When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Literary and Philosophical References
- Henry VI, Part 2: "Clifford slain" refers to 5.2, when (the elder) Clifford is killed by York (1.1)
- Henry VI, Part 2: Lord Protector is Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, whose downfall in shown in Shakespeare's previous play (1.1)
- Ovid Heroides 2.66: the Latin phrase "the gods grant that this be the summit of thy glory" (1.3)
- Phaeton, Apollo's son (1.4)
Phoenix 1.4 - Amazonian: legendary female warriors (1.4)
- Ave Marys (Hail Mary): 2.1
- Helen of Troy, Menelaus, and Agamemnon (2.2)
- Henry VI, Part 2 (1.1): references the marriage contract that Suffolk arranged for Margaret (2.2)
- Priam, King of Troy (2.5)
- Nestor (3.2)
- Ulysses (3.2)
- Simon: Greek warrior who came up with wooden horse idea (3.2)
- Proteus (3.2)
- Henry VI, Part 1 (5.4): talks about being sent to school (3.2)
- Ulysses and Diomede: from Iliad Book 10 (4.2)
- Hector (4.8)
- Jephthah: Biblical character from Judges 11:30-40 (5.1)
- Daedalus and Icarus (5.6)
Historical References
- Dolphin: Dauphin Charles (1.1)
- Falconbridge: might refer to Thomas Neville, bastard son of Baron Fauconberg, a kinsman of Warwick (1.1.)