Have a look at my essays? [Eng - Conflict + Henry]

[Eric Cartman]

I'd appreciate if people could give some feedback/suggestions, possibly give it a mark /10. Cheers 

[watto_22]

Currently I am studying at Henry, but my school is doing a different context so I can't comment on that really.


First off, underline your titles. simple easy thing, just do it.

in your introduction, you name Hal + King Henry as understanding the masses, yet you don't name any of these 'sovereigns'. Who are they? Moreover, how does Hotspur fit into your discussion - he clearly doesn't understand others (Why, what a wasp-stung and impatient fool//Art thou to break into this woman's mood,//Tying thine ear to no tongue but thine own)
but then how can Hotspur's authority be 'crucial in maintaining order with the commoners' when he doesn't even interact with any commoners in the play?

What is meant by the term 'successful leadership'? Explain this in your intro. This definition is crucial to this topic. you barely touch on it at all, saying only in your conclusion that 'a leader requires many traits in order to rule with success'. This explanation needs to come at the beginning of the piece, and frame the rest of your discussion.

What is your contention? Do you agree that 'the ability to manipulate others is the key to successful leadership? Make some judgement about this in the last sentence of your introduction, as well as in your conclusion (more explicitly than 'the ability to work a situation for oneself is vital')


Establish blatantly that Hal is the prince. ie call him Prince Hal during your introduction. This means that when you later refer to him as 'the Prince', your marker has no doubt as to whom you are talking about
Similarly, you must explain who Richard is/was. But I am not sure as to how much you should/can discuss him, seeing as he is but a memory of the characters in this play and only even mentioned about 5 times in total. His main role is surely as a source of comparison to King Henry (To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose,//An plant this thorn, this canker, Bolingbroke?), and also to discuss how KH shows his political expedience by usurping Richard in order to seize power.

With Hotspur in this piece, you could contrast how he lacks the eloquence/speaking prowess that makes KH and Hal so successful. Whereas Hal 'can drink with any tinker in his own language', Hotspur does 'profess not talking' and ties 'thine ear to no tongue but thine own (ie he doesn't listen to anyone). This is further demonstrated when Hal finishes Hotspur's sentence at the conclusion of their deathly duel.

While undoubtedly Falstaff does manipulate others, does he show 'successful leadership'? Where/When? how?
with this topic, the fact that 'The manipulation of others is also demonstrated as being important for personal benefit on a smaller scale' is not relevant. you need to keep your discussion more focused upon the prompt.

How do KH and Hal provide support for the prompt?
How does Hotspur oppose it?
How does Falstaff fit in to it all?


Potentially useful quotes for you:
character - act.scene.line number
Hotsp – 1.3.238/243 – this vile politician Bullingbroke/this king of smiles

Hal – 2.4.6/11/15 – I am sworn brother to a leash of drawers, and can call them all by their Christian names/when I am king of England I shall command all the good lads in Eastcheap/I can drink with any tinker in his own language

KH – 3.2.8 – make me believe that thou art only marked for the hot vengeance and the rod of heaven, to punish my mistreadings. Tell me else, could such inordinate and low desires…such barren pleasures, rude society, as thou art matched withal and grafted to, accompany the greatness of thy blood and hold their level with thy princely heart?

KH – 3.2.46/56 – being seldom seen, I could not stir but like a comet I was wondered at…and then I stole all courtesy from heaven and dressed myself in such humility that I did pluck allegiance from men’s hearts/ my presence, like a robe pontifical, ne’er seen but wondered at

Hotsp -4.3.52/84 – King is kind, and well we know the King knows at what time to promise, when to pay/seems to weep over his country’s wrongs – and by this face, this seeming brow of justice, did he win the hearts of all he did angle for

Worc -5.2.19 – a hare-brained Hotspur, governed by a spleen

Hotsp – 5.2.77/80/91 – I that have not well the gift of tongue/I cannot read them now [the letters]. O gentlemen, the time of life is short/I profess not talking