King John Analysis

The setting of this play can seem a little complicated, but don't worry—you've got this. To break things down a bit, let's start by talking about the physical location of the action. Then we can...

King John is considered both a "tragedy" (like Hamlet) and a "history play" (like Henry IV Part 1). Okay, fine. So what? Well, it turns out that each of these two genres has its own sets of rules a...

Almost every single character in the play is looking out for numero uno. Most of them won't hesitate to double-cross a friend—and then double-cross their new friend to boot—when it serves their...

In most of Shakespeare's plays, upper-class characters tend to speak in what's called "blank verse" or "unrhymed iambic pentameter," which is a pretty formal way to talk. (Don't freak about the fan...

We're not accusing Shakespeare of false advertising or anything, but the full title of this play is just a tad misleading. Sure, it's definitely a play that focuses on King John I of England, and,...

SPOILER ALERT. In case you haven't finished the play, here's what goes down at the end: 1) King John gets poisoned by some crazy monk we've never heard of (offstage): Hmm. This is just weird, becau...

There are two main things that make King John tricky. The first is the language. The language in King John isn't any easier or any harder than it is in your typical Shakespeare play. It's all thee...

Some people (like Arthur and King Philip of France) think Arthur should be the King of England, not John. Problem is, Arthur's just a kid and can't do anything about it, so King Philip challenges K...

Anticipation StageTraditionally, the "Anticipation Stage" of tragedy finds the hero somehow incomplete and in need of fulfillment. In one way, this doesn't apply to King John, because he already...

There's debate over who the rightful King of England is. King John fights a war with King Philip of France and takes his own nephew Arthur prisoner.John's henchman tries and fails to blind and kill...

The title of Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story collection, Twice Told Tales, comes from a line in Shakespeare's King John: "Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale, / Vexing the dull ear of a drows...

Aside from hearing about Lady Falconbridge's torrid affair with Richard I, there's nothing really steamy happening in King John, despite the fact that Eleanor and Constance are always accusing each...

The Troublesome Reign of King John, King of England (1591): Plenty of literary scholars think this anonymous play is Shakespeare's major source for King John. Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of Engl...