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 King Richard III

Test Yourself

From memory, fill in the numbered gaps in this brief summary of the play using the words in the box below:

treachery Elizabeth Clarence imprsioned hell victory
sanctuary reluctantly London curses funeral ghosts
bishops tower weep horse execution prophecy
avenge unite threat hostage


Richard, Duke of Gloucester, plots to become King of England by removing his brother (1) from the line of succession and marrying Lady Anne Neville to secure his claim to the throne. Richard encounters Lady Anne during the (2) procession of her father-in-law and woos her by telling her that all the crimes he has committed were done out of love for her.

Old Queen Margaret grieves the loss of her family, asking God to (3) their murders and cursing Richard, as well as the other members of the new royal family. Her curses seem to quickly take place. Clarence is in prison and, after dreaming that he drowned and went to (4), is visited by two murderers who tell him that Richard sent them to kill him. The sick King Edward makes peace among his quarrelling courtiers, but when Richard appears and tells them of Clarence's death, he is overcome with regret and grief.

Learning that their father is dead and that the king is dead, the children of Clarence, the Duchess of York and Queen Elizabeth mourn for them as the young Prince Edward is taken to (5) to be crowned. At the palace in London the Duchess of York and Queen Elizabeth and her younger son, the Duke of York, await the arrival of the young Prince Edward and learn that Rivers, Grey and Vaughan have been (6) on the orders of Richard and Buckingham.

On learning this, Queen Elizabeth is fearful for her future and leaves with the Duke of York to take (7). The young prince Edward arrives in London, he is joined by his brother, the Duke of York, and both are taken to stay in the Tower of London. In a street in London some citizens discuss the news of the king's death and predict trouble for a land that is ruled by a child.

Richard begins to get rid of people who do not support him or who are a (8) to his plan to become king. A messenger arrives from Lord Stanley to Lord Hastings with a warning to beware of Richard, but Hastings mocks Stanley's fears and does not realise that when he is taken to the (9) he will die there.

Rivers, Grey and Vaughan are led away to be executed and they remember the curses of the old Queen Margaret and pray for Elizabeth and the princes. Richard accuses Hastings of (10) and as Hastings is led away to be executed, he recalls Margaret's curses and foretells a troubled future for England if Richard becomes king. A scrivener from London, who has copied out the indictment against Lord Hastings, suspects ill dealings as he reflects on his swift (11).

Richard makes an appearance before the people of London with two (12) and a prayer book in his hand, (13) agreeing to the request of Buckingham, the Lord Mayor and Catesby's that he take the crown and become king.

As Anne is led off to be crowned queen, she recalls the curses she made when Richard wooed her over the dead body of her father-in-law and realises she has become the object of her own (14). Soon after the coronation, Richard plans to secure his throne by getting rid of Anne, making a new marriage to the Princess (15) and hiring a murderer to kill the young princes in the Tower.

The two murderers who killed the princes are subsequently filled with remorse and guilt, but Richard carries on with his plan to woo their sister Elizabeth and to fight the army that is rising up against him.

After hearing that the princes have been killed in the tower Old Queen Margaret, Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of York (16) over the deaths that have occurred in the wars between their families and all three of them curse Richard to his face.

As Richard's plans to go to war take shape, Lord Stanley tells Richmond that he is unable to join Richmond because his son is a (17) with Richard, and sends words of his support. When Richmond receives Stanley's letter of support, he vows to defeat Richard and his followers.

Buckingham has been captured and as he is led off to be executed, he recalls Margaret's curses and her (18) that Richard would betray him.
On the eve of the battle Richard dreams that the (19) of all the people he has killed visit him to curse him and afterwards visit Richmond to say that they pray for his (20).

During the battle Richard's (21) has been killed from under him, but he still searches for Richmond so he can kill him. After Richmond has killed Richard, he declares that the wars which have troubled England will come to an end with his marriage to the princess Elizabeth which will (22) the houses of York and Lancaster.


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