66 episodes to help you study Shakespeare's "King Lear" - including scene analysis with actor and director Alan Stanford, teachers and students sharing Leaving Cert sample answers, theme explainers, favourite quotes and the King Lear Quiz where (just like the Leaving Cert) all your favourite questions come up! Starring the students from Moyne Community School, Scoil Mhuire and St. Mel’s College, Longford, Carraigallen Vocational School, Leitrim. Compiled by RTÉ Radio 1's Drama on One team.
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
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
Cog sheet! How to answer a typical exam question interrogated and analysed by introduction, body of answer and conclusion.
The Journeys of Lear and Gloucester
Lear in Act 4 Scene 6, The Fool in Act 2 Scene 4, Goneril in Act 5 Scene 1, Lear in Act 3 Scene 2
What in your opinion are the most important changes that take place in the character of King Lear during the play. (Cog sheet! How to answer a typical exam question interrogated and analysed by introduction, body of answer and conclusion. )
The parallels in the families of King Lear and The Earl of Gloucester
Lear's daughters Goneril and Regan gang up on Lear
Lear in Act 4 Scene 7 - I'm a Foolish fond old man … Gloucester in Act 4 Scene 1 - I have no way and therefore want no eyes …. Gloucester in Act 2 Scene 1 - My old heart is cracked, it's cracked …. Lear in Act 4 Scene 1 - As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods …. Lear in Act 5 Scene 3 never, never, never, never, never.
The Storm Scene. Lear recognises ‘need” as he moves towards self-realisation.
In the play, King Lear moves from a position of centrality to one of loneliness and isolation. Discuss. Introduction, body of answer and conclusion. (Cog sheet!)
The Mock Trial. The metaphor of the Staircase
The image of the Storm scenes in Act 3. Lear in Act 1 Scene 5 . “I did her wrong …”
Introduction, discussion and conclusion. (Cog sheet! How to answer a typical exam question interrogated and analysed by introduction, body of answer and conclusion.)
Lear as the Tragedy of Despair. Comparrisons to Hamlet and Macbeth.
The Fool in Act 1 Scene 4 - I am a fool. Thou art nothing. … Gloucester in Act 4 Scene 1 - Mad men must lead the blind , The theme of blindness and sight in the main plot and sub plot - Lear in Act 3 Scene 2 - I. Am a man more sinned against than sinning
Cornwall and Edmund in Act 3 Scene 5 - Edmund becomes Earl of Gloucester
Gloucester in Act 3 Scene 3 -Though I die for it—as no less is threatened me—the king my old master must be relieved. Kent to Lear in Act 1 Scene 1 Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. The role of the fool and Cordelia in Act 1 Scene 1 'I cannot heave my heart into my mouth.
Single Text Question - theme, character development and relationships, conflict and dramatic tension, imagery and language.
The blinding of Gloucester. Cornwall and Regan ‘soul mates in cruelty'
Three Favourite Quotes. Gloucester - ‘ O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him. - Act 3 Scene 7 - Regan's use of animal imagery in Act 3 Scene 7 - In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. Goneril in Act 5 Scene 1 I'd rather lose this battle than allow that sister of mine to come between me and Edmund.
Actor and director Alan Stanford on directing King Lear. Balancing the Lear and Gloucester stories
The experiences of Gloucester at the hands of his sons deepens and heightens the experiences of Lear at the hands of his daughters. Exploring the main and subplots. Cog sheet! How to answer a typical exam question interrogated and analysed by introduction, body of answer and conclusion.
The word ‘Nothing'. The Theme of Nature - As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods.
Lear in Act 3 Scene 2 - I. Am a man more sinned against than sinning - Gloucester - ‘ O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him. Edmund in Act 1 Scene 2 - Well, then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land: Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund As to the legitimate.
The image of the Wheel and the Journey
Gloucester's ‘death'. The modernity of Shakespeare's writing.
Three Favourite Quotes - Lear in Act 5 Scene 3 - We two alone will sing like birds i' th' cage. Goneril in Act 1 Scene 1 - Sir, I do love you more than words can wield the matter, Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty,.Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare. Edmund in Act 1 Scene 2 - Thou nature art my goddess
Cog sheet! How to answer a typical exam question interrogated and analysed by introduction, body of answer and conclusion.
The Main Plot, the Sub Plot and the Parallel Plot in King Lear - Introduction, expansion, conclusion. Cog sheet! How to answer a typical exam question interrogated and analysed by introduction, body of answer and conclusion
Scene Study Act 4 Scene 7 - Lear, Cordelia and The Doctor.
Cog sheet! How to answer a typical exam question interrogated and analysed by introduction, body of answer and conclusion.
The character of Cordelia, quiet, economical, determined in 118 lines of visual language (Cog sheet! How to answer a typical exam question interrogated and analysed by introduction, body of answer and conclusion. )
Why Cordelia and The Fool don't meet in King Lear. Some thoughts.
Act 5 Scene 3 - The final movement - Lear, Cordelia and Edmund. Towards the conclusion of the Lear Story
Favourite Quotes - Lear in Act 3 Scene 2 , I am a man / More sinned against than sinning.
Cog sheet! How to answer a typical exam question interrogated and analysed by introduction, body of answer and conclusion.
Act 5 Scene 3 - The final movement - Edgar meets Edmund. Towards the conclusion of the Gloucester Story
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