Richard II Structure characters and themes Richard II

Richard II Structure, characters, and themes

Richard II Geneology of Plantagenants

Richard II Structure • Act I -- establishes characters and issues – ends in first turning point • banishment • Act II - IV -- develops story, themes – includes midpoint • Flint Castle – ends in 2 nd turning point • abdication • Act V -- climax • death of Richard

Richard II Rise and Fall structure External change Richard as King Bolingbroke King Richard dead Bolingbroke as exile

Richard II Characters • Primary -- dynamic – Protagonist, changes through play • Richard – Antagonist, character revealed • Bolingbroke • Secondary -- static – Reflection characters • Gaunt, York, Aumerle, Queen – Stereotyped • Bushy, Bagot, and Green; Exton, Northumberland

Richard II Character • Motivations – actions – dialogue – soliloquies • Beliefs or world views – speeches – what others say about character • Foiling with other characters – comparison which shows one character as better

Richard II Foils • Character foiling – Richard and Bolingbroke – Old Gaunt and Bolingbroke – Gaunt/Bol and York/Aumerle • Plot foiling – Act 1, scenes 1 & 2 • Action foiling -- fewer men w/Rich, more w/Bol • Similar situations -– 1. 1 and 4. 1 – 1. 1 and 5. 4

Richard II Rise and Fall structure Internal change Bolingbroke as champion of right Richard as tyrant Richard as Man Bolingbroke as Machiavellian

Richard II Themes • role of King • world view of Renaissance Christian Humanist and Machievellian • appearance vs. reality • honor • time

Richard II -- Act I Scene 1 Public Bolingbroke vs Mowbray Scene 2 Private Gaunt and Duchess of Worchester Scene 3 Public aborted joust banishments Scene 4 Private Richard and “caterpillars”

Richard II, Act I, scene 1 Gaunt Bol Rich Aum Mow

Richard II Rise and Fall structure External change Richard as King Bolingbroke King Richard dead Bolingbroke as exile

Richard II Language • Renaissance Christian Humanist vs. Machievellian – Great Chain of Being metaphors • “Set speeches” vs. dialogue

Richard II Motifs and Imagery • • Disease, physician Gardening Flattery Judgment

Richard II -- Act II Scene 1 Gaunt’s death “This royal throne of kings” Scene 2 Richard to Ireland Scene 3 Bol gather support Scene 4 Welsh to leave Rumors of Rich’s death

Richard II -- Act III Scene 1 Bol judges Bushy and Green Scene 2 Richard’s return and emotional roller-coaster “Earth” speech “Sun” speech “Death of Kings” Scene 3 Flint Castle MIDPOINT SCENE Scene 4 Gardner scene

Richard II, Act III, scene 3 Rich North Bol

Richard II -- Act IV Scene 1 Abdication or Deposition Scene “ 2 buckets” metaphor Richard and mirror

Richard II -- Act V Scene 1 Queen’s farewell Scene 2 Yorks at home Scene 4 Exton Scene 5 Prison Scene Death of Richard Scene 3 Beggar and the King Scene 6 Public Banishment of Exton

Richard II, Act V, scene 6 North Bol Rich