King Lear Trivia Quiz

Answer: Edmund

These lines are spoken as Gloucester, Edmund and Kent await the arrival of Lear. Everyone is aware that some momentous decisions are to be announced, there is a buzz a sense of expectancy.

Answer: Strife

Lear announced his intention to divide his kingdom, retire from kingship and publish his daughters dowries, with the expressed intention of preventing future strife. How ironic!

Answer: Kent

Kent, like Lear, had a passionate temper which he lost in Cordelia's defence. It earned him banishment.

Answer: Nothing

Edmund claimed that a letter from Edgar was thrown in his window. In reality he had written it himself. It was part of his elaborate scheme to turn the gullible Gloucester against his legitimate son. It worked like a dream.

Answer: Lie

The Fool claims if he could lie he would become rich and powerful like Goneril and Regan. This remark is part of a long series of jibes in which the Fool points out Lear's foolishness in giving everything away.

Answer: False

Lear, in spite of his treatment of Kent, inspired great loyalty. Kent, disguised as a servant called Caius, kept watch over Lear, risking death if he was discovered.

Answer: Edgar

News had reached Regan of Edgar's so-called scheme to kill his father, she asked was he one of the hundred knights Lear had retained. Instantly, Edmund replied that he was of that number, further damning his half brother in everyones' eyes.

Answer: Toilet

Given the standard of toilets or middens in Elizabethen times, threatening to paint the walls with someone's blood was a terrible insult. It would have been a most dishonorable way to die, one that Kent considered suitable for Oswald, whom he thought of as a coward.

Answer: Cheap

Too late Lear learned the truth of the Fool's remarks, he had nothing. It was his own fault, but he could not accept this. His mind dwelt on his daughters' ingratitude, frantically he tried not to lose his temper 'down hysterio passio down'.

Answer: Cornwall

Lear fled in humiliation and fury. He could not punish anyone as he had given all his powers away. The storm on the heath mirrors the agony in Lear's mind.
Cornwall begins to play a more significant role at this part of the play.

Answer: Kent

Set against a background of an appalling storm, this scene tells us also of the arrival of French forces in Dover.

Answer: Philosopher

Lear identified with Poor Tom immediately and asks "Dids't thou give all to thy daughters"? It is interesting that the Fool disappears from the play after the mad 'trial' of Goneril and Regan in the hovel. Lear must come to know himself and his actions by himself.

Answer: Edmund

Edmund betrayed his father, seizing the opportunity to get on good terms with the new powers. He had said earlier in the play "all's with me meet that I can fashion fit."
This often happens with Shakespeare's villains, we see them first as 'wronged', then we see their evil. Iago is another character like that, I think.

Answer: Kicked her father

In this strange scene Lear imagined he could put his daughters on trial, their ingratitude obsessed him to the point of madness. On the heath he accused the elements of joining with his daughters against him, 'have with two pernicious daughters joined against a head so old and white as this'.

Answer: Regan

Gloucester was blinded by Cornwall, in his agony he cried for Edmund. To add to his sufferings Regan told him the truth. "Thou call'st on him who hates thee." Gloucester like Lear misunderstood the true nature of his children Shakespeare uses the sub plot to highlight Lear's suffering. Gloucester suffers physically, while Lear's suffering is in his mind.

Answer: Kill himself

In pain, both physically and mentally, Gloucester seeks death. His view of life has become cynical. "As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods they kill us for their sport."

Answer: Justicers

Albany emerges from the shadows in this scene. He is appalled by his wife's behaviour and Gloucester's fate. When Albany hears of Cornwall's death he feels some measure of justice has been carried out.

Answer: Dog

Lear, though still quite disturbed, has learned the nature of justice and power. He sees now what he never saw while king "through tattered clothes small vices do appear. Robes and furr'd gowns hide all."

Answer: True

Oswald was the go-between and was carrying a letter from Goneril to Edmund.

Answer: A foolish fond old man

The great rage has left Lear and he gets everything in perspective again. Lear spoke all the other lines but not in this scene.

Answer: No

He had returned home. This allowed Shakespeare to keep the focus on Lear and Cordelia rather than a country facing an invasion.

Answer: Edmund

Edmund had already decided if he got his hands on Lear and Cordelia that he would execute them. "For my state stands on me to defend not to debate."

Answer: Regan

Goneril and Regan quarrelled over Edmund. In her determination to prevent Regan marrying him, Goneril poisoned her. Sisterly love!

Answer: No

According to the laws of knighthood a soldier was not bound to answer 'an unknown opponent'. This is the only time in the drama when Edmund took a risk and ironically he was killed by the brother he had wronged.

Answer: Edgar

Albany wanted Edgar and Kent to rule jointly "you twain rule in this realm". But Kent refused, claiming he had a "journey, sir, shortly to go." Many interpret this as being close to death himself. That left Edgar the next ruler.

The Quarto version of the play ends with the suggestion that it will be Albany who rules as king.