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| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II W. Shakespeare, 1988-01 The classic tragedy about the downfall of King Richard II is presented with critical commentary and historical background |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II William Shakespeare, 1812 |
| richard ii shakespeare: The Oxford Shakespeare William Shakespeare, 2011-08-25 Deftly combining history and tragedy, Shakespeare's tale of bad government and usurpation had great political immediacy for its first audiences. This version of the text is based on the early quartos and first Folio of 1623. It is complemented by an introduction that places the play in its own time, thorough textual notes, and full commentary. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II William Shakespeare, 2015-07-29 More William Shakespeare's eBook The play spans only the last two years of Richard's life, from 1398 to 1400. The first Act begins with King Richard sitting majestically on his throne in full state, having been requested that he arbitrate a dispute between Thomas Mowbray and Richard's cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, who has accused Mowbray of squandering money given to him by Richard for the King's soldiers and of murdering his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester. Bolingbroke's father, John of Gaunt, meanwhile, believes it was Richard himself who was responsible for his brother's murder. After several attempts to calm both men, Richard acquiesces and Bolingbroke and Mowbray challenge each other to a duel, over the objections of both Richard and Gaunt. The tournament scene is very formal with a long, ceremonial introduction, but as the combatants begin to fight, Richard interrupts and sentences both to banishment from England. Bolingbroke is originally sentenced to leave for ten years, but Richard changes this to six years, while Mowbray is banished permanently. The king's decision can be seen as the first mistake in a series leading eventually to his overthrow and death, since it is an error which highlights many of his character flaws, displaying as it does indecisiveness (both in terms of whether to allow the duel to go ahead and in terms of how long to exile Bolingbroke for), abruptness (Richard waits until the last possible moment to cancel the duel), and arbitrariness (there is no apparent reason why Bolingbroke should be allowed to return and Mowbray not). In addition, the decision fails to dispel the suspicions surrounding Richard's involvement in the death of the Duke of Gloucester - in fact, by handling the situation so high-handedly and offering no coherent explanation for his reasoning, Richard only manages to appear more guilty. Mowbray predicts that the king will sooner or later fall at the hands of Bolingbroke. John of Gaunt dies and Richard II seizes all of his land and money. This angers the nobility, who accuse Richard of wasting England's money, of taking Gaunt's money (belonging by rights to his son, Bolingbroke) to fund war in Ireland, of taxing the commoners, and of fining the nobles for crimes committed by their ancestors. They then help Bolingbroke secretly return to England in a plan to overthrow Richard II. There remain, however, subjects who continue faithful to the King, among them Bushy, Bagot, Green and the Duke of Aumerle (son of the Duke of York), cousin of both Richard and Bolingbroke. When King Richard leaves England to administer the war in Ireland, Bolingbroke seizes the opportunity to assemble an army and invades the north coast of England. Executing both Bushy and Green, he wins over the Duke of York, whom Richard has left in charge of his government in his absence. Upon Richard's return, Bolingbroke not only reclaims his lands but lays claim to the very throne. Crowning himself King Henry IV, he has Richard taken prisoner to the castle of Pomfret. Aumerle and others plan a rebellion against the new king, but York discovers his son's treachery and reveals it to Henry, who spares Aumerle as a result of the intercession of the Duchess of York while executing the other conspirators. After interpreting King Henry's living fear as a reference to the still-living Richard, an ambitious nobleman (Exton) goes to the prison and murders him. King Henry repudiates the murderer and vows to journey to Jerusalem to cleanse himself of his part in Richard's death.- - - From Wikipedia |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II William Shakespeare, 1999-01-01 The ill-fated reign of King Richard II and his eventual overthrow take center stage in one of Shakespeare's greatest history plays. This title in the Signet Classics Shakespeare series includes: • An overview of William Shakespeare’s life, world, and theater • A special introduction to the play by the editor, Kenneth Muir • A note on the source from which Shakespeare derived Richard II—a generous selection of Raphael Holinshed’s The Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland • Dramatic criticism from Walter Pater, Richard D. Altick, Derek Traversi, and others • A stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions of Richard II • Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable format • Recommended readings |
