Henriad

Meaning

Proper Noun

• A group of four of Shakespeare’s plays: Richard II; Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; and Henry V, with the implication that these four plays are Shakespeare’s epic poem.
• Either of two groups of four each of Shakespeare’s plays: The "first Henriad" (Henry VI, part 1, Henry VI, part 2, Henry VI, part 3, and Richard III), and the "second Henriad" (Richard II; Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; and Henry V).

Origin

• Popularized in the Shakespearean sense by Alvin Kernan in 1969 in his book The Henriad: Shakespeare’s Major History Plays, from Henry + -iad.