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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. Who is leading the rebel army against the sisters?

2. What does Bodice say as she leaves Lear's prison cell?

3. What news from her aides does Fontanelle tell Bodice in Act 2, Scene 4?

4. What action does Bodice perform throughout Act 1, Scene 3?

5. Why does the Old Orderly come into Lear's cell?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the Ghost stay with Lear at the end of Act 2, Scene 2?

2. What is an "aside"? What purpose does it serve the author? Give an example of an aside in Lear.

3. What do Thomas and Ben reveal to Lear that they plan to do in Act 3, Scene 2? Why?

4. Why is the Ghost unhappy and crying in Act 3, Scene 3?

5. What does Warrington reveal about Bodice and Fontanelle in Act 1, Scene 2? What is his course of action?

6. Why does Carpenter refuse to untie the prisoners once he has captured the soldiers in Act 2?

7. What is the significance of the Wounded Soldier in Act 2 Scene 3?

8. What does Lear tell Fontanelle to do in order to be treated well? What does he tell her to refrain from?

9. How does Fontanelle react to being taken prisoner? What does she say?

10. Why has Lear written to Cordelia? What does he hope to achieve?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare Edward Bond's Lear and Shakespeare's Lear. Why did Bond choose to adapt and essentially rewrite elements of Shakespeare's play? What elements of action and character did he alter? Why?

Essay Topic 2

What is the significance of Lear's being blinded? How does this relate to actions in Shakespeare's Lear? What is the symbolism that this act illustrates?

Essay Topic 3

Define the term "foreshadowing." What are examples of foreshadowing in Bond's Lear? What is the purpose of his use of foreshadowing? Does it create tension? Does it set up irony? Does it reflect the theme?

(see the answer keys)

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