1. Homework for Wednesday
Critical Interpretation Flashcards
Comprehension: explain in general sense
Reflection: relate to King Lear
Evaluation: agree or disagree with pov or claim being made. Use text support
Conversation: lead class or group in short discussion

2. When the cat’s away the mice will play
Comprehension:When the authority or power is gone, those who have been hiding are more inclined to reveal themselves.
“play” can refer to any action taken that may either call mischief or, in the case of mice, thieving.
Relates to Lear: When Lear relinquishes his authority his daughters certainly do come out to play. They play the game of flattery in order to take what they consider rightfully theirs.
Evaluation: It is an adaquate description “We must do something and I’ th’ heat.

3. 2.4 O reason not the need! Don’t ask why I need these things
If we have only what we need, then we are no better than animals

4. Our basest beggars are in the poorest thing superfluous
Even the poorest people own what they don’t need

5. If only to go warm were gorgeous, why nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear’st
If you dressed only to keep warm, you wouldn’t need those gorgeous clothes you wear

6. Touch me with noble anger and let not women’s weapons, water drops, stain my man’s cheeks
Alliteration used here to emphasize irony; He is the one acting childish, womanly. The sisters seem to be strong, unyielding in their demands

7. I will do such things…
Empty threat.

8. O. Fool, I shall go mad.

9. Homework Monday
Read
Journal: Look at monologue at beginning of 3.2
Blow Winds…
1. Identify metaphors, personification, similes
2. How does the storm serve as a metaphor for Lear?

10. schedule Concept: Storm as metaphor
Learning Objective: how does Shakespeare use metaphor and personification to reveal the conflict in Lear’s mind?
BUT first: finish tone 2.4
Watch video- where does he shift tone?

11. Housekeeping Turn in college essay Stamp journals for today 3.2
HOMEWORK: read 3.4 and make sure you understand the section you have been assigned for reader’s theater.
Identify climax and turning point

12. Watch Monologue How does shifting tone reveal Lear’s emotional truths?
Who is being unreasonable in this family conflict?

13. Who is being unreasonable here?
If we look at this scene as one would look at a family unit, what do you see?
Division between parents and children,
Reasonable requests being ignored,
Egos getting in the way of reason,
What Revenge does Lear swear on his daughters? (325)
Doesn’t know, but they will be “terrors of the earth”
-We also see what Lear fails to see...
He has brought this upon himself

14. Page 119
What does Gloucester do at the end of the act and is he effective?

15. Journal Prompt: “More sinned against than sinning.”-Lear
1. What does it mean?
2. Is it true? Do you agree or not? Give evidence. Write down your answer
3. Share pair

16. Scene 1
Kent meets the gentleman and learns that France has sent spies to England
There are rumors of division between the daughters. (“twitxt Albany and Cornwall)
Kent gives gentleman his ring to show Cordelia to confirm Kent’s identity.
Looks for Lear

17. How does the storm mirror Lear’s emotional state?
Find metaphors that reveal the personal storm brewing in his mind.
-oak-cleaving (storm that destroys)
Sulph’rous and thought-executing fires
Storm destroys thought (reason?)
Crack (sanity?)
Rage (obvious)
Comparing the destructive power of the storm to his own destruction and that of the world.

18. Storm as Metaphor fighting against him
Represents turbulence in Lear’s own mind and the unbalance of the natural order
King has abandoned post, daughters have betrayed their father
Sub plot mirrors growing chaos
Politcial storm; strife between Cornwall and Albany
France planning to invade
Asks the storm to “strike flat the thick rotundity of’ the world” (destroy world) (9)

19. Personification?
Personifies the storm as “servile ministers” or agents set out to destroy him:
‘I call you servile ministers,
That will with two pernicious daughters join
Your high-endangered battles’ ‘gainst a head…” (23)

20. agenda Review fool’s song at end of 3.2 What is afoot in 3.3?
Readers theater 3.4
HW: read 3.5 & 3.7 (skip 3.6)
Looking ahead: quiz Thursday acts 2-3
Know vocab quotes characters

21. “More sinned against than sinning?” (60)
What does this reveal about his development as a human being?
Recognizes he has made mistakes
His beliefs about human nature and relationships are invalid, meaningless
But.. He doesn’t believe that he deserves to be in the wilderness exposed to the storm
His daughter’s sins and disrespect are greater than the mistakes he has made.

