Act 4 Scenes 1 & 2
What emotion best describes Gloucester’s state of mind at the start of scene 1?
Despair
Why does Lear refuse to see Cordelia?
He is ashamed of how he has treated her
What does Edgar do to convince Gloucester he has jumped from a cliff?
Fakes a dramatic fall and "survival"
What does Lear ask Cordelia when he sees her?
If she can forgive him
What happens during the brief battle?
Lear and Cordelia are captured
What does Gloucester ask Poor Tom (Edgar) to do?
Guide him to the cliffs of Dover and leave him
Why does Kent say the King of France returned to his country?
There was urgent business at home
Why does Regan want to read the letter Oswald is carrying?
She suspects a plot involving Goneril and Edmund
What does Edmund reveal in his soliloquy about his intentions toward Goneril and Regan?
He is playing both sisters against each other for power
What does Edgar encourage Gloucester to do before the battle?
Wait safely in a sheltered spot
How does Goneril speak about Albany in scene 2?
With digust and hate
What is Cordelia’s main concern in scene 4?
Lear's mental state
What happens to Oswald?
Edgar kills him in defense of Gloucester
What does Edgar (disguised) warn Albany about?
Edmund’s betrayal and Goneril’s treachery
Who dies first out of the sisters, and how?
Regan—poisoned by Goneril
What major change do we see in Albany’s character?
He begins to oppose Goneril and her cruelty
What is Lear’s condition at this point, according to the Doctor?
He is mad but treatable with sleep
What does Regan ask Oswald to do if he encounters Gloucester?
Kill him
How does Albany feel about the battle against Cordelia’s forces?
He plans to fight, but wants justice, not revenge
What final act does Edmund attempt before dying?
He tries to reverse the order to kill Cordelia
What theme is most clearly revealed through Gloucester and Edgar’s situation?
Blindness and insight
How is Cordelia different from her sisters in how she responds to power?
She shows humility and that she cares
What philosophical idea does Lear express in his madness?
The corruption of justice and false authority
What is the emotional tone of the reunion between Lear and Cordelia?
Tender and sorrowful
Who is left to rule at the end of the play?
Edgar- with Albany's support