Study Guide to Richard III by William Shakespeare

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for William Shakespeare’s Richard III, which explores fate and freedom as it plays out in the life of a monarch.


As a historical play of the late sixteenth century, Richard III plays with humor and the dichotomy between how King Richard presented himself versus how his subjects viewed him. The play includes themes like crime and conscience, specifically the ways Richard pushed aside his conscience and used murder as a tool in his schemes. Moreover, this shows the cultural entitlement of nobles and poses the question of whether anyone in Richard’s Court truly knew good from evil. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Shakespeare’s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:


- Introductions to the Author and the Work

- Character Summaries

- Plot Guides

- Section and Chapter Overviews

- Test Essay and Study Q&As


The Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including

essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.