| richard ii shakespeare: The Complete Pelican Shakespeare William Shakespeare, 2002-10-01 “The perfect companion to enjoy the most profound stories of the human condition that Shakespeare has given us and that I have had the privilege to perform, from Othello to King Lear.”—James Earl Jones “Here is an elegant and clear text for either study or the rehearsal room.”—Sir Patrick Stewart This major new complete edition of Shakespeare’s works combines accessibility with the latest scholarship and features a substantial introduction examining textual and literary-historical issues before each play and poem collection. The texts themselves have been scrupulously edited and are accompanied by same-page notes and glossaries. With The Complete Pelican Shakespeare, discover the works of William Shakespeare as never before in this beautiful, approachable collection of the Bard of Avon’s most famous works. Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard III. William Shakespeare, 1597 |
| richard ii shakespeare: Sonnets and Poems William Shakespeare, 1905 |
| richard ii shakespeare: King Richard II William Shakespeare, 2014-07-10 King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England (ruled 1377-1399) and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by some scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's successors: Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; and Henry V. It may not have been written as a stand-alone work |
| richard ii shakespeare: King Richard II William Shakespeare, 2015-09-16 King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England (ruled 1377-1399) and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by some scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's successors: Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; and Henry V. It may not have been written as a stand-alone work. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Shakespeare's Henriad - Complete Tetralogy William Shakespeare, William Hazlitt, 2019-12-03 Shakespearian Henriad refers to a group of four William Shakespeare's history plays: Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V. These four plays constitute the Shakespearian epic with Prince Harry, who later becomes Henry V, as a central figure. Thanks to Shakespeare, King Henry V today stands side by side with the classical epic heroes such are Achilles and Aeneas, as one of the greatest warrior kings of medieval England,. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II William Shakespeare, 2015-11-24 When King Richard II banishes two feuding noblemen from England, he sets into motion a series of events that will eventually cost him his crown and his life. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II William Shakespeare, 2018-08-17 Read & Co. Classics presents this new beautiful edition of William Shakespeare's play, Richard II. This edition features a specially commissioned new biography of William Shakespeare. The play is the first in Shakespeare's tetralogy chronicling the successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V, and covers the battle for power between King Richard and Henry Bolingbroke (who would eventually be Henry IV). Embezzlement, exile and an uprising fail to restore Richard’s place as King. Richard is depicted as feminine and weak, in contrast with the strong and masculine Bolingbroke. The play’s implications on traditional expectations of men in society is an area of growing interest for contemporary scholars. William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is considered to be the greatest writer in the English language and is celebrated as the world's most famous dramatist. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Folger Shakespeare Library , 2005 |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II Nigel Saul, 2008-10-01 Richard II is one of the most enigmatic of English kings. Shakespeare depicted him as a tragic figure, an irresponsible, cruel monarch who nevertheless rose in stature as the substance of power slipped from him. By later writers he has been variously portrayed as a half-crazed autocrat or a conventional ruler whose principal errors were the mismanagement of his nobility and disregard for the political conventions of his age. This book—the first full-length biography of Richard in more than fifty years—offers a radical reinterpretation of the king. Nigel Saul paints a picture of Richard as a highly assertive and determined ruler, one whose key aim was to exalt and dignify the crown. In Richard's view, the crown was threatened by the factiousness of the nobility and the assertiveness of the common people. The king met these challenges by exacting obedience, encouraging lofty new forms of address, and constructing an elaborate system of rule by bonds and oaths. Saul traces the sources of Richard's political ideas and finds that he was influenced by a deeply felt orthodox piety and by the ideas of the civil lawyers. He shows that, although Richard's kingship resembled that of other rulers of the period, unlike theirs, his reign ended in failure because of tactical errors and contradictions in his policies. For all that he promoted the image of a distant, all-powerful monarch, Richard II's rule was in practice characterized by faction and feud. The king was obsessed by the search for personal security: in his subjects, however, he bred only insecurity and fear. A revealing portrait of a complex and fascinating figure, the book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the politics and culture of the English middle ages. |
