Written by William Shakespeare between 1596 and 1599, Henry IV
Part 2 is a history play that continues the story of the reign
of King Henry IV, ending with his death and the succession of
his son, King Henry V (a.k.a. Hal). In the play, Prince Hal
comes to terms with his father's death and prepares to leave
behind his rowdy old friends before becoming the king who will
uphold justice and restore civil order in England. The play is
part of a tetralogy (four plays), which is also known as the
"Henriad," a cycle of plays that span the reigns of King Richard
II, King Henry IV, and Henry V. (Henry IV Part 2 is preceded by
Richard II and Henry IV Part 1 and is followed by Henry V.)
Shakespeare's main source for the play is Raphael Holinshed's
history Chronicles and an early play of unknown authorship
called The Famous Victories of Henry V. Shakespeare may have
also borrowed from Samuel Daniel's poem "The Civil Wars." Both
Henry IV Part 1 and Part 2 weave together "high" historical
matters of state and the comedic a