king lear quotes Flashcards

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1
Q

What does Cordelia say in act 1, scene 1?

A

“What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent”

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2
Q

What does Cordelia’s quote in act 1, scene 1 tell us?

A

Cordelia understand that she can’t match the declarations of love by G+R + refuses to indulge in Lear’s test

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3
Q

What is the analysis of Cordelia’s act 1, scene 1 quote?

A

Cordelia believes that love doesn’t require elaborate language

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4
Q

What does the Fool say in act 1, scene 4?

A

“I am better than thou art now. I am a fool, thou art nothing”

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5
Q

What is the interpretation of the Fools quote in act 1, scene 4?

A

Lear’s lost his place in social order + his identity - w/o the throne + his family he is “nothing”

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6
Q

What’s the analysis of the Fools quote in act 1, scene 4?

A

The Fool sets up for a joke but instead describes Lear’s situation

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7
Q

What does Lear say in act 1, scene 5?

A

“Oh, let me not be mad”

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8
Q

What is the interpretation of Lear’s quote in act 1, scene 5?

A

Lear reflects on how he’s sabotaged his own happiness + begins to fear madness

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9
Q

What is the analysis of Lear’s quote in act 1, scene 5?

A

Psychological reality to the characters - pleading + desperation

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10
Q

What does Kent say in act 2, scene 2?

A

“Nothing almost sees miracles but misery”

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11
Q

What is the interpretation of Kent’s quote in act 2, scene 2?

A

Kent sits in the stocks as punishment for his abuse of Oswald

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12
Q

What is the analysis of Kent’s quote in act 2, scene 2

A

Lear + Edgar live outside social order ‘nothing’

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13
Q

What does Regan say in act 2, scene 4?

A

“I pray you, father, being weak, seem so”

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14
Q

What is the interpretation of Regan’s quote in act 2, scene 4?

A

Regan pressures Lear into giving up his 100 knights asserting her own higher status + power

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15
Q

What’s the analysis of Regan’s quote in act 2, scene 4?

A

Regan shows politeness but barely disguises her ruthless treatment of Lear

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16
Q

What does Lear say in act 2, scene 4?

A

“I abjure all roofs, and choose to wage against the enmity o’ the air”

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17
Q

What is the interpretation of Lear’s quote in act 2, scene 4?

A

Instead of lowering himself within society, he threatens to leave it all together

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18
Q

What is the analysis of Lear’s quote in act 2, scene 4?

A

‘Air’ - total exposure to natural world + pre-christian Gods
Escape is an abdication of his place in society but also a form on transcendence

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19
Q

What does Lear say about flesh + blood in act 2, scene 4?

A

“Thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter; or rather a disease that’s in my flesh; which I must call mine”

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20
Q

What’s the interpretation of Lear’s quote in act 2, scene 4 about flesh + blood?

A

Lear’s conflicting emotions - he used to view Goneril + Regan daughters but now they’re just part of him

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21
Q

What is the analysis of Lear’s quote in act 2, scene 4 about flesh + blood?

A

“My” + “Mine” is ref to betrayal
Recognition - he now realises how his daughters really see him
“Flesh” - emphasises depth of betrayal

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22
Q

What does the gentleman say in act 3 scene 1 about Lear?

A

“Contending w the fretful elements; bids the wind blow the earth into the sea”

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23
Q

What is the interpretation of the Gentleman’s quote in act 3, scene 1?

A

We get a report of Lear’s behaviour; he’s roaming around in the storm

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24
Q

What is the analysis of the Gentleman’s quote in act 3, scene 1?

A

Lear’s ‘contending’ with the elements which shows his view of his power
‘Fretful’ - rough weather

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25
Q

What is the quote from Lear in act 3, scene 2?

A

“Rumble thy bellyful! Spit fire! Spout rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters”

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26
Q

What is the interpretation of Lear’s quote in act 3, scene 2?

A

He wanders the heath in bad weather + subjects himself to nature of the universe

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27
Q

What’s the analysis of Lear’s quote in act 3 scene 2?

A

Lear personifies the weather
Image of elements suggests Lear urging apocalypse for wickedness of world + his own folly

28
Q

What does Edmund say in act 3, scene 3?

A

“The younger rises when the old doth fall”

29
Q

What’s the interp of Edmunds quote in act 3, scene 3?

A

Edmund displaced Edgar + wants to overthrow Gloucester

30
Q

What’s the analysis of Edmunds quote in act 3, scene 3?

A

He has evil intentions but ironically is stating a natural order of hierarchy

31
Q

What does Lear say in act 3, scene 4?

A

“Take physic pomp; expose thyself to feel what wretches feel”

32
Q

What’s the interpretation of what Lear says in act 3, scene 4?

A

He finds shelter from the storm + imagines poor ppl in society wo shelter + feels compassion

33
Q

What’s the analysis of what Lear says in act 3, scene 4?

A

New, compassionate + humble side of Lear; he evolves

34
Q

What does Regan say in act 3, scene 7?

