Where It All Goes Down
16th-Century London
The history plays read like an armchair traveler's guide and a mini-geography lesson all rolled into one. You know what that means, right? It's time to pack your suitcases and grab your cameras, Shmoopsters, because we're going on an all-expense-paid trip through Tudor London, with Shakespeare as our very own personal tour guide.
What makes Henry VIII different from Shakespeare's other history plays is that he's writing about a time he was super familiar with. Sure, he gives us some great stuff when it comes to Henrys V-VI. But let's face it: those plays are about medieval England, whereas Henry VIII is practically on his doorstep. Elizabeth was born in 1533, and she was on the throne when Shakespeare first started writing.
For Shakespeare, ancient history this is not.