Henry IV Part 1: Style 1 key example

In Henry IV Part 1, Shakespeare combines two very different tones: a “high” style and a “low” style. Shakespeare uses the “high” style for noble characters and their serious discussions of state-related matters. These aristocratic characters speak in blank verse, or unrhymed iambic pentameter, and their dialogue is suffused with classical references and layered metaphors that demonstrate their high level of education and contribute to the overall gravitas of their speech. For these characters, Shakespeare’s style is anything but casual or spontaneous; rather, they are important public figures, and they speak as if they know that their words will be recorded for all posterity.