King Lear

William Shakespeare

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Study Questions & Essay Topics

Study Questions

1. What does the storm in Act 3 symbolize?


2. What role do women play in King Lear?


3. Analyze the relationship between madness and blindness in the play.


Suggested Essay Topics

1. Is Lear a sympathetic character? What about Gloucester? How do our impressions of them change during the course of the play?

2. Analyze the function that the Fool serves. Why does he disappear from the action?

3. Discuss the relationship between Cordelia and Lear, and compare it to the relationship between Edgar and Gloucester.

4. Of the three villains—Edmund, Goneril, and Regan—who is the most interesting? Why?

5. Discuss the significance of old age and death in King Lear.

6. How does order break down in Britain during the course of the play? Who is to blame?

7. Discuss Edmund. Are we meant to find him sympathetic?

the Gloucester side story

by Merpandderp, April 07, 2013

to help with the side story, think of the movie Thor:

Gloucester: Odin-son
Edgar- Thor (the good brother; gets punished and illegitimate brother takes over for a while)
Edmund-Loki (evil, illegitimate son who is jealous of his brother)

MIND BLOWN. Stan Lee probably read Shakespeare

0

Help with the Gloucester side story

by Merpandderp, April 07, 2013

it is kind of confusing dealing with King Lear and his three daughters, and then having to deal with Gloucester. My suggestion, think of the movie Thor:

-Gloucester: Odin-son
-Edgar: Thor (the good brother who is supposed to succeed Odin-son/Gloucester when he dies; is deceived by Loki/Edmund and then gets punished)
-Edmund: Loki (the evil, illegitimate brother who is jealous of Thor/Edgar (except Loki was adopted); gets control of the throne for a while)

Hope this helps

4 out of 4 people found this helpful

0

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