Histories • c. 1593
Richard III: Modern English Translation & Study Guide
The ruthless and cunning Duke of Gloucester schemes, murders, and manipulates his path to the English crown.
Read Richard III Side by Side
Every scene pairs the public-domain original with a line-matched, original modern-English paraphrase. Choose a scene below to begin reading.
- Act 1, Scene 1 line-by-line translation — SCENE I. London. A street.
- Act 1, Scene 2 line-by-line translation — SCENE II. The same. Another street.
- Act 1, Scene 3 line-by-line translation — SCENE III. The palace.
- Act 1, Scene 4 line-by-line translation — SCENE IV. London. The Tower.
- Act 2, Scene 1 line-by-line translation — SCENE I. London. The palace.
- Act 2, Scene 2 line-by-line translation — SCENE II. The palace.
- Act 2, Scene 3 line-by-line translation — SCENE III. London. A street.
- Act 2, Scene 4 line-by-line translation — SCENE IV. London. The palace.
- Act 3, Scene 1 line-by-line translation — SCENE I. London. A street.
- Act 3, Scene 2 line-by-line translation — SCENE II. Before Lord Hastings' house.
- Act 3, Scene 3 line-by-line translation — SCENE III. Pomfret Castle.
- Act 3, Scene 4 line-by-line translation — SCENE IV. The Tower of London.
- Act 4, Scene 1 line-by-line translation — SCENE I. Before the Tower.
- Act 4, Scene 2 line-by-line translation — SCENE II. London. The palace.
- Act 4, Scene 3 line-by-line translation — SCENE III. The same.
- Act 4, Scene 4 line-by-line translation — SCENE IV. Before the palace.
- Act 5, Scene 1 line-by-line translation — SCENE I. Salisbury. An open place.
- Act 5, Scene 2 line-by-line translation — SCENE II. The camp near Tamworth.
- Act 5, Scene 3 line-by-line translation — SCENE III. Bosworth Field.
- Act 5, Scene 4 line-by-line translation — SCENE IV. Another part of the field.
Richard III study pathways
Original text source: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, MIT HTML edition. MIT states that its HTML versions of the plays are placed in the public domain.