Lear Act 2

Question 1

What is the setting of scene 1?

Answer 1

Gloucester’s house

Question 2

Who is Curan? Whom does he tell Edmund will be arriving soon?

Answer 2

Follower of Gloucester; duke of Cornwall and Regan

Question 3

What rumors does Curan say are circulating about the kingdom?

Answer 3

Civil war between cornwall and Albany

Question 4

How does Edmund feel about Regan and Cornwall coming?

Answer 4

Bring it on, he’ll use it to his advantage

Question 5

What is the double meaning in Edmund’s use of the word “descend” to his brother

Answer 5

1. Come down from balcony

2. Descend in status (so he can inherit the land)

Question 6

How does Edmund pretend to care for Edgar’s safety? Why do the brothers have similar names?

Answer 6

He tells his brother to leave the lodging and hide from their father; because they’re foil characters with the same father

Question 7

For what crime does Edmund tell Edgar he is in trouble with Cornwall?

Answer 7

Spoke against the Duke of Cornwall

Question 8

Why does Edmund pretend to fight with Edgar?

Answer 8

To show that Edmund is on GLoucester’s side and to make Gloucester think that Edgar tried to hurt him

Question 9

What is ironic about the light for which Edmund calls?

Answer 9

1. Light to see in the dark

2. Light on the dark purpose even though villains usually do things in the dark

Question 10

Why does Edmund wound himself?

Answer 10

To make it look like edgar hurt him

Question 11

What lie does Edmund tell his father in line 39? why does he mention charms?

Answer 11

That Edgar struck him; play on father’s superstitions with moon and gods

Question 12

Why does Edmind delay answering his fathers question about the whereabouts of Edgar

Answer 12

Divert attention and give edgar time to escape

Question 13

When Edmund points the way that Edgar supposedly went, what stage gesture is used?

Answer 13

Point in the opposite direction of where Edgar went bc Edgar might reveal the truth if he were caught

Question 14

What lies does Edmund tell about his brother in lines 45-50

Answer 14

Talks about how his brother stabbed him

Question 15

How does Edmind refer to the Great Chain of Being in his speech?

Answer 15

he uses the word bond to show how a child should be bound to the father

Question 16

What does Gloucester mean with the word “dispatch”? What punishment will he ask Cornwall to bestow upon Edgar?

Answer 16

Cutting off edgar’s head or some other form of execution

Question 17

What lie does Edind tell about Edgar in lines 63-77?

Answer 17

Cussed him out and said he’d tell their father, then Edgar called him a bastard and said no one will believe Edmund’s word over his

Question 18

Transliterate Gloucester’s line “I never got him”

Answer 18

He never fathered Edgar

Question 19

What does Gloucester say about his land in lines 80-84? Why?

Answer 19

He will make Edmund able to inherit his land and now he disowns Edgar, and asks Cornwall to make a national search

Question 20

What does Gloucester mean when he reports to Regan and Cornwall that his heart is cracked?

Answer 20

He has a broken heart from edgar

Question 21

Why does Regan immediately seek to link Edgar with Lear’s knights? What is a godson?

Answer 21

Lear named Edgar (close relationship) and Regan wants to get rid of the knights. Here the villains join forces

Question 22

Who helps Regan link Edgar with Lear’s knights? Why?

Answer 22

Edmund, wants to further hurt edgar

Question 23

In line 100, why does Regan say she has left her home and come to Gloucester’s?

Answer 23

Came to ask for advice but really trying to hide from the King who is coming to her house

Question 24

What is ironic about Cornwall’s compliment to Edmund about a “childlike office”

Answer 24

1. Says Edmund is acting as a son should

2. We know Edmund is not

Question 25

Quote the line that shows Cornwall using the royal "we" and inviting Edmind into his service

Answer 25

"For you, Edmund, whose virtue and obedience doth this instant so much commend itself, you shall be ours" Echo king of France taking Cordelia

Question 26

Show where Regan interrupts her husband. What does this action mean in the society of her day?

Answer 26

She should be beneath him

Question 27

Why does Regan say she and her entourage have come to Gloucester's?

Answer 27

They can't fight with the King if she's not home

Question 28

What does "severally" mean?

Answer 28

Because Kent and Oswald met, coming from different sides

Question 29

Why are Kent and Oswald both at Regans house?

Answer 29

They are both there to deliver letters

Question 30

How is Kent rude to Oswald in the opening lines?

Answer 30

He won't talk to him and is being very brisk, then he tells him to go park in the mud

Question 31

Who would've enjoyed the name calling in lines 15-20

Answer 31

The audience who came for dirty comedy

Question 32

What is Kent still upset about that causes him to draw his sword on Oswald?

