Listening and Discussing Unit 2 King Lear

1. In Part 2 of the play, King Lear asks the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France whether they still want to marry Cordelia. What do you think the two men will say? Listening

2. Listen to the tape to check your predictions with your partners. 3. Listen the tape again and answer the following questions.

Listening 1)What does Lear tell the two men? 2)What did Lear originally promise if one or the other married Cordelia? 3)Do you think Cordelia’s inheritance is important to the Duke of Burgundy? Do you think it is also important to the King of France?

Listening 4)What does the King of France think might be the reason for Lear turning against his daughter? 5)what does Cordelia say to explain her father’s decision? 6)What does Cordelia ask of her sisters just before she leaves for France?

Listening 7)How do the sisters react to her request? 8)At the end of Part 2, what are the sisters worried about and why? 9)What do you think they will do next?

Listening 4. Answer the questions in Ex. 2 and check the answers with your partners. Q1: Lear tells them that Cordelia is no longer going to have part of his kingdom. She will be a poor woman when she marries. Q2: Burgundy says he cannot marry her after all.

Listening Q3: France asks Lear what Cordelia has done to turn him against her. Cordelia explains she has done nothing bad, just hasn’t found the words to tell her father how much she loves him. Q4: France decides to marry Cordelia even without her part of the kingdom.

Discussion 5. Read the questions in Ex.3 and discuss them in groups, then report your discussion.

Listening text N =Narrator B=Burgundy C=Cordelia L=Lear F=King of France R=Regan G=Gaoneril N: After the king’s harsh words to him, Kent sadly leaves the room. Just as he goes, the King of France and the Aduke of Burgundy enter, both these gentlemen want to marry Cordelia. L:Ah, come here Burgundy. I have sth.to

Listening text Tell you. I no longer care for my daughter and she is to leave my castle a ploor woman. She will have none of my riches when she marries you. B:That was not our agreement, sir. L:Well,it is now. B:I am sorry but I cannot marry her under these circumstances.

Listening text L: Fine, then don’t. And you, France. Are you willing to marry this daughter whom I hate? F:I don’t understand. Yesterday Cordelia was your favourite. She was the child of your old age, the best, the dearest of your daughters. She must have done something most terrible to turn you against her.

Listening text C:Your Majesty. I have committed no murder or any other dishonourable act. It is simply that I could not find the words to tell my father how much I love him. L:It would have been better if you had never been born than you had displeased me so much.

Listening text F: is this her only fault?why,then I shall marry her and take her to France where she will be my queen. L:Take her, for she is no daughter of mine.come Burgundy. I do not want to look any longer at her face. N:The King and Burgundy leave together with the Dukes o Albany and Cornwall.

Listening text C:Sisters, goodbye. I pray that your grand speeches have some truth in them and that you will be kind to my father. R:Don’t tell us what to do. G:Yes, mind your own business and look after your husband. N:Cordelia and the King of France leave.

Listening text G:Sister, our father is much changed. He always loved Cordelia best yet see how quickly he threw her out. R:Yes, I think he is becoming unwise in his old age. G:Well, he was always quick-tempered but now he is becoming far worse, I think we had better find some way of making sure he can’t cause us any problems.

Listening text R:Yes,Let’s think about it. N:Regan and Goneril leave.