Richard III

1
Richard III

• Lesson 5

2
In this extract, the references to the
supernatural suggest that it is the theme of fate
that is explored rather than the devious plots of
the characters.

• HASTINGS Woe, woe, for England! Not a whit for me
  -
• For I, too fond, might have prevented this! 80
• Stanley did dream the boar did raze our helms,
• And I did scorn it and disdain to fly.
• Three times today my foot-cloth horse did
  stumble,
• And started when he looked upon the Tower,
• As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house. 85
• O, now I need the priest that spake to me!
• I now repent I told the pursuivant,
• As too triumphing, how mine enemies
• Today at Pomfret bloodily were butchered,
• And I myself secure in grace and favour! 90
• O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
• Is lighted on poor Hastings wretched head!

Although the references to the supernatural do
seem to suggest that it is that omniscient power
that controls everything, Hastings words do have
a clear sense of personal blame in that if he had
acted differently, things might have been
otherwise. He knows that he might have prevented
this, and indeed might have caused it with his
too triumphing stories of his enemies plight.
It is clear that it is for Englands future that
Hastings worries as he knows that others will
follow him in being tricked into execution too.
3
Questions with a performance focus

• opportunity to analyse impact of punctuation
  for an actor
• discussion of impact on the audience of
  different interpretations
• exploration of dramatic irony achieved through
  stagecraft

Act III scene v
4
Turning annotations into an essay

• Make your point relative to the question and link
  to previous part or later point in the play if
  possible.
• Embed short quotations in the sentences that are
  developing your point and continue exploring your
  point of view in the light of the quotations.
• Move towards analysis of the impact of the
  quotations and the intentions behind them.

5
How theatrical are the performances of Richard
and Buckingham in this extract?

• Complete the short performance question
• in 20 mins

6
Homework

• Using Act III scene v 72end, explore how Richard
  exploits every opportunity to further his
  position.