William Shakespeare's Henry V allowed me to learn more about English history and the monarchs behind the history of Europe. Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned while reading this play was that King Henry V really did receive a gift of tennis balls from the French Dauphin, which prompted him to actively pursue the French throne and resulted in the Battle of Agincourt - shown in the play. Additionally, I learned about Holinshed's The Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande and their importance to knowing medieval England's history and how much the Chronicles allowed people to learn about their own country.

I find that this play matters to me, and should matter to others, because it takes the audience into real-life events, although dramatized, and shows how certain decisions can influence you and those surrounding you. As one of Shakespeare's more famous historical plays, audiences can understand the motivations behind their ancestors, and learn not to send the gift of tennis balls.

When evaluating my performance as a learner, in and out of the classroom, I find that the activities and readings help me to better comprehend the material and have a greater understanding of the play and the characters behind it, both historical and fictional. The historical aspect of the play played to the history nerd inside me and allowed me to be more invested in the play.