Henriad

Henriad is a common title used by scholars for Shakespeare's second historical tetralogy, comprising Richard II; Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; and Henry V. The plays depict the destabilising effects of the violation of political continuity with the overthrow of Richard II of England followed by the growth of Henry V of England from a wild youth to a great war leader in Henry V. Although it was the second tetralogy to be written and performed, the subject matter comes chronologically before the first tetralogy comprising the three Henry VI plays and Richard III. The term "Henriad" derives from the Classical epics the Iliad and Aeneid.

References to these four plays as the Henriad can be found widely in literature on them. The scope of the term Henriad, however, is up for debate; that is, some scholars include Shakespeare's first tetralogy, comprising plays Henry VI, Part 1; Henry VI, Part 2; Henry VI, Part 3; and Richard III in the Henriad. Though The Merry Wives of Windsor is set in the same period of history and includes many of the Henriad characters, it does not include Henry himself, and is typically seen as a separate work. The first four are sometimes called the minor tetralogy, and the second the major tetralogy.

While it is not known whether Shakespeare conceived of the plays as a cycle, these plays are often interpreted and performed in relation to each other, since they represent a continuous period of English history using recurring characters and including direct references to previous plays. While Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra also contain recurring characters (the members of the Second Triumvirate), the two plays are very different in style and are believed to have been written a decade apart. In contrast, the Henriad plays are believed to have been written in a continuous sequence. The Henriad is also unique as both historical and fictional characters are carried over from one play to the next. In Shakespeare's earlier Henry VI tetralogy only historical characters were continued across plays, following the real events being dramatised. The Henriad combines historical "high" characters with "lower" figures from various social classes, from the wealthy squire Robert Shallow to innkeepers, tapsters, criminals, and prostitute Doll Tearsheet.

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