Answer 32

Because he was disrespectful towards the king

Question 33

How is Oswald a sissy? Where is the comedy in this spectacle, and who would enjoy it?

Answer 33

He backs away and calls for help from murder, even though he had sword and is not even close to being murdered

Question 34

On who else does the disguised Kent draw his sword? why?

Answer 34

The nobles who just entered (Gloucester, Cornwall, Regan) because they startled him

Question 35

What punishment does Cornwall say will befall Kent if he strikes again?

Answer 35

He'll be execute

Question 36

Explain the tailor insult

Answer 36

Oswald has nice clothes but the man inside the clothes is useless, he is not a gentleman

Question 37

Explain the z insult

Answer 37

z is present and its functions are used but you don't need the letter. It's useless

Question 38

What does Kent mean when he says, "anger hath a privilege" ?

Answer 38

He has the right to speak out in the Kings defense

Question 39

Why does Kent say he is angry with Oswald? What does he mean about "biting holy cord atwain"

Answer 39

Oswald looks like a gentleman and has a sword but doesn't act like one. He doesn't mind helping break the bonds of families

Question 40

What does Kent mean when he says "His Countenance likes me not"? How does he proceed to insult everyone present?

Answer 40

I don't like his face | Everyone here is ugly

Question 41

How and why does Kent change his language in lines 101-104?

Answer 41

Imitating an obsequious way of speaking because Cornwall is talking about his bluntness

Question 42

Now does Cornwall decide to punish Kent?

Answer 42

Confine Kent and shackle him

Question 43

On what grounds does Kent protest the stocks?

Answer 43

He serves the king and is his messenger

Question 44

How does regan interrupt Cornwall while speaking to Kent

Answer 44

She wants to increase his time in the stocks

Question 45

How does Gloucester show courage in his speech?

Answer 45

Says to let the king handle Kent even though he is speaking to a higher class

Question 46

Who does Gloucester say will be blamed for the stocking of the kinds servant

Answer 46

Cornwall

Question 47

What does Kent plan to do while in the stocks

Answer 47

Sleep and whistle

Question 48

Why does he say he has such a good attitude

Answer 48

It's good for him to rest?

Question 49

What is unbelievable about Kents having a letter from Cordelia.

Answer 49

She gave it to him as he was disguised

Question 50

What is the setting for scene 3?

Answer 50

In the trunk of a tree in the forest

Question 51

How does Edgar say his circumstances have changed

Answer 51

Now he is an outlaw and is out for arrest

Question 52

How does he intend to disguise himself? Why is disguise a motif in this play?

Answer 52

Beggar: wear a loin cloth and put pins and other items in his skin. Messy hair and a dirty face. Motif: good people have to disguise themselves. Shows that the kingdom is filled with chaos

Question 53

What will people call Edgar who see him? Why.

Answer 53

They will call him poor Tom because he disguised himself to look like one of the bedlam beggars who were called poor toms as a general name

Question 54

How is the word "nothing" ironic while Edgar is speaking about his disguise

Answer 54

He is in no way Edgar because he is Tom. He is no longer noble and is no one, but he's still a good guy

Question 55

Who is they in Lears opening lines in scene 4

Answer 55

Regan and Cornwall

Question 56

What does Lear immediately see?

Answer 56

Kent in the stocks

Question 57

Explain the fools joke about Kent in the stocks

Answer 57

Confined by "crewel" (yarn) garters. His legs are tied up like an animal, because men have the instinct to engage in intercourse

Question 58

Why does Lear have such a hard time unrewarding that Cornwall and regain have placed a representative of his in the stocks

Answer 58

Because he's amazed that they're placing their power over his (against the great chain of being), and he believes that regan still respects him

Question 59

What insult does Kent give Oswald by saying "reeking post"

Answer 59

He is sweating from sexual activity; late because he was with Gonereil

Question 60

What does Kent mean when he says he has more man than wit about him

Answer 60

He has more courage than good sense and Realizes that he messed up

Question 61

Hidden meanings in Fools stories

Answer 61

Children nice to their rich dads are nice to get money, when the dad has no money then they have no reason to be nice

Question 62

Of what disease does Lear complain? How is even this disease evidence of reversal

Answer 62

Hysterica passio- disease that comes from the womb | Inversion because it feels like the womb is above the abdomen, symbolizing the chaos in the kingdom

Question 63

Why does the fool say Kent deserves to be in the stocks

Answer 63

Because Kent says things without thinking, like accidentally insulting/embarrassing the king

Question 64

What possible explanation does Lear say might explain Cornwalls behavior? What does this say about Lears maturity not

Answer 64

Cornwall might actually be sick, and it is difficult to work while you're ill