RICHARD III

By the end of this unit, students will be able to: relate key aspects of the history behind Richard III; evaluate the historical circumstances in which Richard III was written, including major events in 1590s England and Elizabeth I’s connection to the Wars of the Roses; recognize the difference between a historical figure and the persona presented in a fictional medium; discuss a writer’s reasons for portraying historical events and persons the way he or she does; interpret some of Shakespeare’s views on the relationship between a ruler and the state. What makes a good monarch?; explain the role that the Earl of Richmond plays in Richard III and tell what historical moral Shakespeare was delivering through this character’s triumph; analyze the process of turning history into drama; and analyze the use of rhetorical and dramatic devices in the play. 69 pages. ©2008.