King Lear Acts One and Two Review

1. Identify the conflicts established in the first two acts

*Struggle by Goneril and Regan to strip Lear of his power and identity (King)

*Cordelia banished / estranged from her father due to her refusal to flatter

*Edmund's resistance to tradition of inheritance

*Conflicting morals / beliefs between Kent and Oswald

*Kent's banishment for his attempt to help lear

*Division of England -- Civil War between Cornwall and Albany

*Fool's confrontation of Kent and Lear with the uncomfortable truth

*Dishonor of Lear and his servants by Cornwall and Regan and Oswald/Goneril

*Who will lead England?

*Edmund's attempt to have his brother killed and inherit the land/wealth/title of Gloucester

2. Describe / summarize the situation faced by significant characters at the end of act two

 *Edgar disguised as a naked, filth-covered, insane beggar "Tom o' Bedlam"

*Cordelia Queen of France in exile

*Lear insane in a hurricane, locked out of the castle, no knights

*Kent banished, cannot be his true identity, but CAN serve the king

*Edmund is successful with his lies -- convinced his father Edgar is guilty, true heir in hiding has been promised inheritance and legitimate title

*Goneril and Regan are going to begin a civil war, have successfully gotten rid of their father and any threat he could pose, each rule half of England

*Oswald rewarded for his disloyal conduct

*Fool aware of his position and out with the king in the cold stormy weather. 

3. Identify some of the questions / themes that have been raised by the play so far
*What makes you who you are? What is your identity and how is it determined?
*Corruption of those who hold power
*Can manipulation be used for good
*People are blinded by the power they have
*What are the effects of breaking tradition
*What makes a king (or any leader?)
*Loyalty to family vs. Loyalty to self
*What are you willing to do to achieve your goals? Do the ends justify the means?
*What does a person really need? Why does the difference between needs and wants matter?
*What does trust signify or mean What does it mean to be loyal
*What makes you a "man" or what makes you powerful
*What are the duties or requirements of a king?
*Needs vs. Desires
*Is exiling you problem a solution?
*What is the nature of wisdom? Foolishness? Who is qualified to judge?
*What does it take to earn the respect of others (loyalty and obedience)
*What sacrifices do you make for the ones you love?
*Does loyalty only bring decline of status or well-being
*What laws control human behavior
*Is the world just?
*Is there such a thing as too much loyalty?
*The true nature of people can be seen by their response to power and greed
*Who is good? Evil?