| richard ii shakespeare: The Life and Death of King Richard II William Shakespeare, 2001-04 |
| richard ii shakespeare: King Richard II Charles R. Forker, 2022-02-10 This revised edition of King Richard II: Critical Tradition increases our the play was received and understood by critics, editors and general readers. Updated with a new introduction providing a survey of critical responses to Richard II since the 1990s to the present day, this volume offers, in separate sections, both critical opinions about the play across the centuries and an evaluation of their positions within and their impact on the reception of the play. The updated introduction offers an overview of recent criticism on the play in relation to feminist theory, queer theory, performance theory and ecocriticism. The chronological arrangement of the text-excerpts engages the readers in a direct and unbiased dialogue, whereas the introduction offers a critical evaluation from a current stance, including modern theories and methods. Featuring criticism by A.C. Swinburne, Walter Pater, Oscar Wilde and W.B. Yeats, this volume makes a major contribution to our understanding of the play and of the traditions of Shakespearean criticism surrounding it as they have developed from century to century. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Henry VI William Shakespeare, 2012-04-10 Displaying the bold vision and growing skill of a young playwright, these are Shakespeare’s first three history plays, covering some sixty tumultuous years of English history. Their pageantry, violence, and stirring speeches excite audiences with action as well as character, and midway through the final play in this trilogy, a shocking, clever, inimitably evil new voice is heard—that of Richard of Gloucester, destined to become England’s most fearsome and hated ruler of all time, Richard III. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography: The Life of William Shakespeare William Shakespeare, Sidney Lee, 2014-02-27 This carefully crafted ebook: “Richard II (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography: The Life of William Shakespeare” is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. The Tragedy of King Richard the Second is a play written by William Shakespeare around 1595 and based on the life of King Richard II of England. It is the first part of a tetralogy referred to by scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's successors: Henry IV, Part I; Henry IV, Part II; and Henry V. The play, set around the year 1398, traces the fall from power of the last king of the house of Plantagenet, Richard II, and his replacement by the first Lancaster king, Henry IV (Henry Bolingbroke). Life of William Shakespeare is a biography of William Shakespeare by the eminent critic Sidney Lee. This book was one of the first major biographies of the Bard of Avon. It was published in 1898, based on the article contributed to the Dictionary of National Biography. William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the Bard of Avon. His extant works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, the authorship of some of which is uncertain. Sir Sidney Lee (1859 – 1926) was an English biographer and critic. He was a lifelong scholar and enthusiast of Shakespeare. His article on Shakespeare in the fifty-first volume of the Dictionary of National Biography formed the basis of his Life of William Shakespeare. This full-length life is often credited as the first modern biography of the poet. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II Charles Forker, 2000-12-01 Before 1790, the criticism of Richard II is fragmentary and this volume takes up the major tradition of criticism, including Malone, Lamb, Coleridge, Hazlitt, Chambers, Boas, Brandes, Yeats, Schelling, Swinburne, A.C. Bradley, Saintsbury, and Masefield. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Four Histories Peter Davison, Stanley Wells, William Shakespeare, 2007-07-26 The volume contains Richard II, Henry IV Part One, henry IV Part Two, and Henry V. Each play possesses its own distinctive mood, tone and style, and together they inhabit the turbulent period of change from the usurpation of the throne of Richard II by Bolingbroke to the triumph of heroic kingship in Henry V. |
| richard ii shakespeare: The Life of King Henry the Fifth William Shakespeare, 1890 |
| richard ii shakespeare: King Richard III. King Henry VIII William Shakespeare, 1870 |
| richard ii shakespeare: The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: Richard II. Henry IV, pt. 1-2. Henry V William Shakespeare, 1826 |
| richard ii shakespeare: William Shakespeare's Richard II Harold Bloom, 1988 A collection of seven critical essays on Shakespeare's tragedy, arranged in chronological order of original publication. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Shakespeare After All Marjorie Garber, 2008-11-19 A brilliant and companionable tour through all thirty-eight plays, Shakespeare After All is the perfect introduction to the bard by one of the country’s foremost authorities on his life and work. Drawing on her hugely popular lecture courses at Yale and Harvard over the past thirty years, Marjorie Garber offers passionate and revealing readings of the plays in chronological sequence, from The Two Gentlemen of Verona to The Two Noble Kinsmen. Supremely readable and engaging, and complete with a comprehensive introduction to Shakespeare’s life and times and an extensive bibliography, this magisterial work is an ever-replenishing fount of insight on the most celebrated writer of all time. |
