Richard III Study Guide

Richard III

Full Text & Scene-by-Scene Study Guide with Modern Translation
by Stephen Shifflett · GradeWise Resources
28,163 words · 25 scenes · about 3¾ hours on stage uncut · compare all 38 plays · teaching it?
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Scenes
Act 1
1.1 Act I, Scene 1 — London. A street Free 1.2 Act I, Scene 2 — The same. Another street Free 1.3 Act I, Scene 3 — The palace Free 1.4 Act I, Scene 4 — London. The Tower Free
Act 2
2.1 Act II, Scene 1 — London. The palace 2.2 Act II, Scene 2 — The palace 2.3 Act II, Scene 3 — London. A street 2.4 Act II, Scene 4 — London. The palace
Act 3
3.1 Act III, Scene 1 — London. A street 3.2 Act III, Scene 2 — Before Lord Hastings' house 3.3 Act III, Scene 3 — Pomfret Castle 3.4 Act III, Scene 4 — The Tower of London 3.5 Act III, Scene 5 — The Tower-walls 3.6 Act III, Scene 6 — The same 3.7 Act III, Scene 7 — Baynard's Castle
Act 4
4.1 Act IV, Scene 1 — Before the Tower 4.2 Act IV, Scene 2 — London. The palace 4.3 Act IV, Scene 3 — The same 4.4 Act IV, Scene 4 — Before the palace 4.5 Act IV, Scene 5 — Lord Derby's house
Act 5
5.1 Act V, Scene 1 — Salisbury. An open place 5.2 Act V, Scene 2 — The camp near Tamworth 5.3 Act V, Scene 3 — Bosworth Field 5.4 Act V, Scene 4 — Another part of the field 5.5 Act V, Scene 5 — Another part of the field
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Free preview — Act I

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✎ Mr. Shifflett's Note
Mr. Shifflett
Mr. Shifflett
English Teacher · Seoul International School
Hey! I built this study guide and sprinkled my own teaching notes throughout — look for the gold highlights ✎ as you read.

These are the same insights I share with my students in class. I hope they help you see what makes Shakespeare's writing so brilliant. Enjoy!
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How Easy Read Helps

These settings are based on peer-reviewed research on reading and dyslexia. They improve readability for everyone, not just students with dyslexia.

Extra letter & word spacing The single biggest research-backed improvement. Reduces "crowding" — where nearby letters interfere with recognition. Improves speed and accuracy.
Taller line height 1.5× or greater line spacing helps the eye track from line to line without losing place.
Sans-serif font Eye-tracking research shows sans-serif fonts improve reading performance over serif fonts. Letters appear less crowded.
Off-white backgrounds Pure white can appear too dazzling. Cream backgrounds produced the fastest reading times in research with dyslexic readers. Individual preference varies, so we offer choices.
Bold instead of italic Italic text makes letters run together, worsening crowding. Bold provides emphasis without reducing readability.
Shorter line length Lines of 60–70 characters are recommended. Longer lines make it harder to find the start of the next line.

Sources: British Dyslexia Association Style Guide (2023), Zorzi et al. (PNAS, 2012), Rello & Baeza-Yates (W3C, 2012), Sjoblom et al. (Annals of Dyslexia, 2016). Full research summary available on request.