With Storyboard That, students can diagram a play’s five act structure to show the sequence of events. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of plot, but it reinforces major actions from the play and helps students develop greater understanding for literary structures. Read more about the five act structure in our article.
The play takes place after the end of the War of the Roses, with the House of York as victor. Richard III makes his intentions clear: he is going to install himself as king by getting rid of Clarence, waiting for Edward to die, and marrying Lady Anne Neville, Prince Edward’s widow.
Richard begins to manipulate those around him. He proposes to Lady Anne, convincing her that he killed her husband because he’s in love with her. King Edward IV is very sickly, and his two sons are too young to rule. The throne is going to defer to Richard, and Queens Margaret and Elizabeth are dismayed and angry at this prospect.
Richard has Clarence murdered. Edward IV dies, and young Prince Edward is to be crowned king. Richard has Elizabeth’s relatives arrested, so Elizabeth takes sanctuary with her youngest son in hopes that Richard won’t pursue them.
Richard places Edward IV’s two sons in the Tower of London. Richard kills Lord Hastings, and convinces the Lord Mayor of London that Edward’s sons are illegitimate, and that the people want him to be crowned king instead. He and Queen Anne are crowned the next day.
Richard orders Buckingham to kill the two young princes; however, when Buckingham doesn’t, he hires a man named Tyrell and Buckingham falls out of Richard’s favor. Richard plans to kill Queen Anne and marry Edward IV’s daughter, Elizabeth, his niece. The Earl of Richmond gathers an army and marches against Richard for control of the throne. Queen Elizabeth arranges to have her daughter married to Richmond instead.
Buckingham is beheaded. The night before the battle, all of the ghosts of Richard’s victims visit him in his dreams to tell him he will lose. Richard’s allies are with him mostly out of fear; most desert him in the actual battle against Richmond. Richard’s horse is killed, and Richard rages around the battlefield, out of his mind and searching for Richmond. Finally, Richard finds Richmond, the two fight each other in a duel, and Richmond kills Richard. Richmond is crowned King Henry VII and announces his plans to marry Elizabeth, Edward IV’s daughter. This unites the two houses finally under the Tudor dynasty.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of Richard III.
Save time and boost comprehension by helping students identify key characters and their roles at the start. This gives essential context, making the five act structure activity more meaningful and less confusing.
Write or project a simple list of main characters with a brief note on their relationships (e.g., Richard: brother to Edward IV; Lady Anne: widow of Prince Edward). This visual reference lets students check details as they work.
Have each student or pair quickly sketch a card for a character, including name, relation, and one personality trait. Hands-on involvement makes new names stick and prepares students for deeper plot analysis.
Pause after each act and ask students to reference their cards to identify which characters drive the action. This reinforces understanding of how character motivations shape the story’s structure.
Wrap up by discussing how major characters changed from Act 1 to Act 5. Reflecting on character growth helps students see the link between plot structure and character development.
The five act structure of Richard III includes the Prologue/Exposition (Richard plots to become king), Rising Action (Richard's manipulations and murders), Climax (Richard becomes king through deceit), Falling Action (Richard’s crimes catch up with him), and Denouement (Richard’s defeat and Richmond’s rise to power, uniting the houses).
Use a visual plot diagram to break down each act: summarize key events, create images for each stage, and have students write brief descriptions. This helps students grasp plot development and story sequencing in Richard III.
The five act structure helps students understand narrative flow and Shakespearean drama. It organizes the story into clear sections, making it easier to identify rising tension, climactic moments, and the play’s resolution.
Each act features pivotal moments: Act 1 (Richard’s ambition is revealed), Act 2 (murders and political maneuvering), Act 3 (Richard seizes the crown), Act 4 (his power unravels), and Act 5 (Richard’s defeat by Richmond).
Richard III tells the story of a ruthless nobleman who schemes his way to England’s throne, only to be overthrown by Richmond, who becomes King Henry VII and unites the kingdom.