King Lear
When and where is King Lear set?
Ancient, Pagan Britain
When was the first performance of King Lear performed?
26th December, 1606
What aesthetic feature is the storm? And what is it symbolic of?
Pathetic Fallacy: Internal struggle represented in external events/objects. Symbolic of mental/political madness.
What excuse do Regan and Cornwall give for not speaking with Lear immediately?
They are 'sick and tired'.
What does the term "dullard" mean?
Dull or dumb person
What is King Lear's Hamartia?
Pride, moral blindness/misjudgement
What style of plays did Shakespeare write?
Tragedies, comedies, and histories (satire)
What is blindness symbolic of?
Why was Cordelia hung?
She supported her father against Edmund and her sisters. Edmund needed to prove himself with actions - not words.
What does the term "filial" mean?
Children
How does Lear’s journey mirror Gloucester’s?
Both are deceived by ungrateful children, both lose what they rely on (Lear his sanity, Gloucester his sight), and both achieve greater self-knowledge through suffering.
What is Shakespeare's two writing styles in King Lear?
Prose and verse
What is the significance of garments within the play?
Represents social status and identity (Lear's journey of kingship, madness, and humility). Highlights the shallowness of appearances and the hypocrisy of justice system that advantages the rich and disadvantages the poor.
What does the play suggest about those who deceive and betray for selfish gain?
They will destroy each other in competition for their own selfish gain.
What does the term "pernicious" mean?
Extremely harmful
Give two other phrases/names used to refer to King Lear?
"a very foolish fond old man"
"the lunatic king"
"ruined piece of nature"
"oppressed king"
"My lady’s father."
"child changed father"
"idle old man"
How is primogeniture - the law which required all property to be passed down to the oldest male child - both challenged and reinforced through which characters?
Reinforced by showing the disastrous consequences of Lear’s decision to ignore primogeniture and divide his kingdom between several heirs (daughters at that). Challenged by Edmund, who is motivated by what he sees as the injustice of primogeniture, which has deprived him of the chance to inherit.
What is the fool constructed as?
Greek 'chorus' who comments on happenings. A professionally mad character who speaks much wisdom and honesty.
What are valid interpretations of the final lesson interpreted at the end of the play?
Justice does not always prevail.
There is no reward, either in this world or the next, for leading a moral life.
The futility and madness of dividing a kingdom.
Hypocrisy of wealthy people.
Skepticism of divine justice.
What does the term "choleric" mean?
Easily angered
Describe Lear's progressive relationship with Nature over the play.
At the beginning of the play, Lear thinks of Nature as a divine force that validates authority, hierarchy, and curses. But once he is in the heart of Nature (the storm), he experiences Nature’s indifference, which mirrors his loss of control and descent into madness. Finally, he recognises Nature as a 'leveller' and that all humans are frail creatures, stripped of pride and illusion.
How does the play reflect Jacobean concerns about succession?
Soon after Elizabeth I’s death (1603), King Lear reflects anxieties about political instability caused by unclear succession. Lear’s division of the kingdom mirrors fears of civil war and disorder when the transfer of power is mishandled. Also, King James was a big fan of unity (Scotland and England) so the idea of a king ruining his life by dividing his kingdom shows the wisdom of King James' own political decisions.
What is the significance of "nothing" within the play?
Lear’s declaration in the opening scene that “nothing will come of nothing” prepares the audience for a play that begins with an impulsive, senseless act and ends with no meaning, no hope and no redemption for its characters.
What is the significance of settings in the play? (Hint: what are the settings, when does each setting occur?)
The first half of King Lear is set in the safe, comfortable palaces of Lear, Gloucester and Lear’s daughters. However, as the play progresses, an increasing number of its scenes take place in dirty, unsafe surroundings: the heath in a violent storm, a hovel in the middle of nowhere, the fields and beaches near Dover during a military invasion. This shift from safe, interior spaces to threatening, outdoor locations reflects Lear’s gradual loss of his wealth and status. The movement from indoors to outdoors also reminds the audience that shelter and security are privileges one can lose.
What does the term "arbitrament" mean?
Final judgement