King Lear 1
Study Guide Questions for Act I, Scene I
If you are looking for the beginning of the study for Shakespeare’s “King Lear” then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. If you would like to see the growing list of book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!
Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)
Flattery, Duty, Prudence, Fortitude, Arrogance, Despotism, Freedom, Integrity, Love, Honor
Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)
What do we learn about Gloucester’s and Edmund’s relation to one another?
What did King Lear announce concerning what he planned to do with his kingdom?
What question did King Lear ask his daughter’s to answer?
In what manner did Goneril answer her father’s question?
In what manner did Regan answer her father’s question?
What did Goneril and Regan receive from their father after giving an answer to his question?
What was the substance of Cordelia’s answer to her father’s question?
What was the result of Cordelia’s refusal to amend her answer to her father?
After dividing the kingdom between his daughters, what did King Lear say he intended to retain for himself?
What did the Earl of Kent attempt to do concerning this situation?
What was the result of Kent’s attempt with King Lear?
How did the Duke of Burgundy react to Cordelia’s situation?
How did the King of France react to Cordelia’s situation?
What did Cordelia’s sister have to say about their father once they were away from him?
Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)
The story opens with a discussion between Kent and Gloucester wherein they discuss the latter’s son, Edmund. Why might the information we learn about Edmund be relevant to the story as it develops?
What might be King Lear’s motive in divesting himself of the responsibilities of the rule of the kingdom.
As Cordelia’s older sisters profess their lavish love for their father Cordelia speaks “aside,” meaning she speaks to no one but herself and the audience. What might be the purpose of having characters in the play make comments which are “aside” and not between characters in the story?
Compare and contrast the three sister’s replies to their father. What is similar and what is different among their replies? What are we to understand about the various characters by their replies?
What did Lear mean when he said to Cordelia, “thy truth then be thy dower?”
Consider Kent’s entreaty to King Lear on behalf of Cordelia (and in concern for the King's own well being). In their exchange there are a lot of archery references, “the bow is bent” and “the fork” (arrowhead) and “the true blank” (the bullseye of the target) and then a reference to Apollo, the god of archery. What might be Shakespeare’s purpose in making these archery references in Kent and Lear’s conversation? Specifically, why might Kent push back against Lear when he starts to invoke Apollo, the god of archery?
When Kent said to Lear, “Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow upon the foul disease” what did he mean?
Why did the Duke of Burgundy withdraw his suit for Cordelia’s hand in marriage?
What should we infer about Cordelia’s character from the fact that throughout all of her father’s anger she never once repents of her words and even states that she is “glad” not to have “such a tongue” as her sisters?
The King of France told the Duke of Burgundy that Cordelia “is herself a dowry.” What did he mean by this?
The King of France said of Cordelia, “Gods, gods! ‘tis strange that from their coldest neglect my love should kindle to inflamed respect.” What did he mean by this?
What did Goneril mean when she told Cordelia, “You have obedience scanted, and well are worth the want that you have wanted?”
Regan said to Goneril of their father, King Lear, “he hath ever but slenderly known himself.” What did she mean by this?
When Goneril said to Regan, “let’s hit together” what did she mean?
Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)
Evaluate Cordelia’s brief speech to her father, King Lear, which begins with the words “Good my lord.” Do you think her speech was fair and just or do you think it lacked proper decorum and respect? Why?
What makes someone a good counselor? What are the ideal traits and characteristics of someone fulfilling this role in our life? What are some negative traits that a good counselor should not have? Which virtues are necessary in order to be able to receive good counsel when it is spoken? What do you think makes some people incapable of receiving good advice?
The virtue of “prudence” carries the idea of seeing beforehand what will result from our decisions and actions and acting with reason accordingly. In light of this, which character or characters in this story have acted with the greatest amount of prudence? Why do you think as you do?
Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)
Cordelia said to her father, King Lear, “If for I want that glib and oily art, to speak and purpose not, since what I well intend, I’ll do it before I speak.” Relate this to what James says in his epistle in James 2:14-26. In what manner are Cordelia and James speaking about similar issues?
Read Proverbs 14. Which proverbs in this chapter do you think are most relevant to our current reading in King Lear? Why?