He is referred to as being "merry as a cricket- (Act II.4 line 88) and describes himself in his youth as being "not an eagle's talon at the waist; I could have crept into any alderman's thumb ring- (Act II.4 lines 318-319) The humor in these portrayals lies in the fact that Falstaff is not a small man, but a rather large one, and we as the audience have a difficult time imagining him in any other way. ... Subsequently, in Merry Wives of Windsor, the character of Falstaff is compared to various animals thirty-one times and is made a spectacle due to his weight, as in Henry IV. In Merr...

• Word Count: 1600
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616), English playwright and poet, recognized in much of the world as the greatest of all dramatists. Hundreds of editions of his plays have been published, including translations in all major languages. Scholars have written thousands of books and articles about his plots, characters, themes, and language. He is the most widely quoted author in history, and his plays have probably been performed more times than those of any other dramatist. Shakespeare's Plays © Microsoft Corporation. ...

• Word Count: 7010
• Approx Pages: 28

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard II, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Henry IV, As You Like It, Henry V, Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, and The merry Wives of Windsor were all written in the second period. ...

• Word Count: 1399
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

"The age of great comedies" (1595-1600): The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of The Shrew, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Much Ado About Nothing and historical dramas: "King John", "Henry IV" in two parts, "Henry V". 3. ...

• Word Count: 1713
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Hotspur's soliloquy comes just after the meeting between Worcester, and the Douglas. They are planning a strategy to attack Hal's troops. Sir Richard Vernon soon enters the scene and reveals news that Hal is on his way to attack Shrewsbury with seven thousand men. Vernon describes Hal's army, "As full of spirit as the month of May", and "And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer". Hotspur begins his soliloquy, almost interrupting Sir Richard Vernon's praise of Hal. ...

• Word Count: 838
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School