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Speech In Henry V. Crispin's Day

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“This story shall the good man teach his son; and Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, from this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remembered”(Henry V, 4.3.) Henry's St. Crispin’s Day Speech was given prior to the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The enemy that Henry V's men faced had them vastly outnumbered. It is at this time that Henry sees his men's need of motivation and takes on the role of a valiant king taking control of the situation. He seized the moment to motivate and inspire them. Henry hopes by making an effective speech his men will understand why they need to fight. When all seemed lost it was Henry's speech that was filled with persuasion and patriotism that spurred the men on and gave them hope and victory. Through Henry's speech he made what seemed a hopeless fight into an honor, an attainable victory, and a duty. …show more content…

He tells his men that they should be proud to have fought on St. Crispin's Day. If they are to die then their deaths are deaths filled with honor. They will fight and die proudly and together for the glory of their kingdom. "And gentlemen in England now-a-bed shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, and hold their man hoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day." (Henry V, 4.3.).Henry states in his speech that to fight is such an honor and opportunity that it would make any other man jealous for not having been there. By calling his army his brothers, he compares their dignity, honor and glory to that of a king and draws them together in the shared honor of battle. Although Henry knows that him and his men are vastly outnumbered, he declares that his men are an honorable and noble

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