, worked in London as an actor and writer, and returned to Stratford.

  3. Read it aloud

    Read the opening together:

    Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;

    Or close the wall up with our English dead.

    In peace there's nothing so becomes a man

    As modest stillness and humility:

    Your student reads the whole speech standing, with rising force, ending:

    Cry — 'God for Harry, England, and St. George!'

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat should a man be like in peace, according to Henry? And in war?

    SayHenry tells his soldiers to "imitate the action of the tiger." Find the other animal and body images.

    SayWhy does he remind them of their fathers?

    SayHow does the speech build to its last line?

  5. Tell it back

    Your student explains Henry's speech in plain words, as a coach might before a game.

  6. Copywork and memory

    Copy and learn the first four lines.

Afterwards

Recite the opening lines standing, using the book's directions for gesture.

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