Questions on King Lear

1. Who are the two nobles in the opening scene and what are they talking about?
- the tow nobles were Earl of Kent and Earl of Gloucester, they were talking about the separation of the kingdom and the son of Gloucester and that he loved him despite him being a bastard.

2. How do you think that Edmund must be feeling at this moment?
- he did not feel as much bad because he knew that being a bastard you would not be treated with much respect and it was a norm in that society.

3. What does Old King Lear plan to do with his kingdom? What is the test that he proposes to
the daughters?
- his plan was to divide the kingdom among his daughters the test that he proposed was the test of "love" were as each must profess their love for him right there and then as he asked.

4. How do each of the first two daughters answer the old man?
- Goneril gives him flattery by feeding him words that he would want to hear, Regan tries to out do Goneril with the implication of saying there is know other love given to anything but him and King Lear being so blinded he buys what they told him.

5. What is Cordelia's answer and why does she answer as she does? What does her reference to "nothing" suggest about the use of this motif in the rest of the play?
- Cordelia expressed to her father that she had the amount of love for him as a daughter should no more no less. She answered the way she did because she saw that her other sisters was just feeding him words that he wanted to hear and she was not going to do the same. The reference to "nothing" that the use of the motif in the play suggest Lear's blindness of truth his pride and ego prevents him from seeing the actual truth.

6. Do you think that Cordelia is being cruel in refusing to play her father's game? Why?
- Cordelia isn't being cruel in refusing to play her father's game for the reason that she is not like her sisters in being to faced she was honest and relistic she rather tell the truth and face the consequence of being disowned than being dishonest like Goneril and Regan.

7.How does Lear react to Cordelia's response? How does Lord Kent react to Lear's response?
-Lear is in steaming anger and Kent tried to tell him not to disinherit her for is she who loved him the most and not the other two, Kent saw under their goody -to faces and that their were only out for the wealth.

8. How might the references to sight and blindness become important for the rest of the play?
-Sight and blindness become important for the rest of the play for as the play go on that is what it is based upon.

9. How do France and Burgundy each react to the news that Cordelia will not receive any dower and what does their reaction tell us about their characters?
- Burgundy had only thought of her as a dutchess not like a peasant, he refused to take her without her crown and credentials this proved that he only cared about who she was in stature rather than a person itself. France thought what she did as a sign of bravery and admired her courage he took her in when she had nothing. This prove that he didn't care what she was but who she was and that he was was kind hearted.

10. What does Cordelia mean when she says to her sisters, "I know you what you are." What do the sisters say about their father near the end of the scene?
- She knew the evil plans they have in store and planned. Near the end of the father Regan says, "Tis the infirmity of his age, yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself."They want to take advantage of his absence because with him there he still has power, they want to take advantage of his old age.

11. What are the two views of nature contrasted in the action and dialogue of this scene?
- a nature of good and evil

12. What parallels do you see between this scene and the first one?
-Both scene pursue the same theme of lies/ deception in that int Act1 Scene1 with Lear's daughters and Act2 Scene2 with Edmund.

13. A couple of months have now passed; what is bothering Goneril at this point and what does she instruct her servant Oswald to do about it?
-The knights(King Lear's army) grow riotous, and himself upbraids us on every rifle so she orders Oswald to be discourteous to him and his army.

14. Why does Kent wish to serve Lear? What does he discern in Lear's countenance and how is this ironic?
-Kent saw a sense of authority in the king's countenance and he wished to served Lear he was loyal and cared about his well being. It is ironic because later in the play the self same authority was of no consequence to Goneril’s servants.

15.What is Kent's reaction to what Oswald's servant does to Lear?
-Kent punished him by tripping him on Lear's behalf.

16. Why is what the knight says about the Fool's pining away "since my young lady's going into France" important?
-The fool hadn't seen the honest Cordelia since she left she gave a presence of happiness and a new air which was appreciated by the fool.

17. What is the Fool's function in this part of the play and what are at least three examples of how he fulfills this function?
-The fool provides comic relief in this part of the play. three examples of how he fulfills this function:
-The hedge sparrow feed the cuckoo so long, that it had its head bit off by it you.
-I have used it nuncle, e’er since thou mad’st thy daughters thy mothers, for when thou gav’st them the rod, and put’st down thine own breeches,”
- I am better than thou art now, I am a fool, thou art nothing.”

18. How does Edmund trick his brother Edgar into fleeing?
- He tells his brother that their father has discovered his hiding place, knowing of his father's attitude towards him he flees at once.

19. How do Kent's actions with Oswald characterize him as a "plain dealer"?
- Kent did not behave like someone of his stature, he insults Oswald and then attacks him with muderous intents. Oswald could not understand the reason for Kent's action neither defend himself. He spoke out of content when he innsulted Oswald who could not even understand what he was saying.

20. How might Kent's line "Nothing almost seems miracles/But misery" serve as a motto for the play?
- It plays throughout the hold entire play, many characters come to play under this motto as it develops into a tragedy.

21. How is Edgar's disguising himself as a bedlam beggar an example of social criticism in the play? Why is Edgar's comment, "Edgar, I nothing am" important to the meaning of the play?
-In society a beggar is nothing and who someone would look down on and criticize. The comment made by Edgar is important because he would rather be a beggar than not be recognised or loved by anyone because he was as someone in stature and recognized and now a beggar who is nothing.

22.Why is Lear so angry that his servant Kent has been put in the stocks by Regan and Cornwall?
-He was appalled that they would do such a thing for he had grown fond of Kent it was almost like they threw him in the stocks and chained him up.

23.What is Regan's first response when Lear complains of his treatment at the hands of her sister?
-She over looked it and put the blame on King Lear.