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

2. Edgar is left alone at the farmhouse and hopes that the King will be able to do what?

3. What is Edmund's response to Regan when she asks him if he slept with Goneril?

4. Where does the battle take place?

5. Who makes Lear sleep while they are in the farmhouse?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Edmund's actions when turning his father in to Cornwall indicate that he is dishonest?

2. How does Edgar use his father's blindness to trick him?

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

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

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

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

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

8. Gloucester meets the news of Lear and Cordelia's capture with what?

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

10. What happens to Cordelia, Regan, and Goneril by the end of the play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Animals are used in the play to describe various characters. Why does Shakespeare use animals to describe the characters instead of something else? What theme does this connect to? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

What character traits of King Lear appear in his daughters and how do these traits affect his relationships with his daughters? Use examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

In Act 4, Scene 6 we are told that there is reason in madness. Using examples from the play, discuss the truth or falsehood of this statement.

(see the answer keys)

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