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Richard III Act One

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Learning objectives

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In this presentation you will…

Learn about the historical background to the play

Gain an overview of the plot of Act One

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Richard III became King of England in 1483 after the death of his brother, Edward IV. Edward IV’s son, the twelve-year-old Edward V, was not old enough to rule, so Richard was appointed Protector. He became King after Edward V and his younger brother Richard were declared illegitimate and then disappeared.

Richard was killed by Henry Tudor at the battle of Bosworth in 1485.

Shakespeare wrote his play over 100 years after Richard’s death, and his depiction of Richard as a murderous tyrant remains disputed by many.

Who was Richard III?

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What were the Wars of the Roses?

The Wars of the Roses is the name given to the civil war fought in England in the fifteenth century. The war was fought between the rival houses of York and Lancaster, both of whom believed they had the best claim to the throne.

The war was so called because the two houses both took roses as their emblems – a white rose for the house of York, and a red one for the house of Lancaster.

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What were the Wars of the Roses?

The wars took place during the reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV and Richard III. They came to an end when Henry Tudor, a Lancastrian, killed Richard III at the battle of Bosworth and married Elizabeth, the daughter of Yorkist King Edward IV, thereby uniting the two families.

Richard III is set towards the end of the Wars of the Roses. At the beginning of the play the Lancastrian King Henry VI has been killed and the ‘sun of York’ Edward IV is on the throne.

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Act One summary