Seeing, Storms and Madness: King Lear

Plot Quiz

Act I
Scene I

1.	Which of the two Dukes does Kent suggest Lear prefers? 
2.	Who is older, Edmund or Edgar? 
3.	Which important characters are not present at the division ceremony? 
4.	Who speaks of their love for Lear first? 
5.	When does Kent say he will be "unmannerly"? 
6.	How long does Kent have to leave the kingdom? 
7.	Who marries Cordelia? 
Scene 2
8.	Who is Edmund's goddess? 
9.	Who confirms that it is Edgar's handwriting in the letter? 
Scene 3
10.	Who struck whom and for what?
11.	How does Goneril instruct Oswald to treat Lear and his men? 
Scene 4
12.	How does Kent suggest he is going to disguise himself? 
13.	What does Kent say is "the best of him"? 
14.	How many Knights does Lear have with him in this scene? 
15.	Who ignores Lear in this scene? 
16.	How long has the fool been absent? 
17.	Why has he been away? Pining for 
18.	What does this behaviour suggest about the character of the fool? 
19.	What do the Fool's comments suggest about his knowledge of I.i.? 
20.	Who is it who can tell Lear who he is? 
21.	How many followers of Lear does Goneril get rid of? 
22.	What thought does Lear take comfort in when his authority is challenged by Goneril? 
23.	Who speaks out in favour of Lear in this scene? 
24.	What does Goneril do to quieten him? 
25.	Who takes Goneril's letter to Regan and what does it say? 
Scene 5
26.	What does Lear get Kent to do at the end of the scene? 

Act 2
Scene 1
27.	What time is it? 
28.	Who is Curan? 
29.	How long has Gloucester spent on stage with Edgar so far? 
30.	What does Edmund say Edgar was attempting to do? 
31.	How does Gloucester link himself to Lear's fate? 
Scene 2
32.	Where does Kent tell Oswald to put his horses? 
33.	Why does Kent violently insult Oswald? 
34.	What reason does Oswald give for "sparing" 
35.	How long does Kent have to sit in the stocks and who decided this? 
36.	Who does Edgar become in this scene? 
37.	What does Lear fear he is succumbing to in this scene? 
38.	What excuse do Regan and Cornwall give for refusing to speak to Lear? 
39.	Explain the fool's proverb about the eels and the Cockney. 
40.	What reason does Regan give for trying to send her father back to her sister's house? 
41.	Explain the phrase "O reason not the need"

Act 3
Scene 1
42.	What does Kent tell the Knight to do? 
Scene 2
43.	What is Lear asking nature to do in the "Blow winds" speech? 
44.	Who is with Lear on the heath? 
45.	When does Lear begin to show humanity by thinking of others? 
Scene 3
46.	What does Edmund pledge to do during his soliloquy? 
47.	What statement links him to Lear and the sisters? 
Scene 4
48.	Who says the least number of lines in this scene? 
49.	How does Kent address Lear? What does this show? 
50.	How does Lear demonstrate his growing appreciation for others? 
51.	What does he suggest has brought Poor Tom to this position? 
52.	What does he call Poor Tom? 
53.	What does Lear remind us of when he tries to remove his clothes? 
Scene 5
54.	How is Edmund rewarded for his (dis) loyalty? 
Scene 6
55.	What does Lear act out in the hovel? 
56.	Who else is involved? 
57.	Where is Lear taken during this scene? Who suggests it? 
Scene 7
58.	How does Goneril foreshadow later events during this scene? 
59.	How do Cornwall and Regan compete for control during this scene? 
60.	How does Cornwall die? 
61.	What is ironic about Gloucester's first thoughts after losing his eyes?

Act 4
Scene 1
62.	What does Gloucester compare humans to? 
63.	Where is Gloucester heading? 
64.	How does Gloucester's treatment of Poor Tom develop connections with other areas of the play
Scene 2
65.	What is happening between Goneril and Edmund during this scene?
66.	When was the last time Albany was on stage prior to this scene? Why do you think this was done?
67.	How does Albany use animal imagery to condemn proceedings? 
68.	What does Albany's reaction to the messenger reveal? 
69.	Why is Goneril apprehensive about the news she receives? 
Scene 3
70.	What has happened to the King of France? 
71.	How did Cordelia receive the news of her father's situation? 
Scene 4
72.	How well informed is the French army? How do you know? 
Scene 5
73.	What evidence do we have of the way Oswald regards Cordelia's military prowess? 
Scene 6
74.	What things does Poor Tom identify on the shore below the cliff? 
75.	How does Edgar describe the character of Poor Tom? 
76.	Edgar tries to trick Gloucester again during this scene. What does he do 
77.	What must Edgar have done to keep this pretence going? 
78.	Who does Lear call Gloucester? 
79.	What does Lear suggest should be encouraged during this scene? Adultery: 
80.	Why does Lear not initially let Gloucester kiss his hand? 
81.	How does this connect with the beginning of the play? 
82.	What is the significance of Lear wanting to remove his boots? 
83.	What does Gloucester pledge not to do during this scene? 
84.	Who kills Oswald? 
85.	How does Edgar find out about Edmund's plans? 
Scene 7
86.	What does Lear initially think Cordelia is when he wakes? 
87.	What else can Lear's awakening symbolise? His return from madness. 
88.	Lear admits certain things about himself in this scene. What are they?
89.	How old is Lear? 
90.	Where do people think Edgar and Kent are? 

Act 5
Scene 1
91.	What does Regan ask Edmund about his relationship with Goneril and how does he respond 
92.	Why is Regan so insistent that Goneril go with them? 
93.	How does Goneril respond to her insistence? 
94.	What does Edgar do with the letter he got from Oswald? 
Scene 2
95.	What do Cordelia, Lear and their soldiers do at the beginning of the scene? 
96.	What impression does this help to develop for the audience? 
97.	What does Lear suggest he and Cordelia do? 
98.	What does this reveal about Lear? 
99.	What does Albany attempt to get Edmund to do? 
100.How does Regan die? 
101.Who kills Edmund and how does he die? 
102.How does Gloucester die? 
103.How does Goneril die? 
104.Why do you think the Gentleman breaks off from telling us who was stabbed?
105.How many lines pass between Gentleman going to rescue Lear and Cordelia and Lear carrying her onto the stage? 
106.How does this add to the drama of the scene? 
107.How does Cordelia die? 
108What does Lear say to welcome back Kent? Why is what he says significant? 
109.What was Edmund's name when he was disguised? (This is the only time in the play it is mentioned) 
110.How does Lear die? 
111.How many bodies are on stage at the end of the play?

© Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand (First published 1998)