Act 3 Sc 1

Question 1

There is division… twix albany and cornwall’ Kent (3,1)

Answer 1

irony because lear did that in act1 scene1 to prevent future arguments between them about the kingdom (lines 43-44 act1sc1 ‘that future strife may be prevented now”)

Question 2

”this knight wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch. The lion and belly- pinched wolf keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs” Knight (3,1)

Answer 2

Man vs animals question? Shows lears insanity and vulnerability.

Question 3

Lears vulnerability alone in storm (3,1)

Answer 3

Lines 4-14= Lears shouting at the wind and the rain - shouting at the weather, hes hatless and unprotected, he’s tearing his white hair out

Question 4

Lears lack of power / Knight telling us about Lear instead of seeing it on stage for ourselves (3,1)

Answer 4

Effect of shakespeare having this unnamed knight telling Kent this instead of us seeing it on stage in Lear himself: emphasises that Lear is on his own out in the storm as well as he is isolated, there are two people on stage having a conversation about lear who we know is alone (tragic isolation). Also a symbol of his loss of power, the fact that he isn’t even on stage at all because he doesn’t even perform it on stage we hear about it rather than even get to see it as it may become more powerful if lear himself was on stage, it minimises his power with a description of the power shouting at this old man who appears to be going nuts diminished lear as a man of power.