Intro
Who wrote King Lear?
William Shakespeare.
How many daughters does King Lear have?
Three: Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia.
Who is Gloucester's legitimate son?
Edgar.
Who disguises himself so he can continue serving Lear?
Kent.
Where does Lear plan to go after leaving Goneril?
To Regan's household.
What type of play is King Lear?
A tragedy.
What does Lear ask his daughters to do before dividing his kingdom?
He asks each daughter to publicly declare how much she loves him.
Who is Gloucester's illegitimate son?
Edmund.
What name does Kent use while disguised?
Caius.
Who travels with Lear while disguised as Caius?
Kent.
What is the central conflict introduced in King Lear?
King Lear's struggle with his family, especially his daughters, as he gives away his kingdom and loses his authority.
Which daughter refuses to flatter Lear with an exaggerated declaration of love?
Cordelia.
What does Edmund use to trick Gloucester into believing that Edgar is plotting against him?
A forged letter.
What does Goneril complain about regarding Lear?
She complains that Lear's knights are disorderly and that Lear himself is acting disrespectfully and demanding too much.
What does Lear ask Kent/Caius to do?
He sends him ahead to Regan with a message.
What major themes are explored in King Lear?
Family, power, loyalty, betrayal, blindness, madness, and the difference between appearance and reality.
What happens to Cordelia after Lear becomes angry with her response?
Lear disowns and banishes her.
Why does Edmund resent Edgar?
Edmund is angry that Edgar, as Gloucester's legitimate son, has social and legal advantages that Edmund does not have.
Who provides Lear with comic commentary and often speaks uncomfortable truths?
The Fool.
What does the Fool continue to do throughout this scene?
He jokes and makes pointed comments that reveal the foolishness of Lear's decisions.
What happens when Lear gives away his kingdom?
He divides his power among his daughters, but his decision leads to betrayal, conflict, and the eventual collapse of his family and kingdom.
Why does Kent object to Lear's treatment of Cordelia?
Kent believes Lear is making a terrible mistake because Cordelia genuinely loves him and is being honest rather than flattering him.
Why does Goneril decide to reduce the number of Lear's knights and servants?
She believes Lear and his followers are behaving disrespectfully and causing disorder in her household, so she wants to limit his power and influence.
What does Lear do after Goneril confronts him about his behavior?
He becomes furious, curses Goneril, and decides to leave her household and go to Regan.
What important realization begins to develop in Lear during Act 1?
Lear begins to recognize that giving up his power and trusting his daughters may have been a serious mistake.