The Royal Family
The aging King who decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters.
Who is King Lear?
The illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester who plots to claim his brother's inheritance.
Who is Edmund?
The character who offers sharp, cynical truth to Lear through riddles and songs.
Who is the Fool?
The country that invades Britain to rescue Lear and restore him to his throne.
What is France?
A recurring motif throughout the play that underscores the chaos in Lear's mind.
What is the weather (or the storm)?
The two eldest daughters who initially flatter Lear to gain their inheritance.
Who are Goneril and Regan?
The nobleman who is blinded by the Duke of Cornwall and Regan.
Who is the Earl of Gloucester?
Edgar assumes this identity to survive.
What is Tom o' Bedlam (or "Poor Tom")?
The character who kills Cordelia while she is imprisoned.
Who is the captain (at Edmund's order)?
The literary term for the speech Lear delivers to the storm, reflecting his internal turmoil.
What is a soliloquy?
The youngest daughter who refuses to flatter her father and is subsequently disowned.
Who is Cordelia?
A nobleman who is framed by his brother for attempted patricide.
Who is Edgar?
The location where Lear wanders during a massive storm, descending further into madness.
What is the Heath?
The primary reason for the conflict that leads to Lear’s downfall.
What is the division of the kingdom (or Lear’s vanity/pride)?
A recurring motif throughout the play used to represent character's lack of recognition.
What is eyes/sight/blindness?
The husband of one of Lear's daughters, this character eventually expresses horror at the actions of his wife and her sister.
Who is the Duke of Albany?
The disguise assumed by the Earl of Kent to remain near the King.
What is Caius?
The person Lear believes is a "learned Theban" or "philosopher" while he is in his delirious state.
Who is Poor Tom (Edgar)?
The manner in which Goneril eventually dies.
What is suicide (by stabbing herself)?
When Lear describes his daughter's ingratitude as a "serpent's tooth", he is employing this literary element.
What is a metaphor?
The daughter who is married to the Duke of Cornwall.
Who is Regan?
The object Edmund uses to turn his father, Gloucester, against Gloucester's legitimate son.
What is a forged/fake letter?
This is Lear's wish when he reconciles with Cordelia.
What is that they live together in jail/away from court?
The nobleman who remains loyal to Lear despite being banished for defending Cordelia.
Who is the Earl of Kent?
This is the emotion the audience should feel at the end of a tragedy, when the hero has recognized their tragic flaw too late?
What is catharsis?