| richard ii shakespeare: The Works of William Shakespeare: King John. King Richard II. The first and second parts of King Henry IV. King Henry V William Shakespeare, 1864 |
| richard ii shakespeare: Henry IV (Complete) William Shakespeare, 2020-09-28 |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II William Shakespeare, 2015-11-10 The authoritative edition of Richard II from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers. Shakespeare’s Richard II presents a momentous struggle between Richard II and his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. Richard is the legitimate king; he succeeded his grandfather, King Edward III, after the earlier death of his father Edward, the Black Prince. Yet Richard is also seen by many as a tyrant. He toys with his subjects, exiling Bolingbroke for six years. When he seizes the title and property that should be Bolingbroke’s, Richard threatens the very structure of the kingdom. Bolingbroke returns with an army that is supported by nobles and commoners alike, both believing themselves oppressed by Richard. This sets the stage for a confrontation between his army and the tradition of sacred kingship supporting the isolated but now more sympathetic Richard. This edition includes: -Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play -Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play -Scene-by-scene plot summaries -A key to the play’s famous lines and phrases -An introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language -An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play -Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books -An annotated guide to further reading Essay by Harry Berger, Jr. The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Shakespeare's Tragedy of King Richard II William Shakespeare, 1908 |
| richard ii shakespeare: Study Guide to Richard II by William Shakespeare Intelligent Education, 2020-03-27 A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for William Shakespeare’s Richard II, a political tragedy and historical play set during the Hundred Years’ War. As a historical drama of 1595, Richard II contains imaginative descriptions and characterizations of real people in history and balances poetic language with harsh realism. Moreover, Richard II expresses themes of betrayal, leadership, and father-son relationships. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Shakespeare’s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains: - Introductions to the Author and the Work - Character Summaries - Plot Guides - Section and Chapter Overviews - Test Essay and Study Q&As The Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Shakespeare and Politics Catherine M. S. Alexander, 2004-09-02 This important collection of essays shows a full range of writing on Shakespeare and politics, with shifts of focus as diverse as biography, text and contexts, language and film, and from perspectives that are literary, historical, religious, theoretical and cultural. A new introductory article by John J. Joughin provides a commentary on the essays, relates them to other work in the field and gives an over-view of the subject. The comprehe nsive collection is a stimulating and provocative introduction to a subject that is complex but never dull. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Shakespeare's tragedy of King Richard ii, with illustr., notes &c William Shakespeare, 1883 |
| richard ii shakespeare: Shakespeare's Tragedy of King Richard II. William Shakespeare, 1878 |
| richard ii shakespeare: The Works of William Shakespeare: King John. King Richard II. King Henry IV, pts. 1-2. King Henry V William Shakespeare, 1923 |
| richard ii shakespeare: The History Plays William Shakespeare, 2014-10-28 It is part of Shakespeare's extraordinary contribution to our culture that, through his dramas based on English history, he played a unique part in forming our view of ourselves and our nationhood. From King John, in which through Magna Carta the king's absolute power was first limited and the people's freedoms assured, to--almost in his own lifetime--Henry VIII, Shakespeare wrote a series of ten plays portraying the course of history. It represents almost one third of his entire dramatic output. The overarching theme of these plays is the vital importance of the sovereign's legitimacy if the nation is to be stable. They cover revolutionary times and events--the deposition and murder of Richard II, the Wars of the Roses, the usurping of the throne by Richard III--but they always affirm the principle that a legitimate king, circumscribed by an agreed constituion, is the only proper guarantee of the nation's liberties. There are many other ways in which Shakespeare's patriotism has become definitive. In Henry V's St. Crispin's Day speech to the troops before Agincourt, for example, or John of gaunt's 'scepter'd isle' speech, a sense of Englishness is expressed which still lives in English minds today. The E;izabethan's pride in nationhood was perfectly embodied by Shakespeare, but the poetry of it transcends its own time. In this edition the history plays are brought together with a large group of illustrations which echo and amplify their themes. Gloriously vivid images of England's story are presented here, putting the great plays in a magnificent setting. