Question

richard iii
by william shakespeare (excerpt)

act v, scene 3

shakespeare based this play on the real-life king richard of england. the play centers on his quest for power as richard uses manipulation, deceit, and murder to ascend to the throne of england. in this excerpt, the duke of richmond has arrived nearby to challenge richard in battle. richmonds stepfather, lord stanley, is also present in support of richmond, though richard at first believes him to be on his own side. richard and his companions, ratliff and norfolk, decide how to respond to both richmond and lord stanley.

(re-enter king richard, ratcliff, attendants and forces)

king richard iii: what said northumberland as touching richmond?

ratcliff: that he was never trained up in arms.

king richard iii: he said the truth: and what said surrey then?

ratcliff: he smiled and said the better for our purpose.

king richard iii: he was in the right; and so indeed it is.

(clock striketh)

tell the clock there. give me a calendar.
who saw the sun to-day?

select the correct answer.

which line spoken by king richard offers the best evidence that he is a cruel and unjust ruler?

\spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood\ (line 72)
\a black day it will be to somebody.\ (line 11)
\lets whip these stragglers oer the seas again\ (line 58)
\off with his son georges head!\ (line 76)

Explanation:

Analyze the question requirements

The question asks which line spoken by King Richard provides the best evidence that he is a cruel and unjust ruler.

Evaluate the given options

• "Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood" (line 72): This shows battle aggression and violence, but is typical of wartime leadership rather than specific injustice or cruelty as a ruler.
• "A black day it will be to somebody." (line 11): This is an ominous, fatalistic observation about the upcoming battle, not direct evidence of tyrannical cruelty or injustice.
• "Let's whip these stragglers o'er the seas again" (line 58): This is standard wartime rhetoric against invading forces.
• "Off with his son George's head!" (line 76): This line shows Richard ordering the immediate execution of an innocent young man (Lord Stanley's son, George) simply because his father supports the opposing side. This is a direct demonstration of tyrannical cruelty and unjust rule.

Select the best evidence

Ordering the execution of a hostage (a son) to punish the father's political defection is the ultimate demonstration of a cruel and unjust ruler.

Answer:

• (A) "Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood" (line 72)
• (B) "A black day it will be to somebody." (line 11)
• (C) "Let's whip these stragglers o'er the seas again" (line 58)
• (D) "Off with his son George's head!" (line 76) (Correct answer)