King Lear Personal Dictionary
As we read King Lear, identify vocabulary words that present a challenge to you. You will
keep track of these words and create a dictionary. Your dictionary will include the word, provide
the part(s) of speech, definition(s), and an original sentence that uses the word in modern English
context. Your final dictionary will contain twenty words and is due the day after we finish reading
the play.
By choosing words that you do not know, you are building your lexicon (vocabulary
knowledge), which is more meaningful and helpful than studying words that you already know.
Choosing your words:
Do not create your dictionary from the first twenty words you find that are unfamiliar. You
must be discerning in your choices.
Choose words that are multiple meaning words and are used across content areas, not
specific to one discipline. For example, the word analyze can be used in both English and Science
class. In both contexts, you are required to methodically look at information and then provide an
interpretation. On the other hand, a term like “alliteration” is only used in English and the term
“fraction” is used mainly in Math. Such discipline specific words do not belong in your dictionary.
It is also important that you do not choose words that are archaic. Such words in King Lear
include arbitrement, aroint, and clotpoll. Since these words are not used anymore, it is not
necessary to commit them to memory and learn how to use them properly in a sentence.
Use the following format:
Word + part of speech
Definition:
Used in Modern Sentence:
1.
2.
3.
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8.
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10.
11.
12.
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14.
15.
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20.