A

“One side will mock the other - th’oher too”

35
Q

What’s the interp of Regan’s quote in act 3, scene 7?

A

After Cornwall gouges Gloucesters eyes out - Regan urges him to take the other

36
Q

What’s the analysis of Regan’s quote in act 3, scene 7?

A

Enthusiasm for Gloucester’s torture
Joking tone here - lack of respect
Possibly displaced violence towards Lear

37
Q

What does Edgar say in act 4, scene 1?

A

“The lowest + most dejected thing of fortune stands still in esperance, lives not in fear”

38
Q

What’s the interpretation of what Edgar saying in act 4, scene 1?

A

Edgar dressed as Poor Tom reflects that even at the lowest, theres always hope

39
Q

What’s the analysis of what Edgar says in act 4, scene 1?

A

Change in fortune - possibility of hope for the plot
Edgar refers to himself as ‘a thing of fortune’; the reunion of Gloucester + Edgar will follow

40
Q

What does Albany say to Goneril in act 4, scene 2?

A

“Oh Goneril, you are worth the dust which the rude wind blows in your face”

41
Q

What’s the interp of what Albany says to Goneril in act 4, scene 2?

A

Albany criticises Goneril for her treatment of Lear + he begins to feel guilt

42
Q

What’s the analysis of Albany’s quote in act 4, scene 2?

A

Albany turns against Goneril; the play may be moving towards restoration

43
Q

What does Cordelia say in act 4, scene 3?

A

“No blown ambition doth our arms incite but love, dear love, and our aged fathers right”

44
Q

What’s the interpretation of Cordelia’s quote in act 4, scene 3?

A

Cordelia is now Queen of France; prepared to go to war in Britain but motivated by love

45
Q

What’s the analysis of Cordelia’s quote in act 4, scene 3?

A

The play keeps political conflict in the back
Cordelia reminds us that love is ambitious

46
Q

What does Edgar say in act 4, scene 5?

A

“Thy life’s a miracle. Speak yet again”

47
Q

What’s the interp of what Edgar says in act 4, scene 5?

A

Edgar tricks his blind father, Gloucester into believing the Gods have intervened to save his life

48
Q

What’s the analysis of Edgar’s quote in act 4, scene 5?

A

Reunion brings humanity to the play - Gloucester is on the verge of suicide + saved by his son

49
Q

What does Lear say in act 4, scene 5?

A

“Through tattered clothes great vices do appear; robes and furred gowns hide all”

50
Q

What’s the interpretation of Lear’s quote in act 4, scene 5?

A

‘Mad’ Lear rambles about perceived injustice in the world

51
Q

What’s the analysis of Lears quote in act 4, scene 5?

A

Lear, Gloucester + Edgar have lost their high status
Lear could be referring to when he was a king + wore robes but they concealed faults

52
Q

What does Edgar say in act 5, scene 2?

A

“Men must endure their going hence even as they’re coming hither. Ripeness is all.”

53
Q

What’s the interp of what Edgar says in act 5, scene 2?

A

Death is inevitable + must be endured

54
Q

What’s the analysis of Edgars quote in act 5, scene 2?

A

Men must be prepared for trials life brings from bird

55
Q

What does Edgar say in act 5, scene 3 about flawed hearts?

A

“His flawed heart, too weak the conflict to support, twixt two extremes of passion, joy + grief, burst smilingly”

56
Q

What’s the interpretation of Edgars quote in act 5, scene 3?

A

Edgar said Gloucester died overwhelmed by the conflicting ‘joy’ of Edgar revealing his identity + ‘grief’ of his past sufferings

57
Q

What’s the analysis of Edgars quote in act 5, scene 3?

A

‘burst smiling’ shows romanticisation of Gloucesters death
Happy death

58
Q

What does Edmund say in act 5, scene 3?

A

“I was contracted to them both; ask three now marry in an instant”

59
Q

What’s the interp of what Edmund says in act 5, scene 3?

A

Edmunds manipulation of Goneril + Regan comes to nothing
Him + the 2 sisters will ‘marry’ in death

60
Q

What’s the analysis of what Edmund says in act 5, scene 3?

A

Edmunds bitter remark sums up the superficiality of goneril + regan
End to the scheming of the plays antagonist

61
Q

What does Kent say in act 5, scene 3?

A

“If fortune brag of 2 she loved + hated, one of them we behold”

62
Q

What’s the interp of Kents quote in act 5, scene 3?

A

Lent sees the anguished Lear + dead Cordelia, whom Edgar + Albany tried to save but moments too late

63
Q

what’s the analysis of Kents quote in act 5, scene 3?

A

Summarise the fortune in the play
Tension bet fortune + human agency

64
Q

What does Kent say in act 5, scene 3 about Lear?

A

“The wonder is he hath endured so long; he but upsurped his life”

65
Q

What’s the interp of what Kent says in act 5, scene 3 about Lear?

A

Kent makes sense of Lear’s death, paying tribute to an old, frail man who endured suffering