Abstract for the busy: this paradigm crystallises or articulates my recent thinking about kingship/leadership as it applies in Shakespeare’s plays and, I increasingly suspect, beyond. It gained critical mass after teaching Richard III at Key Stage 5 (Age 16-17) in Autumn 2016, where I found myself returning again and again to questions of Legitimacy, Authority and Dynasty, in plotting not just Richard’s journey and motives, but Richmond’s and, in fact, Queen Elizabeth’s.

Increasingly, I encouraged my students to think and write in these terms when assessing plot, narrative and contextual influence. The basic premise is that a stable kingship is dependent on the strength of legitimacy, authority and dynasty in the minds of four variable groups – one always being the self-perception of that leader.

If you use this paradigm: as it is, essentially, all my own work, I’d appreciate a credit to me (Abel Guerrero) and a link to this post to signpost the original.

You can access the main document by clicking the link below.

bh-kingship-paradigm-aguerrero-jan-2017

And I welcome comments / suggestions to refine my ideas.