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English Lit: King Lear > Context > Flashcards

Context Flashcards

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1
Q

Who was King Lear?

A

King Lear was an ancient pagan king in England, in the pre-christian period

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2
Q

How does Shakespeare know of King Lear?

A

From Raphael Holinshed and Geoffrey of Monmouth

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3
Q

How is the story of King Lear dramatised by Shakespeare?

A

Through tragedy

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4
Q

What are Aristotle’s key aspects of tragedy?

A

Hamartia
Peripeteia
Anagnorisis
Catharsis

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5
Q

What is King Lear’s hamartia?

A

His selfishness and avarice

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6
Q

What is Gloucester’s hamartia?

A

Selfishness and how gullible he is

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7
Q

What is Lear’s peripeteia?

A

His is kicked out of both R + G’s castles and loses his privilege

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8
Q

What is Gloucester’s peripeteia?

A

He becomes blind

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9
Q

What is the purpose of peripeteia?

A

To cause the audience to feel pathos (pity)

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10
Q

What is Lear’s anagnorisis?

A

When he is insane and realises the corruption in the storm

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11
Q

What is Gloucester’s anagnoisis?

A

When he becomes blind

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12
Q

What is ironic about both Lear and Gloucester’s anagnorisis?

A

Lear acts more sane when he is mad
Gloucester sees things more clearly, metaphorically, when he is blinded

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13
Q

How does King Lear evoke catharsis?

A

In the tragic deaths of characters
(Particularly Cordelia and Lear)

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14
Q

What character acts as the chorus in the play?

A

The Fool

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15
Q

What is a chorus?

A

In Ancient Greece, a chorus is an actor who comments and interprets the plays events

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16
Q

What was significant about division in the 1500’s?

A

The conflict between catholics and protestants

17
Q

What is important about the 1500’s conflict in the play?

A

When the kingdom is divided, the audience already know the source of the tragedy and that it will not end well

18
Q

When was King Lear first performed?

A

1606

19
Q

Who was King during performance of king Lear?

A

King James

20
Q

What were King James’ values and why does this mean he would like the play?

A

Unity, he wanted to reunite the kingdom, so would like King Lear as it exposes the folly of dividing the kingdom

21
Q

What contextual doctrines maintain order?

A

The Great Chain of Being
The Divine Right of Kings

22
Q

What are the similarities between King Lear and the Gunpowder Plot?

A

They both exemplify the chaos created when the Divine Right of Kings is violated

23
Q

How is humanism shown in the play?

A

Humanism was on the rise and the nature of justice along with religious themes in the play reflect the complexities of real life

24
Q

How does Shakespeare reinforce patriarchy?

A

R + G’s power causes chaos and disruption

English Lit: King Lear (16 decks)

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