King Lear: Act I Scene i-iii Study Questions

Act I Scene i
1. What do we learn about Edmund in the very first exchange between Kent and Gloucester?

2. Summarize what we observe in this first section about:
King Lear –
Which of you shall we say doth love us most,
That we our largest bounty may extend

Goneril –
Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter;

Regan –
I am made of that self mettle as my sister,…

Cordelia –
… I am sure my love’s
More ponderous than my tongue
…Nothing…

3. Why does King Lear favor Goneril and Regan over Cordelia in Ii?

4. Why does Lear exile Kent? (Hint: There is a link with Cordelia)

5. Summarize how Burgandy response to Lear’s question about Cordelia.
What does this tell us about why he was intersted in marrying her?

6. How does France respond to Learn’s question about Cordelia?
What does this tell us about why he was intersted in marrying her?

7. At the end I I Goneril and Regan confere with each other. Explain what you think they are actually planning to do.

8. Explain the importance of the following items in relation to this part of the play:

Edmund’s illegitimacy –

The love test –

“Nothing” –

Disinheriting Cordelia –

Poor Judgement-

Appearance versus reality –

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King Lear: Act I Scene ii
Study Questions

Note: the soliloquy is a powerful tool in which a character talks directly to the audience. It is used to help the audience better understand the character’s motivations, response, etc.

1. Why does Edmund want to trick Gloucester into thinking that Edgar wants his title?

2. Describe what Edmund has done to…

…Gloucester

…Edgar

3. Describe what Edgar is feeling at the end of this scene.

Shakespeare loved to use parallel plots in his play. King Lear is an excellent example of this. The main plot line of King Lear is very similar to that of the subplot for Gloucester.
This will be noticeable once you answer the following prompts.

4. Describe how King Lear and the Earl of Gloucester are similar:

5. Describe how Goneril, Regan and Edmund are similar:

6. Describe how Cordeila and Edgar are similar:
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King Lear: Act I Scene iii
Study Guide

This short scene has two simple purposes:
i. Introduce Oswald. He supports the older sisters in the same way that Kent supports Lear.
“Evil is to remind us that evil is not simply the quality of the villain; it is also the quality of society, or a part of it as well.”
ii. Illustrate Goneril’s behavior of provoking a weak or insecure person so that she may then attack and destroy while doing so under the banner of a ‘reasonable’ policy.

1. Summarize what takes place in this scene.