Illustration of Richard looking regal and wearing a hat

Richard III

by William Shakespeare

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Richard III Questions and Answers

What key lessons are presented to us in Richard III?

What was the motivation of Richard III in taking the crown of England?

Discuss the use of humor in Richard III.

In Looking For Richard by Al Pacino, how does Pacino portray the equality of women and men and their more dominant and equal roles in our modern society as opposed to the way women are treated in Richard III?

In act 2, scene 4 of Richard III, how does the quote "The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind; / Insulting tyranny begins to jut / Upon the innocent and aweless throne" support the theme of the play?

How does Richard prove a villain in Richard III?

What are traits of Clarence and Buckingham in Richard III?

In Richard III, Act 4 scene 3, when Tyrrell delivered his speech in private (IV.III.1-24), discuss the significance of his soliloquy to the play as a whole and its relevance to the play as a whole. Substantiate with evidence.   Tips: - Discuss how his soliloquy uncovers certain themes and issues that may be found in the rest of the play. - What is the purpose of his speech and what does it convey about the murderers who carried out the assassination.

Please explain the following lines from Richard III: "The weary sun hath made a golden set, and by the bright track of his fiery car, gives signal, of a goodly day to-morrow."

Why is Queen Margaret so important in Richard III?

The word "conscience" is used thirteen times in Richard III. What is Shakespeare's point in using it so often?

Why is Richard III so profoundly evil?

How are the core values of integrity, honesty, loyalty, and moderation presented in Shakespeare's Richard III?

Why was Hastings imprisoned before the start of Richard III?

List the deaths in Act 3. What does each person realize as they die? What does this suggest about the idea of justice?

What is the importance of Richard III to Shakespeare's portrayal of him in Richard III?

In Shakespeare's Richard III, what are the similarities between Richard and Richmond?

Why do the ghosts appear in the main battle scene (Richard vs. Richmond) in Shakespeare's Richard III?

How does the concept of in media res apply to the opening scene of Richard III?

What role does the Scrivener play in Richard III?

How does Shakespeare use soliloquy to inform us about Richard's plots, as well as to reveal his character in Act 1 scenes 1, 2 and 3?

In Richard III, does Richard have a conscience?

In Richard III by Shakespeare, what is the language analysis of Magaret's speech? Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liv’st, And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends. No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine, Unless it be while some tormenting dream Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils. Thou elvish-marked, abortive, rooting hog, Thou that wast sealed in thy nativity The slave of nature and the son of hell. Thou slander of thy heavy mother’s womb. Thou loathèd issue of thy father’s loins. Thou rag of honour, thou detested—  (I.iii.220–230)

Explain eight character traits of Richard III.

Now is the winter of our discontent - does that mean things are going well or going poorly?

Who is Richmond from Richard III?

How does the use of rhetoric in Shakespeare's Richard the Third demonstrate the themes of the play?

Explain the Duchess of York's speech "Dead life, blind sight..." from Richard III.

What motivates Richard to commit such evil acts in Richard III?

What are specific examples of 'kingship' are seen in Richard III? My ideas so far: Contrast of Richard and Richmond when they are talking to their respective armies (act 5 scene 6) - Richmond shows more kingly qualities and inspires his army, Richard fails to do so. Also, contrast of Richard and Richmond in terms of their faith.  Richard in act 3 scene 7 only pretends to be praying in order to gain support and appear to be 'good'.  However Richmond actually prays and continually expresses that God is on his side, the side of good. Any other specific examples and the significance of the 'theme' kingship' to the play as a whole would be greatly appreciated.  

In Richard III, how does William Shakespeare make the audience feel dislike towards Richard, but also sympathise with him?

In Shakespeare's Richard III, Act 1 Scene 4, the two assassins have a discussion before murdering Clarence in the Tower of London. In this scene, who is most concerned with meeting God?

What are some of the themes found in Act V of Richard III?

How is Shakespeare's scene where Clarence dies both frightful and amusing in Richard III?

What is the importance of act 5, scene 3 for the play Richard III as a whole?

Richard is a villain. Discuss this fact with the quotation from the book.

What is the importance of act 4, scene 4, when Richard tries to seduce Queen Elizabeth in Richard III?

How do changes in context lead to changes in the value of the women's voice in Al Pacino's Looking for Richard and Richard III?

How does Shakespeare create an atmosphere of evil in Act III, scene 4 of Richard III?

What is a good thesis statement for a character analysis of Lady Anne in Shakespeare's Richard III?

What does the poem "Richard" by Carol Ann Duffy have to do with the play Richard III? What ideas can be drawn from the poem?

What is Richard III's ultimate goal?

What do the female characters in Richard III contribute to the play?

Can anybody tell me (in detail) some of the elements of humor in the play Richard III with examples?

How is Shakespeare’s play Richard III (1591) reshaped in Al Pacino’s docudrama Looking for Richard (1996) to appropriately convey the composers’ original meaning to a more contemporary society?

How does Richard's personality change over the course of the play? Does his level of control disintegrate?

I have to write a new monologue or soliloquy for a character in Richard III. Any ideas?

What is the important development in Act IV of William Shakespeare's Richard III and how does it change the characters?

In Act III, scene 5 lines 1 to 49 and act 2 line 60 to the end how is Richard shown to be both evil and clever in these extracts?

Why is Richard shown to be more than a one-dimensional evil man in Richard III?