The selected passage is from Act IV, Scene VII, from one of the most historical and critically acclaimed plays of William Shakespeare. It is generally agreed today to be Shakespeare’s greatest play by the learned as well as the public (Hunter, p. 1). It has the extremes of cruelty and suffering face extremes of loyalty and sacrifice and its basic motifs have the classic themes […]

The Fool – from text to screen. The concept of a fool in Shakespearean plays is nearly as popular as the very figure of a fool used to be in Middle Ages at royal courts and some private households of aristocrats. The characters that could be described as fools appear in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (Feste) and As You Like It (Touchstone). And there is of […]

In what ways does Shakespeare draw parallel situations between King Lear and Earl of Gloucester, and how are the characters similar in the play (specifically Act 1)? While examining Lear and Gloucester, there are obvious similarities, such as that they are both of an older generation with evident power and authority. Both have children wishing to overthrow them through mendacity and false assurance. These two […]

PPISMP TESL (R) Foundation Course Cohort 4 (June 2011 Intake) English Studies III: PI 1353K (R) (Revision) KING LEAR By William Shakespeare 1. The intricate relationship between characters adds to the interest of readers to study the play. Based on the play you have studied, discuss this statement with convincing evidence to justify your answer. 2. Write a critical analysis of one of the themes […]

Lear is responsible for his downfall in a countless amount of ways each one leading on from the next. He abuses his superior position as king and yet still demands respect and authority of which he strongly believes he deserves. Lear longs for his daughter’s companionship. He is blinded by lies and “thy youngest daughter does not love thee least” is banishes. Lear uses his […]

“The Fool both emphasises and relieves the tragedy of the play. ” Discuss. The fool is a continual character in the workings of Shakespeare. The Fool is usually a cunning peasant that uses his intellect to outdo people of a higher social status. This is particularly the case in the play King Lear. Lear’s jester, the Fool, is indeed a very strange character. He uses […]

The seemingly loving and honest sisters, Generic and Reagan, and Starr son, Edmund, are In reality; evil, uncaring, deceitful beings, and clothing that symbolizes who a person Is, Is simply only an Illusion. Early on in the play, Learns two daughters, Generic and Reagan, appear to be very caring and are loving towards him, but with animal Imagery, their true nature is shown. When Lear […]

We’ve all seen shapeshifters through different storylines, some of them important, and some not. They may start off as evil, vile characters that we all dislike but love in the end, or a lovable character that twists from favorable to malicious with a snap. The tragedy, King Lear, written by William Shakespeare, is about a king, struck with two malicious daughters and one good one, […]