King Lear Themes to analyze

Various general themes Ingratitude of children Ingratitude of children Cordelia’s, Goneril’s and Edmund’s Cordelia’s, Goneril’s and Edmund’s Disorder in the family Disorder in the family Children versus lone fathers Children versus lone fathers Human fallibility Human fallibility Lear’s and Gloucester’s Lear’s and Gloucester’s Concept of individual identity Concept of individual identity Edmund’s and Cordelia’s Edmund’s and Cordelia’s Spiritual development and rebirth Spiritual development and rebirth Lear’s and Gloucester’s Lear’s and Gloucester’s

Madness King Lear descends into madness throughout the play King Lear descends into madness throughout the play Goneril and Regan also descend into madness as they vie for power Goneril and Regan also descend into madness as they vie for power Edgar and Kent recover from madness Edgar and Kent recover from madness Gloucester faces his own madness to the point of attempting suicide Gloucester faces his own madness to the point of attempting suicide Edmund faces his own madness in pursuit of his goals Edmund faces his own madness in pursuit of his goals

Love Lear’s “love test” in the opening scene Lear’s “love test” in the opening scene Unconditional love from Cordelia for Lear Unconditional love from Cordelia for Lear Unconditional love from Edgar for Gloucester Unconditional love from Edgar for Gloucester Unconditional love from the King of France for Cordelia Unconditional love from the King of France for Cordelia Conditional love from Goneril and Regan Conditional love from Goneril and Regan Conditional love from Burgundy for Cordelia ($$$) Conditional love from Burgundy for Cordelia ($$$) Love/Loyalty from Kent for Lear Love/Loyalty from Kent for Lear

Language “Nothing” (Cordelia’s use versus Edgar’s) “Nothing” (Cordelia’s use versus Edgar’s) “Fool” (folly versus wisdom) “Fool” (folly versus wisdom) “Nature” (natural/order versus unnatural/disorder) “Nature” (natural/order versus unnatural/disorder)

Imagery Storm images Storm images Animal images Animal images Sight images Sight images Clothing/nakedness images Clothing/nakedness images

Literary Elements Script Script Plot Plot Character Character Story Organization Story Organization Setting Setting Dialogue Dialogue Monologue Monologue Conflict Conflict

Technical Elements Scenery Scenery Costumes Costumes Props Props Sound and Music Sound and Music Make-up Make-up

Performance Elements Acting Acting Speaking Speaking Non-verbal Expression Non-verbal Expression

Combining Literary, Technical and Performance Elements Plot and Conflict go with??? Plot and Conflict go with??? Character goes with??? Character goes with??? Dialogue and Monologue go with? Dialogue and Monologue go with? Setting goes with? Setting goes with? Script and Story Organization go with? Script and Story Organization go with? Your own combination here? Your own combination here?

ANALYSIS Remember that the definition of analysis from your class text (Responding to Literature) is looking at how the parts relate to the whole (Theme). Remember that the definition of analysis from your class text (Responding to Literature) is looking at how the parts relate to the whole (Theme). Once you have decided what the play is about (theme), you need to decide which elements make that theme happen. Once you have decided what the play is about (theme), you need to decide which elements make that theme happen.

Seeing the Performance Sit close enough to see the actors and how they make the characters come alive Sit close enough to see the actors and how they make the characters come alive Take notes on the props, costumes, scenery and other visual elements. Take notes on the props, costumes, scenery and other visual elements. Take notes on the acting, speaking and non-verbal elements. Take notes on the acting, speaking and non-verbal elements. Don’t worry about following along in the play. You have read it by now. Don’t worry about following along in the play. You have read it by now.