King Lear: Study Guide

Shakespeare’s story of a king who divides his realm between his three daughters probes the depths of human suffering and despair. First staged in 1606, for centuries King Lear was thought too bleak to perform, but its nihilism has heavily influenced modern drama. Read a character analysis of Lear, plot summary, and important quotes.

Summary

Read a Plot Overview of the entire play or a scene by scene Summary and Analysis.

Plot Overview
Video Plot Summary
Five Key Questions
What Does the Ending Mean?

Summary & Analysis
Act 1, scenes 1–2
Act 1, scenes 3–5
Act 2, scenes 1–2
Act 2, scenes 3–4
Act 3, scenes 1–3
Act 3, scenes 4–5
Act 3, scenes 6–7
Act 4, scenes 1–2
Act 4, scenes 3–5
Act 4, scenes 6–7
Act 5, scenes 1–2
Act 5, scene 3

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in King Lear and in-depth analyses of King Lear, Cordelia, Edmund, Goneril and Regan, and Gloucester.

Character List
King Lear
Cordelia
Edmund
Goneril and Regan
Gloucester

Main Ideas

Here's where you'll find analysis about the play as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more.

Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
What Does Justice Mean in King Lear?

Quotes

Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the play by reading these key quotes.

Important Quotes Explained

Quotes by Theme
Nihilism
Self-knowledge
Emptiness of authority
Generational conflict
Flattery

Quotes by Section
Act 1, scenes 1-2
Act 1, scenes 3-5
Act 2, scenes 1-2
Act 3, scenes 1-3
Act 3, scenes 4-5
Act 3, scenes 6-7
Act 4, scenes 1-2
Act 4, scenes 3-5
Act 4, scenes 6-7
Act 5, scenes 1-2
Act 5, scene 3

Quotes by Character
King Lear
Goneril and Regan
Edmund
Gloucester
Cordelia

Further Study

Test your knowledge of King Lear with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on the context and background and links to the best resources around the web.