1 / 25

King Lear

King Lear. Lit Techniques and Motifs. Euphemism. a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive Ex: using “eliminate” as a euphemism for “kill”. Paradox.

sally
Download Presentation

King Lear

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. King Lear Lit Techniques and Motifs

  2. Euphemism • a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive • Ex: using “eliminate” as a euphemism for “kill”

  3. Paradox • a statement or situation that appears to be false or self-contradictory, but that proves to be true upon reflection • Ex: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

  4. Aphorism • a short pithy saying expressing a general truth; maxim • Ex: “Art is long, life is short.”

  5. Anecdote • ashort account of an interesting or humorous incident

  6. Tautology • needless repetition of the same sense in different words; redundancy • Ex: Either it will rain tomorrow or it will not rain tomorrow.

  7. Chiasmus • a reversal in the order of words in two parallel phrases • Ex: He went in, out went she. • Flowers are lovely, love is flowerlike” (Coleridge).

  8. Metonymy • afigure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated • Ex: the use of Washington for the United States government or of the sword for military power.

  9. Ellipsis • the omission of a word or phrase necessary for a complete syntactical construction but not necessary for understanding • Ex: “Begin when ready” for “Begin when you are ready”

  10. Apostrophe • the direct address of an absent or imaginary person or of a personified abstraction, especially as a digression in the course of a speech or composition • Ex: Carlyle's “O Liberty, what things are done in thy name!”

  11. Allegory • the representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form • Ex: The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of justice

  12. Motifs in King Lear

  13. Cat Notes • On the RIGHT hand page, copy the notes to follow. • On the LEFT hand page, create an example of how the motif is present in the literature we have read so far.

  14. Nature and Weather • “These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us” • Acts as a reflection of a character’s mindset, mood, attitude, motivation, desire • Used to separate characters from the order of society and societal norms • Greater force(s)

  15. Self-reflection • “He hath slenderly know himself” • Initially, marked by an ignorance of self (unaware, arrogant, obtuse) • Normally humbled or tested by some greater uncontrollable force • Those who are more self-aware will be stronger (less likely to be deceived) than those who are less self-aware

  16. Blindness • “If thou would weep my fortunes, take my eyes” • Both literal and figurative • Externally, allows or makes a person vulnerable • Internally, makes a person look inwardly, allowing them to recognize substance over superficiality

  17. Kingship/ Natural Order • “Ingratitude…more hideous when thou show’st thee in a child than an sea monster” • Natural right of King or high power over subjects • Disrupting will result in consequences • Idea of one generation upsetting another • The up-setter of the natural order is not always initially punished

  18. Disguise • “Robes and furr’d gowns hide all” • Both a positive and a negative • Relationship between deceived and deceiver, appearance and reality • Hiding true self • Not recognizing other’s true intent • Can lead to truth

  19. Betrayal • “Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our graves” • Cause and consequence of breaking the natural order • Wickedness in family and politics • A testing or breaking of trust and loyalty

  20. Madness • “Tis the time’s plague when madmen lead the blind” • An additional consequence of upsetting the natural order • A form of wisdom in a world where natural order is upset • Allows access to the supernatural or sublime (think trance-like or subconscious state)

  21. Lying/ Truth • “Mend your speech a little, lest it may mar your fortunes” • Truth and Lies can be: • Both, rejected and accepted • Told for both positive and negative reasons • Believed even when absurd • Character’s choices with telling and believing is a test of character

  22. Fools • “Here’s a night pities neither wise men not fools” • Those who act the wisest are often fooled or fools • Those who act as fools are often the bearer of wisdom • Sometimes nonsense in a topsy-turvy world is, in fact, sense

  23. Disenfranchised Man • People who find themselves unable to live in the society they currently inhabit • Can be either by choice, or by force (penance, or punishment) • Allowed to see true self in isolation

  24. Nothing • “Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.” • Represented both literally and figuratively • Lack of possessions, passion, perspective, power, persistence, etc. • Ex nihilo nihil fit (from nothing nothing comes) • Opposite the creation myths, from nothing something comes

  25. Motifs • Nature and Weather • Self-Reflection • Blindness • Kingship/Natural Order • Disguise • Betrayal • Madness • Lying/Truth • Fools • Disenfranchised Man

More Related