Shakespeare

Connections

• The "lost manuscript" of Part 3 of his play, Henry IV, alludes to the heart and deeds of Sir Roland

Context

It is generally accepted that William Shakespeare wrote three types of plays, tragedies, comedies, and histories. These "history plays" include Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2. Of course, "Part 3" was made up by BMG. The plots of those first two parts are complex enough, so goodness knows that this "third part" could have contained. Shakespeare often had small mentions and allusions to great historical, mythological, and religious figures and places and events in his plays, usually to emphasize an idea, or a certain characteristic.