22. Where does Self Pity shift to care for another?
“Come on, my boy. How dost my boy? Art cold?
Realizes that necessity makes all human conditions relative.

23. “More sinned against than sinning”
Do you still agree with your original response? If not, what changed your mind?

24. 3.2 What do we learn about the fool’s character in this scene?
Why does he stay?
”None but the fool, who labors to outjest/His heart-struck injuries (20

25.
He that has a tiny little wit
With heigh-ho, the wind and the rain-
Must make content with his fortunes fit
For the rain it raineth every day.
those who are stupid, must take what they can get, for misfortune rains upon us every day.
How does this apply to Lear?

26. Summary
Gloucester receives letter about France invading on behalf of the King
“There is part of a power already footed.”

27. 3.3 irony “Most savage and unnatural” (6)
In response to his father’s complaint that the Duke would not let him allow Lear in the castle.
His father trusts him not to tell the Duke where he is going, but Edmund does just the opposite.
He hopes to gain what his father loses;
“The young rises when the old doth fall”

28. Reader’s Theater
Readers Theatre is a style of theater in which the actors do or do not memorize their lines. In Readers Theatre, actors use vocal expression to help the audience understand the story rather than visual storytelling such as sets, costumes, and intricate blocking.

29. 3.4 as a class- Identify turning point and Lear’s epiphany
Identify specific lines.

30. 3.4 Climax and Epiphany .
Climax: the turning point in the play or story. Usually the most exciting part of the play…. But also occurs when the character has his epiphany Epiphany: the moment the character realizes that nothing will ever be the same again. .

31. 3.4 King Lear and Kent
2 volunteers to read lines 1-25 in 3.4

32. 3.4 Why doesn’t he mind the storm?
Line 10: where the greater malady is fixed, / The lesser is scarce felt. (the larger pain – daughters- makes the smaller pain –the storm- disappear) “This tempest in my mind Doth from my senses take all feeling else”

33. 3.4 p. 137
“This tempest in my mind /Doth from my senses take all feeling else Save what beats there.” (15) p. 137
He doesn’t mind the storm; it takes his mind off larger issues.
What doe Lear mean at the end of speech: “O that way madness lies. Let me shun that.
(He realizes that if he continues to think about his daughters’ treatment of him and his loss of authority, he will indeed go mad.)

34. Your old kind father whose frank heart gave all
Your old kind father whose frank heart gave all! O, that way madness lies. Let me shun that (24)

35. 4 volunteers
How can we create this sense of betrayal and looming madness using our voices and simple stage directions?
Read the revised text
Suggestions from class?

36. Your turn! Students will prepare reader’s theater for the rest of 3.4
students will count off and divide into 4 groups. (See attachment)
b. students will divide lines and act movement to their section
c. See handout

37. Agenda 15 minutes to rehearse scene
Remember to find variety in speaking lines and movements. Emphasize Lear’s growing insight and transformation and any them that your see.
Be sure to know what your section is about
Report to class significant lines, symbols, imagery, themes, character development

38. What is Lear’s Tragic Flaw and his Turning Point?.
Tragic Flaw: the trait that is responsible for actions leading to downfall and tragedy

39. agenda Reader theater presentations- discuss meaning of section
Quiz on act 2-3 is moved to Friday
No Homework tonight

40. Group 1 Lear’s Prayer
“Poor naked wretches… (p. 137) O I have ta’en Too little care of this. Take physic, pomp Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel.” (I haven’t taken care of the poor. Heal thyself and feel what the poor do feel.)

41. Group 2 Edgar’s lines
Lear thinks that only the betrayal of daughters could bring a wretch so low
What do you note here:
Prose
(no verse)
Imagery of devil, betrayal

42. p. 141: Group 3
This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen. (85)
Edgar: Why the animal imagery?
Advice at end?

