AP Seminar Lesson Plans King Lear

1. AP Seminar Lesson PlansKing Lear

2. Duke of Albany & Goneril Earl of Gloucester -Edgar -Edmund King Lear -Goneril -Regan -Cordelia & France Duke of Cornwall & Regan Duke of Kent

3. Act I, Scenes i-ii • Read Act I, Scene i • What is the nature of the conversation between Gloucester and Kent? • What is Gloucester’s tone? • Listen to Act I, Scene i, Lines 44-106 • What happens? • What is ironic about this scene? • How do the two readings compare? • If you were the director, how would you stage it? Why? Explain. • Why does Lear call everyone together? • Listen to Act I, Scene i, Lines 136-176 • What metaphor does Lear use? What does it suggest? • How does Kent respond? • How does Kent’s relationship with Lear compare to Creon’s relationship with Oedipus? • What might Lear’s tragic flaw be? What errors in judgment does it cause? • Read Cordelia’s monologue to her sisters (I.i.263-270): What literary/poetic devices are being used? How are they used to establish tone and express theme? • Listen to Edmund’s soliloquy (I.ii.1-22) • What is Edmund’s argument? How is diction used to establish tone and express theme? • What is Edmund’s plan? How does he manipulate both his father, Gloucester, and his brother, Edgar. • Read Edmund’s soliloquy (I.ii.100-112): What are his views regarding fate and freewill? If you recall Cassius from Julius Caesar, how do their views compare?

4. Edmund and Cassius Cassius from Julius Caesar (I. ii. 95-101, 136-142) Cassius from Julius Caesar (I. iii. 46-53) I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life, but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Caesar. So were you. We both have fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter’s cold as well as he. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonorable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Those that have known the earth so full of faults. For my part, I have walked about the streets, Submitting me unto the perilous night, And, thus unbracèd, Casca, as you see, Have bared my bosom to the thunder-stone. And when the cross blue lightning seemed to open The breast of heaven, I did present myself Even in the aim and very flash of it.

5. Act I, Scene i Observation and Direct References • Kent and Gloucester speak in prose in Act I, Scene i, Lines 1-33 (pp. 1 and 2). Why? • King Lear and his daughters speak in poetry in Act I, Scene i, Lines 37-133 (pp. 2-15). Why? • Nature Imagery and Symbolism • Irony Interpretations and Explanations

6. Act I, Scenes iii-v • Discuss nature imagery and the essence of human nature. • Discuss how Oswald and Goneril disrespect Lear. • Discuss Cordelia and the Fool.

7. Fortune’s Wheel What does Kent mean at the end of Act II, Scene ii when he refers to “fortune’s wheel”: “Fortune, good night. Smile once more; turn thy wheel” (II.ii.188)? (Answer this question on your picture.) Draw a picture of a wheel with a handle or lever to control the wheel. Who might be the controlling figure, the one who turns the wheel? (Identify this figure and label the wheel accordingly.) What does the concept of a “wheel of fortune” suggest about the nature of human life? (Answer this question on your picture.) At the beginning of the play, what is Lear’s position on the wheel? What is Kent’s? (Briefly explain and label the wheel accordingly.) Where is Lear now (at the end of Act II, Scene ii)? Where is Kent? (Briefly explain and label the wheel accordingly.) What is Edmund trying to do to the “wheel of fortune”? (On your picture, illustrate this, explain why he is trying to do this, and explain the possible consequences of this behavior.) For what is Kent wishing in the closing lines of Act II, Scene ii, which are written above? (Briefly answer this question on your picture.)

8. Act III, Scenes i-iii • What do the following lines suggest about the Fool’s role: “None but the Fool, who labors to outjest/His heart-struck injuries” (III.i.19-20)? • Read Kent’s monologue (III.i.21-46). What does Kent reveal about Albany and Cornwall? What does he reveal about France? • Read Kent’s monologue (III.i.48-56). What does Kent send to Cordelia? Why? What is Kent planning to do? • Play tracks 19-21 (III.ii.1-27). If you were directing this play, which interpretation would you use? Why? What might Shakespeare be suggesting about human nature in these lines? • Read the Fool’s lines (III.ii.29-38). What is his suggesting? How do his observations relate to Lear’s situation? • Read the Fool’s lines (III.ii.86-103). What is the Fool’s prophecy? • What does Gloucester think about the treatment of Lear by Cornwall, Regan, and Goneril? What information does Gloucester share with Edmund in Scene iii? What is Edmund going to do?

