King Lear

Act 1
Objectives:
By the end of the lesson Ss. Will be
able to:
1.Relate events to certain
themes.
2.Describe different characters
with valid justifications
Act 1. Scene 1.

Exposition
Gloucester: But I have, sir, a son by
order of law, some year older
than this, who yet is no dearer in my
account.
Do you know this noble gentleman,
Edmund?

Whom is Gloucester introducing? Page 3

How does he feel about him? lines 15-20
Sub plot
But I have a legitimate son a few years older than
this one, and I don’t love him any more than I love
my bastard.
What did Lear decide to do?
How and why?
LEAR
Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.—
Give me the map there.—Know that we have divided
In three our kingdom, and ’tis our fast intent
To shake all cares and business from our age,
Conferring them on younger strengths while we
Unburdened crawl toward death.—

In the meantime I’ll get down to my real business.

—Hand me that map over there.—I hereby
announce that I’ve divided my kingdom into three
parts, which I’m handing over to the younger
Page 5
generation so I can enjoy a little rest and peace of
lines 32-36
mind in my old age.—
Lear —Tell me, my daughters,
(Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest of territory, cares of state)
Which of you shall we say doth love us most
That we our largest bounty may extend
Where nature doth with merit challenge?—Goneril,

?
My daughters, since I’m about to give up my
throne and the worries that go along with it, tell me
which one of you loves me most, so that I can give
my largest gift to the one who deserves it most
Page 5
lines 43-49

believes love is
quantifiable & words
can express it
 1 minute challenge:
Love Test

If you were to choose

a title for pages 3, 5,& 7
what would it be?
 What were Lear’s three daughters’
responses and the consequences?
p. 5.
“Sir, I love you more
Sir, I love you more than words can
than word can wield the
say. I love you more than eyesight,
matter, Dearer than
eyesight, space, and space, and freedom,
liberty”
theme of
flattery

Took her
share
 What were Lear’s three daughters’
responses and the consequences?
p.7
“Only she comes too short,
that I profess myself an She’s described my feelings of love for you
enemy to all other joys precisely, but her description falls a little short of
Which the most precious
the truth. I reject completely any joy except my
square of sense possesses,
And find I am alone love for you and I find that only your majesty’s
felicitate in your dear love makes me happy.
highness’ love”
Theme of
flattery

Took her
share
What were Lear’s three daughters’
responses and the consequences?
p.7
“I cannot heave my
heart into my mouth: I’m unlucky. I don’t have a talent for putting
I love your majesty my heart’s feelings into words. I love you as a
child should love her father, neither more nor
according to my
less.
bond” no more no
less”

Cordelia Disowned Theme of

banished blindness
 Refer to
p 9 & p. 11
(p.9. lines 134-136) Theme???
Kent Royal Lear, Loyalty
Whom I have ever honored as my king, Loved
as my father, as my master followed, As my
great patron thought on in my prayers-

King Lear, I’ve always honored you as king, loved

you as my father, obeyed you as my master, and
thanked you in my prayers—

What did Kent accuse Lear of?

 Refer to
p 9 & p. 11
Theme???
(p.11. lines 140-141)
When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old Loyalty
man? Think’st thou that duty shall have dread
to speak when power to flattery bows?

Kent can speak rudely

when Lear goes mad. What are you doing, old
man? When powerful kings cave in to flatterers, do
you think loyal men will be afraid to speak out
against it?.

The only courtier who

What did Kent accuse Lear of?
stands up to Lear
after disowning
Cordelia for ….
 Refer to
p. 11
Theme???
(p.11. line 152)
Kent, on thy life, no more blindness
Out of my sight!

Kent, if you want to stay alive, stop talking

. Get out of my sight!

How was Kent punished? P.11. Line 152

 What were Burgundy and France’s
decision of marrying Cordelia without
a dowry?

Theme?
Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor,
Most choice forsaken, and most loved despised!
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon,

Beautiful Cordelia, you’re all the richer now that

you’re poor. You’re more valuable now that you’re
Page 17
rejected and more loved now that you’re hated.
Authentic love vs.
Materialistic love
 What did Cordelia I know you what you are,
say before leaving And like a sister am most loath to call

with France? Your faults as they are named. Love well our
father.
Lines 262-269 To your professed bosoms I commit him.
But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place

Cordelia
I know you for what you really are, but as your
sister I’m reluctant to criticize you. Take good
care of our father and show him the love that
you have professed. I leave him in your
care—but oh, if only I were still in his favor I
could arrange for better care for him.

Page 19
Dramatic Element Foreshadowing
Theme?
Filial gratitude
What did Goneril and GONERIL

Regan say about

You see how full of changes his age is.
The observation we have made of it hath not been
their father? little.

Lines 280-283 He always loved our sister most, and with what
poor judgment he hath now cast her off appears
too grossly

He’s so flighty in his old age, as we keep noticing.

He has always loved Cordelia best, and his bad
judgment in disowning her now is obvious.

Appearance vs. Page 19

Theme? Reality
What were Goneril and
Regan’s complaint of their There is further compliment of leave-taking between
father? What did they France and him. Pray you, let’s sit together. If our father

plan to do? carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this

Lines 293-296
last surrender of his will but offend us.

There’s still the King of France’s farewell

ceremony. Let’s put our heads together. If our
father continues to use his authority as usual, then
his recent abdication of the kingdom will just hurt
us.

Page 19
Theme? Villainy , power
 Choose any character
to analyze.
SLIDESMANIA
 Lear Cordelia

Kent
SLIDESMANIA
 Metaphorically blind
Vain and self-obsessed
Lear
Unwise and foolish

Stupid
SLIDESMANIA
 honest
kind
Cordelia
loya
l
blu
nt
SLIDESMANIA
 hypocrite
villain

greedy

selfish
materialistic
SLIDESMANIA
 loyal
honest
Kent
sincere

blunt
insightful
SLIDESMANIA
Blindness Themes
Misjudgme Appearanc
nt e vs. reality
Villainy

Stupidity Loyalty Flatt

Appetite ery
for power
 Page 5
lines 32-36

● Lear announces his plan to divide his kingdom

among his daughters, giving up the
responsibilities and handing them over to the
daughters so he can enjoy a little rest and peace
of mind in his old age
 Page 5
lines 46-48
● Lear promises to give the biggest share to the
one who says she loves him more
● Lear believes love is quantifiable and that
words can express it
● Theme: stupidity
● Lear as an old man feels insecure and needs to
be reassured of his importance
 Page 7
lines 72-73
lines 86-88
● Her love to Lear cannot be measured with
words
● Theme: loyalty/honesty
 Page 9
lines 107-110
line 123
Theme: blindness & misjudgment
 Page 11
lines 140-141
lines 146-148
Kent accuses Lear of insanity for rewarding the
flatterers and disowning the honest
He’s the only courtier who stands up to Lear
 Page 13
lines 189-191
humiliation

Page 15
lines 204-207
. Begs France to look for a better wife
. humiliation
 Page 17
lines 240-241
lines 245-248
. Materialistic love Vs Authentic love
. appearance vs reality
. Impressed by her honesty & decides to marry her
. Cordelia’s honesty paid off
 Page 19
lines 262-269
. Loving and caring
. Filial gratitude
Page 19
lines 280-283
Lines 293-296
Plan to control their father
They agree to act to reduce their father’s remaining
authority
Appearance Vs Reality
 Page 5
lines 32-36