King Lear | Overview & Chapter Abstracts for Teachers

Chapter Abstracts

Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter. They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of characters and objects. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the students for what they will read. Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be an excellent refresher of the text for either a student or teacher.

Act 1, Scene 1 Abstract

* Gloucester acknowledges Edmund as his illegitimate son.
* King Lear announces he wants to retire and divide up his lands between his daughters.
* Lear requires each of his daughters to profess her love for him. On the basis of that declaration, he will give each daughter lands. (read more)