43. p. 141 Group 3
Thou art the thing itself; unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou. Off, off, you lendings! Come, unbutton here.”
What does Lear Recognize about himself, about humanit?

44. Why does Lear strip? “thou art the thing itself” he recognizes
That Tom (Edgar) represents man without possessions…a basic man with no friends, or family. He realizes that Tom no better than an animal. He also realizes that he is the same. He has this in common with Tom: they both have nothing.

45. What does Lear learn here?
He identifies with the common person
compassion

46. Group 4 Edgar What type of irony is present at the end of the scene?
Gloucester too blind to recognize his son
The fool is more sane than Lear.

47. Group 4p. 147
Gloucester
“I am almost mad myself…”

48. 3.4 Journal. Choose one
What does Lear learn about himself and the world in 3.4? Why is it considered the turning point? Cite at least one line to support statement .
Explain the meaning of Lear’s view of Tom as “the thing itself” – and what it means?

49. Poor naked wretches… (p
Poor naked wretches… (p. 137) He thinks that only the betrayal of daughters could bring a wretch so low This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen. (85) Thou art the thing itself; unacommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art (115)

50. Why does Lear strip? “thou art the thing itself” he recognizes
That Tom (Edgar) represents man without possessions…a basic man with no friends, or family. He realizes that he Tom no better than an animal. He also realizes that he is the same. He has this in common with Tom: they both have nothing.

51. Agenda Quick write Journal #3 3.5: betrayal complete
3.6 Poor Tom’s soliloquy
3.7 Out Vile Jelly Fill out sheet as we watch scene (Trigger warnings)
What is Shakespeare saying about Justice?
Quiz act 2-3 tomorrow

52. Gloucester (3rd hr )
What type of irony is present at the end of the scene?
Gloucester too blind to recognize his son
The sane are acting mad
The mad are acting…. ?
Natural?

53. 3.5
Edmund shows Cornwall the letter he father received that reveals France is ready to fight for king.
P. 155

54. 3.6
Trial (Gloucestser leads Lear and party to a side building and exits before…
P. 155: Gloucester returns to tell Kent to take King to Dover (I have o’erheard a plot of death upon him.”
Fool’s last line: I’ll go to till noon.”

55. Edgar p.157
1. When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes.
When our superiors are suffering like us
We forget our own misery
2. How light and portable my pain seems now
when that which makes me bend makes the King bow 
Compared to the king my suffering is less.
3. He childed as I fathered.
his pain comes from his daughters as mine from my father
LAST TIME WE SEE THE FOOL

56. 3.7 “OUT VILE JELLY”
What is the purpose of this scene? is Shakespeare resorting to sensationalism for entertainment or is there justified symbolism in the scene?

57. Watch scene
1. Who suggests hanging? Blinding? 2. Listen for eye references 3. What does Gloucester discover about Edmund? 4. Why does blinding seem the only possible punishment? 5. What does the action of Cornwall’s Servant and the conversation between the two servants at the end add to the meaning of the play.

58. 3.7 How have the sisters changed from the beginning?
What is significant about Cornwall’s servant killing him?

59. 3.7 “OUT VILE JELLY” What is Shakespeare saying about Justice?
WHAT IS SYMBOLIC AND IRONIC?

60. In groups discuss -take notes and list- examples of disorder
Disorder flourishes in a world where the honest characters (kent- Cordelia) are exiled and the deceitful ones are rewarded.
Kent’s honesty has gotten him in the stocks just as his honesty got him banished in 1.1
Gloucester also recognizes that putting Kent in the stock is showing disrespect to the king.
Family relationships are strained
Tom is now naked and hiding in the hollow of a tree. He too has been stripped of worldly possessions.

61. homework For Thursday: 4.1-4.3 (10 pts) For Friday: 4.4-4.7
As you read bullet main points
Bring in one significant quote to share with class and be prepared to explain it.
For Friday:
Same as above (10 pts)
For Monday next week: Finish play

62. Homework Act 4 For Friday: read 4.1- 4.5 For Monday finish act 4.6-4.7
Respond to journal questions
For Monday finish act
Finish journal
Turn in Act 3 journals today or tomorrow.

