Click on any scene below for a side-by-side translation from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Act 1, Scene 1
At Windsor Castle, Richard II just wants to chill out and enjoy the benefits of being a king who (almost) everyone thinks has been handpicked by God to rule England. But he can't relax because two...
Act 1, Scene 2
When the scene opens, John of Gaunt is in the middle of a private chitchat with his sister-in-law, the Duchess of Gloucester. The Duchess is the widow of the late Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Glouc...
Act 1, Scene 3
The day of the big throwdown (a.k.a. trial by combat) has finally arrived. Everyone gathers at the tournament arena in Coventry. (Psst. Here's what a medieval tournament arena looks like.)Bolingbro...
Act 1, Scene 4
Aumerle reports to King Richard that he just escorted Bolingbroke to the edge of town, where things got a little awkward.Richard wants every juicy detail and is all, "Did anyone cry when Bolingbrok...
Act 2, Scene 1
At Ely House in London, John of Gaunt hangs out with the Duke of York.Gaunt is at death's door, and he says he hopes King Richard will listen to good advice if it comes from a dying man.
Act 2, Scene 2
At Windsor castle, Bushy tries to cheer up Queen Isabella, who seems sad and preoccupied now that her husband has run off to fight a war in Ireland.Isabella says she's worried that something terrib...
Act 2, Scene 3
The scene opens in Gloucestershire (a county in southwest England), where Bolingbroke and Northumberland are leading Henry's army toward Cotswold to meet up with Berkeley, Ross, and Willoughby (the...
Act 2, Scene 4
On the coast of Wales, a Welsh Captain and his troops have been waiting around for King Richard to show up so they can help him fight Henry Bolingbroke's army. (Remember, Richard has been in Irelan...
Act 3, Scene 1
When the scene opens, Bolingbroke has captured Bristol Castle, where Bushy and Green have been hiding out.Bolingbroke doesn't want there to be any confusion, so he tells everybody why he's sentenci...
Act 3, Scene 2
Meanwhile, Richard and his crew have arrived at Harlech Castle, on the coast of Wales.Richard is grateful to be back on British soil. So grateful, in fact, that he bends down, picks up some dirt, a...
Act 3, Scene 3
Bolingbroke, Northumberland, and York are outside Flint Castle talking about the news that King Richard has returned to England.Northumberland refers to King Richard as "Richard," omitting his titl...
Act 3, Scene 4
In her private garden, the queen chills out with her two ladies in waiting. They suggest lawn bowling and dancing and storytelling. She rejects them all.
Act 4, Scene 1
Bolingbroke orders Bagot to be brought forth and asks him to tell him the truth about Gloucester's death.Bagot asks to be placed in front of Lord Aumerle and accuses him of talking trash about Henr...
Act 5, Scene 1
The queen is waiting in a public street for the king to pass by on his way to the Tower of London, where he's going to be imprisoned.When the king appears, the queen compares him to a withering ros...
Act 5, Scene 2
The Duchess asks York to finish telling her about their two cousins' (Richard and Bolingbroke) arrival in London.He had left off telling her about the people throwing dust and garbage on Richard's...
Act 5, Scene 3
King Henry (Bolingbroke) asks if anyone has had news of his son, whom he
hasn't heard from for three months. He calls him a "plague" hanging
over the new kingdom and orders a search of the tavern...
Act 5, Scene 4
At Windsor Castle we bump into a guy named Exton.Exton thinks he just heard King Henry say the following: "Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear?" But Exton's not sure he heard right, so...
Act 5, Scene 5
In prison at Pomfret Castle, Richard gives a long, weird, but very poetic speech about his loneliness. He says he can't compare his prison to the rest of the world because the world is full of peop...
Act 5, Scene 6
Henry chills at his new pad, Windsor Castle.We find out that there's been a rebel uprising against Henry. The rebels have burned down the town of Cirencester, but Henry hasn't heard whether they've...