9. Act III, Scene ii, Lines 12-13, 17-20 Act III, Scene ii, Lines 86-102 “O nuncle, court holy water in a dry house is better than this rain water out o’door.” What is the Fool saying? “Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters, I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness. I never gave you kingdom, called you children; You owe me no subscription.” What is Lear saying? What do these lines suggest about Lear’s values? I’ll speak a prophecy ere I go: When priests are more in word than matter, When brewers mar their malt with water, When nobles are their tailors' tutors, No heretics burned but wenches' suitors, When every case in law is right, No squire in debt nor no poor knight, When slanders do not live in tongues, Nor cutpurses come not to throngs, When usurers tell their gold i' th' field, And bawds and whores do churches build— Then shall the realm of Albion Come to great confusion. Then comes the time, who lives to see ’t, That going shall be used with feet. This prophecy Merlin shall make, for I live before his time. What two worlds are being compared? Where do shifts occur? What will bring Albion (England) “to great confusion”? What does this mean? What might this speech foreshadow? Does the Fool think he is going to live to see it?

10. Act III, Scenes iv-v • What does Kent mean when he says: “The tyranny of the open night’s too rough/For nature to endure” (III.iv.2-3)? Consider the use of the words tyranny and nature. • Reader’s theater: Lear, Kent, the Fool, and Edgar. Read and discuss lines 4-120. • What do Cornwall and Edmund discuss in Scene v? How does the conversation reflect Edmund’s Machiavellian personality?

11. Act III, Scenes vi-vii • What is the effect of the mock trial (III.vi.37-90)? What does it suggest about Lear’s status and his state of mind? • Read Edgar’s lines (III.vi.111-126). What is he suggesting about suffering? What does he realize? • Play tracks 25-27 (III.vii.62-114). If you were directing the play, which interpretation would you use? Why?

12. Act III, Scenes vi-vii • Reader’s theater: Lear, Edgar, Fool, Kent (III.vi.37-90). What is the effect of the mock trial? What does it suggest about Lear’s status and his state of mind? • Read Edgar’s lines (III.vi.111-126). What is he suggesting about suffering? What does he realize? • Play tracks 25-27 (III.vii.62-114). If you were directing the play, which interpretation would you use? Why?

13. Summary: Acts I-III • Apostrophe: “Thou, Nature, art my goddess” (Edgar: I.ii.1). • Ellipsis: “He that conceals him, death” (Gloucester to Edmund: II.i.63). • Fate vs. Freewill: “Fortune, good night. Smile once more; turn thy wheel” (Kent: II.ii.155-156). • Nature Imagery—In addition to direct references to “nature” and what is “natural” and “unnatural,” identify references to the following: • Animals • “The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long / That it had it head bit off by it young” (Fool to Lear: I.iv.189-190). • “’Twas this flesh begot / Those pelican daughters” (Lear: III.iv.66-67). • Eclipses: “These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us” (Gloucester to Edmund: I.ii.88).

14. Summary: Acts I-III (cont.) • Nature Imagery (cont.) • Nakedness • “My face I’ll grime with filth, / Blanket my loins, elf all my hair with knots, / And with present nakedness outface / The wind and persecution of the sky” (Edgar: II.ii.165-168). • “Poor naked wretches . . . / . . . O, I have ta’en / Too little care of this” (Lear to the Kent: III.iv.28-33). • “Why, thou wert better in thy grave than to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies. Is man no more but this? . . . Unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art. Off, off, you lendings. Come on, be true!” (Lear to Edgar, disguised as Poor Tom: III.iv.87-93). • Storms : “Shut up your doors, my lord. ’Tis a wild night. / My Regan counsels well. Come out o’ ’the storm” (Cornwall to Gloucester: II.2.469-470).

