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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. When the King of France leaves the French encampment, who does he leave in charge?

2. Where do Lear, The Fool, Kent, and Gloucester go when they leave the farmhouse?

3. Kent asks who not to reveal his identity?

4. Edmund says it will be best, and will support his story, if he finds Gloucester doing what?

5. Albany comes to the British encampment and says that the King is with Cordelia where?

Short Essay Questions

1. Although Lear does not want to see Cordelia, what is Cordelia's goal?

2. Goneril and Regan dismiss Albany's desire to not hurt the King and say that what matters?

3. When Goneril hears of Cornwall's death, what are her concerns?

4. How is Lear able to recover from his madness?

5. What warning does Regan ask Oswald to give to Goneril?

6. When Edgar sees that his father is blind, what does he offer to do?

7. What does Cordelia consider her father to be suffering from?

8. Who opposes Albany's position with the King?

9. While Lear and his party are in the farmhouse, what action does Lear take that makes him appear to be suffering from madness?

10. What plants the seeds of discord between Goneril and Regan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Shakespeare wrote this play centuries ago. Why is this play still relevant today? Are there any themes or messages in the play that are timeless and universal? Please use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Using examples from the text, how are Goneril and Regan alike and different in their actions, characteristic, motivations, and reaction to their father?

Essay Topic 3

How does King Lear portray service? Who serves? What sort of authority and relationships are related to service in the play? Does service, as used in the play, belong to family or to the state? Why? Please support your answer with examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 504 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample