Lear in Lockdown - Studying King Lear

An introduction to the Bard

There are two families in Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear – Goneril, Regan and Cordelia Lear and Edmund and Edgar Gloucester –and their fathers!

The Love Test and the word ‘Nothing’. Lear divides his kingdom and abdicates responsibility.

A look at the language in the play

Two stories in tandem.

The Gloucester family storyline – Edgar and Edmund.

Edmund manipulates Edgar without telling a lie.

Shakespeare's vision of the world in King Lear is essentially pessimistic. Would you agree. Discuss the view with suitable quotation and reference. (Cog sheet! How to answer a typical exam question interrogated and analysed through introduction, body of answer and conclusion. )

Edmund in Act 5 Scene 3 in the camp near Dover “This speech of yours hath moved me, And shall perchance do good: but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say.” And Lear in Act 3 Scene 2 “Poor fool and knave, I have one part in my heart that's sorry yet for thee!"

The value of Nothing - Lear, Kent and role of The Fool as Lear's conscience