15. Plot Map: Acts I-III • Lear tests his daughters’ love and divides his kingdom (I.i). • Initiating Event/Exciting Force: Cordelia refuses to openly profess her love for Lear (I.i).* • Edmund tricks Gloucester with a letter supposedly written by Edgar (I.ii). • The fool confronts Lear with his folly (I.iv). • Lear curses Goneril and flees to Regan (I.iv). • Lear admits his fear of madness (I.v). • Edmund sets up Edgar and wound himself (II.i).* • Kent attacks Oswald (II.ii). • Kent is placed in the stocks (II.ii). • Edgar disguises himself as Poor Tom (II.ii). • Regan tells Lear to apologize to Goneril (II.ii). • Cornwall shuts the door on Lear (II.ii). • Gloucester tells Edmund news about impending wars (III.iii). • Climax: Lear begins to tear off his clothing (III.iv).

16. King Lear, Act IV, Scenes i-iii Objectives • Consider how Shakespeare’s stylistic choices and use of literary devices (i.e., figurative language) are used to develop character and conflict, establish tone, and express theme. • Read and paraphrase key passages in the text to understand their meaning and determine what they reveal about character, conflict, tone, and theme. • Review the peripeteiaand identify the anagnorisis of the parallel plot. • Compare Goneril with Lady Macbeth in terms of sex roles, human nature, and treachery. Procedure • Read and discuss Edgar’s monologue (IV.i.1-12). What is he suggesting about human nature and life? • Read and discuss the dialogue between Gloucester, the old man, and Edgar (IV.i.19-42). What is the anagnorisis? • Discuss the following question: Why does Gloucester want to go to Dover? (IV.i.80-90) (p. 177) • Read and discuss Act IV, Scene ii, Lines 1-83 (pp.177-183). Roles required are Goneril, Edmund, Oswald, Albany. What do these lines reveal about Goneril and Albany? • Think-Pair-Share: Read the passages from Macbeth. How do Goneril and Lady Macbeth compare? Cite textual evidence to support your claims. Share your response with a partner.

17. Compare Goneril’s conversation with Edmund and Albany (IV.ii.1-83) to Lady Macbeth’s Monologue (I.v.39-51) and Lady Macbeth’s conversation with Macbeth (I.vii.31-82). Consider what both Goneril and Lady Macbeth are suggesting about sex roles, human nature, and treachery.

18. MACBETH We will proceed no further in this business:He hath honour'd me of late; and I have boughtGolden opinions from all sorts of people,Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,Not cast aside so soon. LADY MACBETH Was the hope drunkWherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?And wakes it now, to look so green and paleAt what it did so freely? From this timeSuch I account thy love. Art thou afeardTo be the same in thine own act and valourAs thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have thatWhich thou esteem'st the ornament of life,And live a coward in thine own esteem,Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'Like the poor cat i' the adage? MACBETH Prithee, peace:I dare do all that may become a man;Who dares do more is none. LADY MACBETH What beast was't, then,That made you break this enterprise to me?When you durst do it, then you were a man;And, to be more than what you were, you wouldBe so much more the man. Nor time nor placeDid then adhere, and yet you would make both:They have made themselves, and that their fitness nowDoes unmake you. I have given suck, and knowHow tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:I would, while it was smiling in my face,Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as youHave done to this. MACBETH If we should fail? LADY MACBETH We fail!But screw your courage to the sticking-place,And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep--Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journeySoundly invite him--his two chamberlainsWill I with wine and wassail so convinceThat memory, the warder of the brain,Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reasonA limbeck only: when in swinish sleepTheir drenched natures lie as in a death,What cannot you and I perform uponThe unguarded Duncan? what not put uponHis spongy officers, who shall bear the guiltOf our great quell? MACBETH Bring forth men-children only;For thy undaunted mettle should composeNothing but males. Will it not be received,When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy twoOf his own chamber and used their very daggers,That they have done't? LADY MACBETH Who dares receive it other,As we shall make our griefs and clamour roarUpon his death? MACBETH I am settled, and bend upEach corporal agent to this terrible feat.Away, and mock the time with fairest show:False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

