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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. Oswald reports that Albany smiled when he heard what news?

2. The stage directions have the battle between the English and the French taking place where?

3. Why did the King of France leave the French encampment and return to France?

4. When Gloucester is brought in and tied up, he asks Regan, Goneril, and Cornwall to not mistreat him because why?

5. Cordelia says she is guiding the French army against the English only because of what?

Short Essay Questions

1. In terms of the plot, what is Act 5, Scene 2 designed to do?

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

3. In terms of the plot, the description of Cordelia's response to Kent's letter paves the way for what?

4. How do Lear's and Gloucester's characters parallel each other?

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

6. How does Cornwall link the villainy in Edmund's family?

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

8. What does Edgar pray for while Lear is asleep in the farmhouse?

9. The comments of the servants to Regan after Gloucester is blinded indicate what?

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

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

How do the characters of Regan and Goneril change from the moment that they are first introduced until their deaths? Are their deaths just? Please support your answer with examples from the text.

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 591 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample