Which king’s deposition and subsequent murder in 1399 serves as the catalyst for the civil strife in the subsequent history plays?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Richard II
The overthrow of Richard II by Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV) is depicted as a violation of the 'Divine Right of Kings.' This act of usurpation is viewed as the original sin that plagues the House of Lancaster for generations.
Keep practicing
More Shakespearean Histories questions
- In 'Henry V,' what is the name of the decisive battle where the English defeat the French despite being heavily outnumbered?
- Which recurring comic character leads a group of petty criminals at the Boar's Head Tavern and influences Prince Hal?
- The 'Second Tetralogy' (or the Henriad) follows the chronological order of which four plays?
- Which plant provides the floral symbols for the rival houses in the 'Henry VI' plays, signifying the start of the civil war?
- In 'Richard III,' how is the protagonist historically depicted in his opening soliloquy?
- Which character in 'Henry IV, Part 1' represents the 'Miles Gloriosus' or braggart soldier archetype?