19. King Lear, Act IV, Scenes i-iii (cont.) Objectives • Consider how Shakespeare’s stylistic choices and use of literary devices (i.e., figurative language) are used to develop character and conflict, establish tone, and express theme. • Read and paraphrase key passages in the text to understand their meaning and determine what they reveal about character, conflict, tone, and theme. • Review the peripeteiaand identify the anagnorisis of the parallel plot. • Compare Goneril with Lady Macbeth in terms of sex roles, human nature, and treachery. Procedure • What news does the messenger bring at the conclusion of Act IV, Scene ii? How does Albany react to the news? What appears to be Albany’s position regarding Gloucester and Lear? Cite textual evidence to substantiate your claims. • In Act IV, Scene iii, what do we learn about Cordelia? How has she reacted to the news of her father’s condition? What does this suggest about her? Cite textual evidence to substantiate your claims. • What does Kent believe “governs our conditions” (IV.iii.39) (p.187)? Why does he feel this way? How do these views compare to Edmund’s (I.ii.125-140) (p. 37)? How is Shakespeare characterizing Kent and Edmund? • Read Kent’s monologue (IV.iii.51-57) (p.189). What does Kent reveal about Lear? What does this suggest about Lear? • Based on Act IV, Scene iii, do you think Cordelia will forgive and reconcile with her father? Cite textual evidence to substantiate your claims.

20. King Lear, Act IV, Scenes iv-v (pp. 189-195) Objectives • Consider how Shakespeare’s stylistic choices and use of literary devices (i.e., figurative language) are used to develop character and conflict, establish tone, and express theme. • Read and paraphrase key passages in the text to understand their meaning and determine what they reveal about character, conflict, tone, and theme. Procedure: Discuss the following questions. • In Act IV, Scene iv, what service does Cordelia request? What does she offer for this service? What does this suggest about her? • According to Cordelia, why has she and the French forces come to Dover? What is their purpose? What does this suggest about her? • What message does Regan ask Oswald to deliver to Goneril? What does she say regarding Gloucester? What do these actions suggest about her? • Why do you suppose Shakespeare chose to juxtapose these two scenes? Explain.

21. King Lear, Act IV, Scenes vi-vii Objectives • Consider how Shakespeare’s stylistic choices and use of literary devices (i.e., figurative language) are used to develop character and conflict, establish tone, and express theme. • Read and paraphrase key passages in the text to understand their meaning and determine what they reveal about character, conflict, tone, and theme. Procedure: Discuss the following questions. • Why has Gloucester travelled to the cliffs of Dover? What does he want to do, and why does he want to do it? What does this suggest about his character? Explain. Cite evidence from the text to substantiate your claims. • How does Edgar trick Gloucester? Why does Gloucester believe him? Explain. Cite evidence from the text to substantiate your claims. • Think-Pair-Share—Edgar says of Lear: “O, matter and impertinency mixed,/Reason in madness (IV.vi.192-193) (p. 207). What is the “reason in madness” that Lear expresses? Cite at least three specific examples of Lear’s “reason in madness” from Act IV, Scenes vi-vii, and explain how each example illustrates “reason in madness”? • How does Lear’s comment, “A man may see how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears. See how yond justice rails upon yond simple thief” (IV.vi.165-167, p. 205), compare to Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath? What do both suggest about justice, or the façade of justice? • Why does Lear run away (IV.vi.220-225) (p. 209)? What does this action suggest about his character? • Edgar kills Oswald and intercepts a letter from Goneril to Edmund. What does this letter reveal (IV.vi.290-300) (p. 215)?

