Richard 3

Question 1

Richard 3 General Info

Answer 1

• History and Tragedy Play
• Part of Tetrology (Henry 6, 1,2,3, and Richard 3)
• Focuses on low point of English History

Question 2

History Plays

Answer 2

• Said to have been invested by Shakespeare at this time
• Not only playwrite to do it but most successful (Henry 4)
• Richard 3 one of most known villians

Question 3

Richard 3 General info (Sources)

Answer 3

• The Tragedy of King Richard the Third
• Thomas More’s History of King Richard 3
• The Mirror for Magistrates
  Holinshed’s Chronicles
• Tudor Myth? > false depiction of Richard?

Question 4

Thomas More

Answer 4

• Advisor/ Friend to King Henry 8 (son of the historical Richmond and Elizabeth of York)
• Wrote source text for Richard 3
• also wrote Utopia, and execute for treason

Question 5

Thomas More Counter Evidence

Answer 5

• Josephine Tey’s “The Daughter of Time” counter narrative to More
• Had scoliosis, not as deformed as Shakespeare depicts

Question 6

War of the Roses

Answer 6

• play revolves around civil war (around 1455-1487)
• Roses emblems by warring factions
• White (York), Red (Lancaster)
• Richard 3 father (Richard, Duke of York) became king in civil war

Question 7

Richard 3 Roles

Answer 7

• self conscious performer
• political theatre
• adoption of different roles throughout the play

Question 8

Richard as “Machiavel”

Answer 8

• refernce to Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince)
• uses prejudice of his peers to his advantage
• misogynist discourse
• discredit rivals
  -manufacture evidence
• ends justify the means

Question 9

Richard as “Leader of the opposition”

Answer 9

• presents himself as masculine and disciplined, opposed to his soft and effeminate older Brother
• Edward, “ruled by woman” and “evil diet”
• Legitimacy of Edward’s kids

Question 10

Signs of Tyranny (7 Signs)

Answer 10

• Ruler puts own interest before people
• power in hands of single ruler
• wealth consentrated
• weak and selfish ruler, lacking self-discipline
• volatile mood
• life of excesses
• indifferent to own people

Question 11

The Tudor Myth

Answer 11

• belief that Elizabeth’s England is God gifted and just

Question 12

Henry 7th

Answer 12

• defeated Richard 3 at Bosworth, ending the war of Roses
• Married Elizabeth of York
• Started Tudor Dynasty
• (Lancastrian)

Question 13

Elizabeth of York

Answer 13

• Wife to Henry 7
• Mother to Henry 8, and Grandmother to Elizabeth 1? (maybe 2)
• Had stronger claim to the English throne than Husband

Question 14

The Tudor Rose

Answer 14

• Combines the white rose (York), and red rose (Lancastrians)
• Symbolizes union between the two, ending civil war

Question 15

Other Parts played by Richard

Answer 15

• Supportive brother
• Love-sick admirer
• wronged brother
• conciliator
• victim of treason
• pious prince/ reluctant candidate