Q&A SummaryStory

Justice -The concept of justice is a very important theme in “King Lear”-Especially significant is the existence of divine justice. -Throughout the play, good people are punished as much as the bad…sometimes even more. -What does this say about divine…

Dirty Rotten Bastards – Edmund, Class and King LeareMagazine ‘It offers us enduringly pertinent perspectives on the fundamental challenges of our human condition’ Dirty Rotten Bastards – Edmund, Class and King LeareMagazine ‘In the end, the play itself comes down…

What is the question Lear asks his daughters before he makes the division of his kingdom final? What does he expect of his daughters? Lear demands that his daughters affirm their love for him. He asks “which of you shall…

Original version of King Lear is called King Leir from Holinshed’s Chronicles … First performed 26th December 1606 – written during period of uncertainty surrounding Elizabeth’s throne (possible civil war imminent similar to the War of the Roses 1455-1485) Competing…

King Lear aging king of Britain, values are hallow, wants to maintain the power of king but be unburdened by the responsibilities, inspires loyalty Cordelia Lear’s youngest daughter, disowned for refusing to say how much she loves Lear, remains loyal…

Elements of Plot Exposition, discovery, point of attack, foreshadowing, complication, climax, crisis, denouement Exposition Background, identification of characters, relationships, motivation, reveal past, establish environment Discovery Recognition of truth, character motivation, goals, relationships, emotions Point of Attack First complication, inciting moment…

THEMES Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. JUSTICE King Lear is a brutal play, filled with human cruelty and awful, seemingly meaningless disasters. The play’s succession of terrible events raises an obvious question…

Edmund’s quest for justice (Act I) Edmund the base shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper; now gods, stand up for bastards Lear’s apostrophe to nature (Act III) I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness / I never…

O you kind gods, cure this great breach in his abused nature! Cordelia appealing to the gods to cure Lear’s madness. Child-changed father Cordelia describes Lear. Restoration hang thy medicine on my lips Cordelia hopes to bring about Lear’s restoration…

GLOUCESTER to KENT His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I haveso often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I ambrazed to it. GLOUCESTER to KENT Sir, this young fellow’s mother could: whereuponshe grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir,…