22. King Lear, Act IV, Scenes vi-vii (cont.) Objectives • Consider how Shakespeare’s stylistic choices and use of literary devices (i.e., figurative language) are used to develop character and conflict, establish tone, and express theme. • Read and paraphrase key passages in the text to understand their meaning and determine what they reveal about character, conflict, tone, and theme. Procedure: Discuss the following questions. • Read Cordelia and Kent’s dialogue (IV.vii.1-4) (p. 215) and Cordelia’s monologue (IV.vii.35-48) (p. 219). What do these lines reveal about character? • Play CD of Lear and Cordelia’s reunion (IV.vii.50-85) (pp. 219-221). What is Lear’s initial reaction upon seeing Cordelia? Why does Lear think Cordelia hates him? How does Cordelia respond? What does her response suggest about her character? Regarding the interpretations that we just heard, which delivery would you use if you were directing this play? Why? • Read the final lines of the scene (IV.vii.111-112) (p. 223). What poetic device is being used? What is Kent foreshadowing?

23. King Lear Act V Objectives: • Analyze character motivation and the impact of characters’ actions on others, focusing on Edmund as a Machiavellian character, Lear, Kent, and Edgar. • Compare different interpretations of the play to determine which is most accurate. • Use the text of the play to substantiate claims, to defend interpretations, and to illustrate observatoins. Procedure: • Read the following lines spoken by Edmund: • V.i.63-77, pp. 231-233 • V.iii.32-45, p. 237 • What is Edmund planning to do? How do these plans reveal his Machiavellian character? • Read the following lines spoken by Edmund: • V.iii.195-198, p. 247 • V.iii.236-238, p. 251 • V.iii.287-295, pp. 253-255 • Do you think Edmund shows any remorse, or does he play the Machiavellian role to the very end? • Listen to Lear’s final lines. How would your characterize Lear at this point? By the way, who is the “fool” to whom Lear refers? • Listen to the final lines spoken by Kent and Edgar (V.iii.390-395, p. 261). What poetic form do they take? What do they reveal about their character?

24. King LearAct VSummation Questions • Should we allow “the stars above us to govern our conditions,” as stated by Kent (IV.iii.39, p. 187), or should we “govern our conditions” ourselves? • Which characters allow the stars to govern their conditions? Which characters govern their conditions themselves? What is the outcome for each character? • What might Shakespeare be suggesting about fate vs. freewill, human nature, and justice?

25. Words of Wisdom Post-reading Activity for King Lear Objectives: • Compare King Lear to famous quotes. • Substantiate claims/defend interpretations with direct references from the text of the play. Procedure: • Consider how King Lear supports or refutes your assigned quote. • Select at least three direct references to substantiate your claims and defend your interpretation. • With your number partner, create a graphic organizer that clearly illustrates how King Lear supports or refutes your assigned quote. The graphic organizer must include at least three direct references from the text of the play to substantiate your claims/defend your interpretations. Write your names on your graphic organizer. • Share your findings with your color partners. I will make copies for tomorrow. • Ones: “When pride is highest, catastrophe is nearest” (Welsh proverb). • Twos: “Today a king, tomorrow nothing” (French Proverb). • Threes: “Every man is the architect of his own fortune” (German proverb). • Fours: “Man is the measure of all things” (Protagoras, Greek philosopher, 490-420 BC). • Fives: “There are none so blind as they who willfully shut their eyes” (Arabian proverb). • Sixes: “Govern your passions, otherwise they will govern you” (Horace, Roman poet, 65-27 BC). • Sevens: “Only the shallow know themselves” (Oscar Wilde; Irish poet, playwright, and novelist; 1854-1900). • Eights: “To say ‘I love you’ one must first be able to say the ‘I’” (Ayn Rand, Russian born American writer and novelist, 1905-1982).

26. Words of Wisdom Post-reading Activity for King Lear • “When pride is highest, catastrophe is nearest” (Welsh proverb). • “Evil deeds never prosper” (Homer). • “Today a king, tomorrow nothing” (French Proverb). • “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus). • “Every man is the architect of his own fortune” (German proverb). • “Man is the measure of all things” (Protagoras, Greek philosopher, 490-420 BC). • “There are none so blind as they who willfully shut their eyes” (Arabian proverb). • “Govern your passions, otherwise they will govern you” (Horace, Roman poet, 65-27 BC). • “Only the shallow know themselves” (Oscar Wilde; Irish poet, playwright, and novelist; 1854-1900). • “To say ‘I love you’ one must first be able to say the ‘I’” (Ayn Rand, Russian born American writer and novelist, 1905-1982).