1. Act II King Lear…

2. What is one central idea or subject that is repeated throughout Act I and II?
Family
What is the theme?
Filial Ingratitude- subject (filial means pertaining to children)
Children should not be ungrateful to their parents. -theme (complete sentence)

3. What has happened to both Goneril and Regan now that they have power?
They are consumed with it
Becoming more corrupt
Theme?
Power not only corrupts the person who has it, but what is being presided over as well.
Power corrupts (subject)

4. Scene i What is the gossip that Edmund hears and then tells Edgar?
That Albany and Cornwall are fighting
Edmund lies to Gloucester about Edgar’s supposed fight with him while trying to convince him to plot against Gloucester’s life.
Why is it ironic (irony) that he uses his “bastard” status in his explanation?
Edmund is out for revenge because of his bastard status.

5. Scene I cont… Who is Edgar’s godfather?
Lear is Edgar’s godfather- this shows the closeness of Gloucester and Lear.
How does Gloucester refer to Edmund after he is informed about Edgar’s supposed plot to kill him?
“Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means To make thee capable.”- Gloucester tells him he is his natural son.

6. Scene ii
What do Regan and Cornwall insist that Gloucester and Edmund do to Kent, even though Gloucester thinks it is a bad idea?
Put Kent in the stocks
What theme does this relate to?
Filial Ingratitude- Regan’s decision to place him in the stocks reinforces her growing disrespect for her father.

7. Scene iii Who does Edgar become to go into hiding?
Tom O’Bedlam- Bedlam refers to an insane asylum.
What is a Motif- again?
Something that reoccurs to support a theme.
Motif- Madness- is a disorder and hidden wisdom.
Edgar will gain wisdom by pretending to be mad
Fool- his talk babble, yet he speaks the truth

8. Scene iv
What message does the fool give Lear about his daughters when Lear is shocked by their disrespect towards him?
“Fathers that wear rags Do make their children blind: But fathers that bear bags Shall see their children kind. Fortune, that arrant whore, Ne’er turns the key to the poor”
Fool tells Lear that he is not important to his daughters any more because he has no power.

9. Scene iv cont… Motif- Betrayal- in both family and politics.
Lear betrayed Cordelia and Kent
Goneril and Regan betray Lear
Edmund betrays Gloucester and Edgar
What is Lear asking to keep? Why?
Lear want his knights to stay with him because it is a symbol of power.
What theme does this relate to?
Power Corrupts- Regan and Goneril both turn their backs on their father since he has handed over his power.

10. More of Scene iv…
Lear statement of “O fool, I shall go mad!” foreshadows what?
His insanity
What does Lear walk into at the end of the act?
Lear walks out into a raging storm