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II and the Revolution of 1399 Michael Bennett, 2006 Studies the last years of Richard II's reign and the circumstances of his overthrow by Henry of Bolingbroke in 1399. This work reviews Richard's early experiences, from his accession, aged only ten, through the troubled politics of the 1380s, while placing emphasis on his own insecurities and the vexed issue of the succession. |
| richard ii shakespeare: Richard II (Annotated) William Shakespeare, 2019-04-24 King Richard the Second is a history play William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to scholars as the Henriad, followed three plays concerning Richard's successors: Henry IV, part 1, Henry IV, part 2, and Henry V. It may not have been written as a stand-alone work. |
| richard ii shakespeare: A Brief Guide to William Shakespeare Peter Ackroyd, 2013-02-07 An accessible and entertaining journey through the life, times, and work of the Bard - Enigma. Master of language. The greatest comedian in history? The most famous writer in the world. But isn't he a little bit boring? This is an essential guide for anyone who has previously avoided the Bard, and is the perfect introduction for first time students or seasoned theatre lovers. The book contains a full commentary of all the plays by bestselling and reknowned writer Peter Ackroyd as well as full descriptions of the cast and the drama; not forgetting the best speeches, and the wit and wisdom from across the works. There is also an opportunity to explore the poems and a complete set of sonnets, as well as an investigation of who the dark lady might have been. Contains: The complete sonnets; the greatest speeches; the best lines. Perfect for students struggling through their first play or for theatre lovers anywhere. Entertaining, accessible, Shakespeare without the boring bits. |
| richard ii shakespeare: The Tragedy of King Richard II (1904) William Shakespeare, 2009-04 This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work. |
Richard II - Entire Play | Folger Shakespeare Library
Jul 31, 2015 · Shakespeare's Richard II presents a momentous struggle between Richard II and his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. Richard is the legitimate king; he succeeded his grandfather, …
Richard II (play) - Wikipedia
The Life and Death of King Richard the Second (1595), also Richard II, is a Shakespearean history play about the lifetime and reign of King Richard II of England (r. 1377–1399). As a …
Richard II: Study Guide - SparkNotes
Probably written around 1595, Richard II is one of Shakespeare’s history plays. It is the first of four plays about the historical rise of the English royal House of Lancaster.
Richard II | Shakespeare, Play, Plot Summary, Characters, & Facts ...
May 27, 2025 · Richard II is a chronicle play in five acts by William Shakespeare, written in 1595–96 and published in a quarto edition in 1597 and in the First Folio of 1623. The play is …
Richard II: Entire Play - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Many years of happy days befal My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege! Each day still better other's happiness; Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap, Add an immortal title to your …
Summary of Richard II | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
A complete summary of William Shakespeare's Play, Richard II. Find out more about his poor rule as king, his loss of the crown and his eventual murder
Richard II Study Guide | Literature Guide - LitCharts
Richard II is the first play in the tetralogy of Shakespeare plays known as the Henriad, which also includes Henry IV Part 1, and Henry IV Part 2, and Henry V. Together, the plays enact the …
Richard II by William Shakespeare | Project Gutenberg
Jul 1, 2000 · "Richard II" by William Shakespeare is a historical play written during the late 16th century. The drama revolves around the themes of power, kingship, and civil strife, particularly …
Richard II by Shakespeare | Summary, Analysis & Themes
Sep 19, 2024 · Richard II by William Shakespeare tells the story of King Richard II’s troubled reign and his eventual downfall. The play explores themes of power, leadership, and the impact of …
Richard II - Shakespeare For All
In this course, you’ll learn the story and historical context behind Richard II, explore the complex political dimensions depicted in this transition of power, and see how Shakespeare develops …
Richard II - Entire Play
Jul 31, 2015 · Shakespeare's Richard II presents a momentous …
Richard II (play) - Wiki…
The Life and Death of King Richard the Second (1595), also Richard II, …
Richard II: Study Guid…
Probably written around 1595, Richard II is one of Shakespeare’s …
Richard II | Shakespear…
May 27, 2025 · Richard II is a chronicle play in five acts by …
Richard II: Entire Play
Many years of happy days befal My gracious sovereign, my …
