Richard II
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Act 1, Scene 1 Act 1, Scene 2 Act 1, Scene 3 Act 1, Scene 4 Act 2, Scene 1 Act 2, Scene 2 Act 2, Scene 3 Act 2, Scene 4 Act 3, Scene 1 Act 3, Scene 2 Act 3, Scene 3 Act 3, Scene 4 Act 4, Scene 1 Act 5, Scene 1 Act 5, Scene 2 Act 5, Scene 3 Act 5, Scene 4 Act 5, Scene 5 Act 5, Scene 6
Themes
All Themes The Throne Language Family Honor and Appearance England
Quotes
Characters
All Characters King Richard II Henry Bolingbroke / King Henry IV John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster Edmund of Langley, Duke of York
Symbols
All Symbols Blood The Crown
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Foreshadowing Genre Hyperbole Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Motifs Paradox Pathos Personification Setting Similes Situational Irony Soliloquy Style Tone Verbal Irony
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Richard II

by

William Shakespeare

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Act 1, Scene 1
  • Act 1, Scene 2
  • Act 1, Scene 3
  • Act 1, Scene 4
  • Act 2, Scene 1
  • Act 2, Scene 2
  • Act 2, Scene 3
  • Act 2, Scene 4
  • Act 3, Scene 1
  • Act 3, Scene 2
  • Act 3, Scene 3
  • Act 3, Scene 4
  • Act 4, Scene 1
  • Act 5, Scene 1
  • Act 5, Scene 2
  • Act 5, Scene 3
  • Act 5, Scene 4
  • Act 5, Scene 5
  • Act 5, Scene 6
Themes
  • All Themes
  • The Throne Theme Icon
    The Throne
  • Language Theme Icon
    Language
  • Family Theme Icon
    Family
  • Honor and Appearance Theme Icon
    Honor and Appearance
  • England Theme Icon
    England
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • King Richard II
  • Henry Bolingbroke / King Henry IV
  • John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster
  • Edmund of Langley, Duke of York
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Blood Symbol Icon
    Blood
  • The Crown Symbol Icon
    The Crown
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Hyperbole
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Motifs
  • Paradox
  • Pathos
  • Personification
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Soliloquy
  • Style
  • Tone
  • Verbal Irony
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

Richard II Study Guide

New! Understand every line of Richard II.
Read our modern English translation.

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Ginsberg, Jacob. "Richard II." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 22 Feb 2017. Web. 13 Dec 2025.


Chicago

Ginsberg, Jacob. "Richard II." LitCharts LLC, February 22, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/richard-ii.

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