63. 4.1
“ I stumbled when I saw. Full oft ‘tis seen Our means secure us, and our mere defects / Prove our commodities.” (our advantages make us blind we learn from our disadvantages) How has his suffering changed him? Like Lear, he recognizes “The thing intself…”unaccomodated man” stripped of his illusions

64. “As flies to wanton boys are we to
“As flies to wanton boys are we to th’gods /They kill us for their sport.”
Uncaring universe…this best represents the nihilistic view of life as meaningless.
A world without moral or religious principles.

65. 4.2 What is going on between Edmund and Goneril?
How is Albany changing?
“You are not worth the dust which the rude wind ? Blows in your face.
In 1.4 he was mild-mannered regarding Goneril’s dismissal of Lear’s knight
Now he rails at her for injustices done to Lear and Gloucester

66. Humanity must perforce prey on itself Like monsters of the deep.
People who commit cruel acts against others will soon turn on each other “Like monsters of the deep.” Will the natural order restore itself? ALBANY IS TRULY SHOCKED BY HIS WIFE;S CRUELTY

67. Agenda Homework For Tuesday: read 4.7-5.2
For Wed: 5.3:1/2 page Response with support: Is Shakespear’s world moral or amoral?
IS there a natural moral order
or does he present a nihilistic view of human nature?

68. 4.3
Why does refuse to see Cordelia?
P.189

69. 4,4
What will heal Lear?
Not stars, nor the gods. She turns to a physician instead.
She places her faith in all “unpublished virtues of the earth.”
And…in

70. 4.4 Love?
As the British powers march toward the French army Cordelia states: “ No blown ambition doth our arms incite, But love, dear love, and our aged father’s right. Soon may I hear and see him.”

71. 4.5 Oswald remains loyal to Goneril, but loyal to an evil cause.
Remains stoic..unmoved just as he was in scene with Kent.
Regan says it was a shame they let Gloucester live. Why?

72. Terms to know
Atmosphere: how the writing feels to a reader. (An author’s tone creates atmosphere)
Tone: Tone illuminates speaker’s attitude toward a subject. Attitude is communicated through tone.
Diction: Choice of words.
Syntex: The arrangement and order of words to create meaning.
Imagery that appeals to one’s senses

73. 4.6 This world I do denounce- Gloucester
Lines 45-95
Why does he continue the disguise?
How does he convince Gloucester that his life has value?
Line 88: Therefore, thou happy father,
Think that the clearest gods, who make them honors
Of men’s imposibilities, have preserved thee.

74. Justice Read lines 120 Misogynistic speech 140
What is Lear saying about Justice in the world?
Mark lines that reveal his view

75. Robes and furr’d gowns hide all”
The rich hide their sins behind furs and gold plate (their wealth and status)

76. “When we are born, we great stage of fools.
Life is suffering

77. The bad begin to fall Edgar kills Oswald
Reads letter from Goneril to Edmund:
p. 213 line 290

78. 4.7 P. 221 Lines 65-90 Lear has gained wisdom through his suffering.
The great rage has died in him
He no longer makes demands on Cordelia.

79. Tragic Hero
Tragic hero is a figure who occupies a high position of social rank and ultimately falls to desolation and disaster.
Protagonist’s fate is determined by the tragic hero’s flaw, or hamartia.

80. Tragic Fall From high position because of: an error in judgment
exaggerated hubris (excessive pride)
or the workings of fate.

81. Shakespeare’s tragedies
Hero’s flaw is rooted within the protagonist
Reveals itself through a failure or inability to act correctly or make the right decision

82. Hero is ultimately destroyed by forces he himself set in motion.

83. Why not end it here?
Write a quick response based on the structure of the heroic tragedy.
Although reconciled with Cordelia, Lear must face the forces of his other two daughters.
The final battle between good and evil forces must be played out.

84. Homework Work on your character analysis and costume
Promptbooks will be due next Thursday
For scene analysis, your group can divide it up and do a google docs if so desired
Be sure to include copy of script with stage directions and ways of saying line

85. 4.6 “Robed and furr’d gowns hide all”
How does this reveal King Lear’s understanding of justice and authority?