King+Lear+-+Homework+Comprehension+Questions

These are the questions that have been set as homework and which have been discussed in class. It is important that you practice good paragraphing and essay writing technique by answering in full sentences and noting quotes and events in detail. You are building up a personal body of evidence which will be invaluable when the time comes to revise for the exam.

Act 1

1. Why does Lear favour Goneril and Regan's professions of love over Cordelia's? (1.1) 2. What does Lear's demand that his daughters express how much they love him say about his mental state? 3. What characteristics (flaws?) of Cordelia set in motion the tragedy to follow? What characteristics (flaws?) of Lear contribute to the beginning of the tragic plot? 4. What information does the exiling of Kent give the audience about Lear's state of mind? 5. What does Cordelia accuse her sisters of as she leaves Lear's palace? 6. Do Goneril and Regan find Lear's behaviour strange? How do they explain it? 7. How does Gloucester's quick suspicion of his son Edgar make him similar to Lear? 8. Summarize in your own words Edmund's philosophy (1.2:1 - 22, 118 - 133, 176 - 183) 9. In what manner has Lear offended Goneril and her household? (1.3) 10. How is she justified in her anger? 11. How would Lear like to see Goneril punished for what he perceives to be her treasonous betrayal? 12. According to the Fool's arguments, how has Lear "deserved" this poor treatment from Goneril? (1.5) 13. What daughter of Lear's is the Fool most like, and why? 14. What fate does Lear fear awaits him due to the betrayal of his daughters? (1.5) 15. What lines near the end of Act 1, Scene 1 imply the reasons for Goneril's lack of affection for Lear?

Act 2

1. How does Edmund make himself appear to be the better son in Gloucester's eyes? (2.1) 2. What actions of Regan and her husband Cornwall continue the challenge to Lear's sense of himself begun by Goneril (and earlier, Cordelia)? 3. What identity of Lear's is symbolised by the servants he wishes to keep around him? 4. Why should the reader not be surprised at Regan's decision to side with her sister rather than her father? (2.2) 5. Summarise Edgar's reasons for assuming the disguise of Poor Tom (2.3) 6. How do Goneril and Regan assert power over their father, thus inciting him to exit into the raging storm? (2.4) 7. What emotions does Lear indicate he is feeling as a response to his daughters assertion of power over him? 8. Find the line spoken by Lear which parallels his earlier cursing of Goneril as illegitimate (2.2). 9. Summarise Regan's reply to Lear's accusations of Goneril's betrayal (2.2.335 - 340) 10. Misplaced rest of that day's questions....(can someone e-mail them to me?)

Act 3

1. Lear in the Storm Scenes: Class questions on 3.2: 1 - 9, 14 - 24, 49 - 59, 70 and 3.4: 6 - 36.

a. What does the storm symbolise? Give quotes b. How does Lear see himself in these scenes? Is his self-identity changing? c. Do you agree with Lear's assessment of his predicament and its causes? Why or why not?

2. In what sense is it ironic that Gloucester confides his good intentions in his illegitimate son, Edmund? (3.3) 3. How are the political events described by Gloucester (3.3) similar to the mental experiences of Lear in the storm scenes? Why does Shakespeare choose to suggest these connections? 4. Lear desires an apocalyptic event in the storm scenes. What does this say about his thoughts on the existence of justice in the world? 5. Identify 2 quotes which demonstrate that Lear is moving away from his initial self-absorption, pride and egotism. 6. What imagery does Lear use to describe Goneril and Regan while in the hovel? Why? 7. Compare the madness of Lear to the madness of Poor Tom (Edgar) (3.4) 8. Is Regan and Cornwall's abuse of Gloucester justified? What does their act of brutality say about the state of England at the time? 9. What does Gloucester's blindness symbolise? What is ironic about the blinding of Gloucester? 10. The Fool disappears from the play in Act 3. Is his job done? If so, what was his job and why is he no longer needed? 11. What does Edgar mean by "He childed as I fathered" (3.6.107) 12. Is Regan and Cornwall's abuse of Gloucester justified? What does their act of brutality say about the state of England at the time?

ACT IV

1. Summarise the new insights of "blinded" Gloucester's which parallel Lear's growing insights (4.1.20 - 25, 38 - 39, 66 - 74) 2. Gloucester's Thoughts on Justice etc: 4.1.20 - 25, 38 - 39, 66 -74 a. Summarise the new philosophy and insights that Gloucester develops in these lines b. How could the lines "Full oft' tis seen Our means secure us and our mere defects Prove our commodities" be applied to Lear's experiences in the play? c. What events in the play support Gloucester's bleak assertions in these lines? d. Compare these lines of Gloucester with those of Lear in the storm scenes (4.1.20 - 25, 38 - 39, 66 - 74). What is similar about their thoughts on justice and charity? What is different? 3. How does Goneril compound her "sins" against her family? (4.2) 4. How does Albany percieve his wife? (4.2) 5. Why is it natural that Lear would not wish to see his daughter Cordelia? (4.3) 6. How does Regan compound her "sins" against her family? (4.5) 7. Identify how Edgar begin the process of righting the unnatural events that have occurred? (4.6) 8. Summarise Cordelia's response to her father's words (4.7)