Henry IV explication HELP PLEASE!!!

[starlight235]

Hello
I have to write an explication (detailed analysis) of act III scene iii lines 169-190 and it is grinding my nerves to dust as there is little to no information about that scene on the web. What I am basically having trouble with is why this scene is important to the rest of the play and the use of irony. Any help whatsoever would be so gratefully appreciated! Thanks in advance to anyone who answers!

[naomi24]

http://www.editing.org.uk/aesoprods/shake/h4-1 33.htm#33


http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/henry4pt 1/section9.rhtml

I hope this helps.

[bimbo123456]

Here's a thought...how about you actually read it and make up your own mind. Why do you think other people's opinions are better than yours? I'm sure you can manage it!!

[jno]

a nice idea, bimbo, and one I would have made myself, but it's not really how English is done these days. You get points for regurgitating the critics' ideas, not having your own.

[Ragged-Robin]

Bimbo is so right; surely the whole point of studying such a piece is to try to develop your own powers of critical analysis and so develop an understanding of what YOU think it MIGHT mean. And I say "might" because one of the fascinations of studying Shakespeare is that, mostly, you don't get stage directions and he certainly didn't explain what he meant. Your view is therefore as valid as anyone else's.