https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-tha8x-1b6125b
In this episode of Read-y or Not?, we’re stepping into Shakespeare’s Richard II as part of our mini-series Everything Your HS Teacher Didn’t Tell You About Shakespeare. This history play may be full of kings, nobles, banishment, rebellion, and political maneuvering, but at its heart, it is also a deeply personal story about identity, power, leadership, and what happens when someone loses the role they thought made them untouchable.
As teachers, we’re looking beyond the crown to unpack what students need in order to understand this play: historical context about monarchy and succession, the idea of divine right, Shakespeare’s poetic language, and the emotional collapse of a king who is forced to confront the difference between having power and being worthy of it.
We’ll also talk about why Richard II still matters for young readers today, especially in conversations about leadership, accountability, privilege, image, loyalty, and the consequences of refusing to listen until it is too late.
Whether you’re a parent, educator, or reader wondering when this Shakespeare history play is the right fit, we’re breaking down whether Richard II is a read now, read later, or read together.
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