AP English 4/DiMatteo
King Lear study guide
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II.2 (pp. 45-52)
1. Summarize lines 1-43:
2. Provide 3 line references to nature and explicate.
a.
b.
c.
3. What is Kent’s punishment?
4. Who tries to save him from it, and what is his reasoning?
5. What’s your opinion? Does Kent deserve punishment? Explain in a short paragraph.
6. How are Regan and Cornwall characterized in this scene? Provide 2 line references for each.
II.3 (p. 53)
Provide 3 important points from Edgar’s soliloquy, with line references.
1.
2.
3.
III.1 (pp. 67-69)
1. How is the weather an important literary element of this scene? Provide 2 powerful line references.
a.
b.
2. In lines 19-25, Kent draws the Gentleman into confidence. He says, “There is division,/ Although as yet the face of it is
covered/ With mutual cunning, ‘twixt Albany and Cornwall;/ Who have—as who have not, that their great stars/ Throned and
set high?—servants, who seem no less,/ Which are to France the spies and speculations/ Intelligent of our state.” He’s saying
that the Prince of France has spies in the households of both Albany and Cornwall and there is discontent between the two men.
--Translate lines 30-34 similarly: But, true it is, from France there comes a power/ Into this scattered kingdom, who
already,/ Wise in our negligence, have secret feet/ In some of our best ports, and are at point/ To show their open banner.
3. Why would this be happening?
III.2 (pp. 69-73)
1. “Here’s a night pities neither wise man nor fools” (12-13). What does the Fool mean here?
2. Focus on Lear’s speech at lines 14-24. Pull out at least 3 significant lines and explain.
a.
b.
c.
3. Where does Kent offer to take Lear?
4. What does Lear claim is happening to him? (line 68) Do you find this believable? Why or why not?
5. In the Fool’s soliloquy at lines 79-95, the footnote tells us that many of the “prophecies” have already come true. What is
the result? Why would the Fool claim to make these “prophecies”?
III.3 (p. 73-74)
1. Who is “him” in Gloucester’s speech, lines 1-6? Paraphrase the meaning.
2. Gloucester reveals quite a bit in lines 8-20. Pull out 3 significant revelations.
a.
b.
c.
3. What does Edmund plan on doing with this information (lines 21-26)?