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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Instead of referring to the King by his title, what does Oswald call the king?

2. What did Oswald's letter from Goneril cause Regan and Cornwall to do?

3. What is the name Edgar uses in place of his own?

4. Who protests punishing Kent without the King's consent?

5. What room in the house does Act I, Scene 4 take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. The storm is distracting the King from what?

2. Why are Goneril and Regan awarded large parts of the kingdom?

3. Before Lear and his retinue depart for Regan's house, what does the Fool tell Lear?

4. While King Lear stays with Goneril, what are his knights interfering with?

5. How does Edmund incite his father into a rage against Edgar?

6. When Kent meets with the gentleman on the heath, what does Kent give the gentleman and what is it supposed to do?

7. Why does Edmund bemoan the fact that he is illegitimate?

8. When Edgar leaves Edmund at the end of Act I, Scene II, why does Edmund laugh?

9. Gloucester asks Edmund to tell anyone who asks for him that he is sick, but what does Edmund plan to do instead?

10. After Regan and Cornwall order Gloucester not to let the King back into the castle, Gloucester tells Edmund that he plans to do what?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several words that are repeated throughout King Lear. Choose two of the words from the list below and discuss what their use means to the play and the characters in the play.

-- nature

-- natural

-- nothing

-- bond

-- love

Essay Topic 2

One of the first things that King Lear does is give up his kingdom. The end result is chaos for England. Using examples from the play, discuss whether you think this was a mistake by King Lear and how the play shows whether this was a mistake by King Lear or not.

Essay Topic 3

How does the role of the Fool emphasize and/or relieve the tragedy of the play? Support your reasoning with examples from the play.

(see the answer keys)

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