King Lear

Question 1

1. Describe two of King Lear’s rash decisions in Act 1 that lead to his eventual downfall.

Answer 1

• He exiled his good daughter Cordelia

- He asks his daughters which one loves him the most

Question 2

2. What is Edmund’s Motivation for his Evil deeds?

Answer 2

-He doesn’t want to be a bastard anymore

Question 3

3. What is the meaning of the Fool’s jests?

Answer 3

• To entertain the king

- To tell him the truth about what people think of him

Question 4

4. What do Cornwall and Regan do to Lear’s messenger, Kent, that makes Lear very disappointed and angry?

Answer 4

-They lock up Kent in the stocks to sit outside all day and all night

Question 5

5. Describe King Lear’s thoughts about himself, his daughters, and the storm in Act III.

Answer 5

• King Lear is angry with his daughters for abandoning him and not treating him with respect
• He feels he has done nothing wrong
• He feels the storm happened because of the tensions between him and his daughters

Question 6

6. Explain the reasons why Gloucester is abused and blinded by Cornwall and Regan.

Answer 6

• Gloucester is accused of treason

- Edmund made it seem that Gloucester was on the French’s side

Question 7

7. How is Gloucester tricked into giving up his attempts to kill himself?

Answer 7

• His son Edgar takes him to a “high cliff”
• Gloucester jumps off and lands on his face
• Edgar pretends to be someone else and tells Gloucester that there was a demon at the top of the cliff

Question 8

8. Describe the relationships Edmund has with Goneril and Regan.

Answer 8

• Goneril and Regan both are in love with Edmund

- Edmund is infatuated by both

Question 9

9. How does Oswald die? What important information does Oswald carry?

Answer 9

• Oswald was sent out to kill Gloucester but Edgar kills him.
• A letter from Goneril to Edmund explaining how she wants to kill Albany.

Question 10

10. Explain who does, who kills whom and why in Act V.

Answer 10

Cornwall is mortally wounded by a loyal servant to Gloucester when they are blinding his master. He dies off stage.

Oswald, steward to Goneril, is killed in a fight with Edgar, who is defending his father.

Regan poisoned by her sister Goneril, who then later commits suicide by stabbing herself. Both these deaths take place off stage.

Gloucester dies off stage in a mixture of shock and joy after Edgar reveals his true identity.

Edmund dies by Edgar’s hand after a fight, although his death is largely unnoticed amidst the grief caused by Cordelia’s death.

Cordelia is hung in prison because of Edgar’s earlier edict, despite his change of heart at the end.

Lear through grief and sorrow at the loss of daughter Cordelia still watching her lips lest she breath again.