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Shakespeare's 'King Lear' Multiple Choice Quiz | 15 Questions

This is a quiz on one of Shakespeare's more overlooked great tragedies. It should be easy if you're familiar with the plot.

A multiple-choice quiz by KatidydWM. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
KatidydWM

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
2,790

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
11 / 15

Plays
4546

Last 3 plays: Guest 202 (0/15), Guest 118 (5/15), Guest 99 (15/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. King Lear is the king of what country? Hint

Britain

Germany

Spain

France

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Question 2 of 15

2. The Earl of Gloucester has two sons, Edgar and Edmund. What is unusual about the younger? Hint

he has a limp

he is illegitimate

he is blind

he is insane

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Question 3 of 15

3. In the beginning of the play King Lear's youngest daughter has two suitors. Whom does she end up marrying? Hint

Duke of Burgundy

King of France

Edgar

Duke of Albany

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Question 4 of 15

4. The Earl of Kent protests to King Lear's disownment of Cordelia. He says, 'I'll tell thee thou dost evil.' For disagreeing with the king, what is his punishment? Hint

his eyes are gouged out

he is put in the stocks

he is imprisoned

he is banished on penalty of death

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Question 5 of 15

5. Which of King Lear's daughters turns him out of her house first?

Answer: (one word)

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Question 6 of 15

6. Who kills the Duke of Cornwall (Regan's husband)? Hint

the Earl of Kent

a stable boy

Edmund

a servant

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Question 7 of 15

7. When Edgar is disguised and pretending to be insane, by what name does he go? Hint

Foolish Tom

Poor Tom

John o'Bedlam

Jack

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Question 8 of 15

8. Goneril and Regan kill each other for love of whom? Hint

Edmund

the Duke of Albany

Edgar

the King of France

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Question 9 of 15

9. When King Lear goes insane out in the storm, who loyally remains with him? Hint

Cornwall and the Fool

the Fool and Kent

Oswald and Kent

Gloucester and Cordelia

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Question 10 of 15

10. What is the name of Goneril's servant, the annoying one who is killed by Edgar?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 11 of 15

11. Who sends out the order for the death of Cordelia? Hint

the Duke of Albany

Edmund

the Duke of Burgundy

King Lear

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Question 12 of 15

12. The Earl of Gloucester is maimed by whom? Hint

Regan and Cornwall

Edmund and Edgar

Goneril and Albany

Oswald and the Fool

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Question 13 of 15

13. What city is invaded by the King of France's army? Hint

Dresden

Calais

Dover

Madrid

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Question 14 of 15

14. At the end of the play, who is going to be the next king? Hint

Edmund

the Duke of Burgundy

Edgar

the Earl of Gloucester

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Question 15 of 15

15. Who says, 'Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less.'?

Answer: (One Word)

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 07 2024 : Guest 202: 0/15
Oct 28 2024 : Guest 118: 5/15
Oct 28 2024 : Guest 99: 15/15
Oct 25 2024 : Guest 87: 15/15
Oct 24 2024 : Guest 51: 11/15
Oct 24 2024 : Guest 182: 11/15
Oct 12 2024 : Guest 47: 10/15
Oct 10 2024 : Guest 99: 15/15
Oct 09 2024 : Guest 103: 14/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. King Lear is the king of what country?

Answer: Britain

This play is set in Britain before even King Arthur's time.

2. The Earl of Gloucester has two sons, Edgar and Edmund. What is unusual about the younger?

Answer: he is illegitimate

Edmund is envious of his older brother. He is jealous of the attention Gloucester gives to Edgar and he hates the stigma of being a bastard.

3. In the beginning of the play King Lear's youngest daughter has two suitors. Whom does she end up marrying?

Answer: King of France

After King Lear has disowned Cordelia, the Duke of Burgundy withdraws his suit. The King of France however, loves Cordelia for herself and so he marries her even without land. He says, 'She is herself a dowry.'

4. The Earl of Kent protests to King Lear's disownment of Cordelia. He says, 'I'll tell thee thou dost evil.' For disagreeing with the king, what is his punishment?

Answer: he is banished on penalty of death

Kent does not leave however, but disguises himself to continue to serve King Lear. He tries to save Lear from himself.

5. Which of King Lear's daughters turns him out of her house first?

Answer: Goneril

Goneril cannot handle King Lear's 100 followers. They disrupt her household too much, and so she sends them on to Regan's home.

6. Who kills the Duke of Cornwall (Regan's husband)?

Answer: a servant

After Cornwall has plucked out one of Gloucester's eyes, a servant steps forward and says he cannot allow Cornwall to continue. He stabs Cornwall and then is himself stabbed and dies.

7. When Edgar is disguised and pretending to be insane, by what name does he go?

Answer: Poor Tom

He is hiding out to escape his father's searchers. Edmund has tricked their father into believing Edgar is out to kill Gloucester.

8. Goneril and Regan kill each other for love of whom?

Answer: Edmund

Goneril poisons Regan and then stabs herself.

9. When King Lear goes insane out in the storm, who loyally remains with him?

Answer: the Fool and Kent

During the storm King Lear goes crazy. He realizes his mistake over Cordelia and is devastated by the betrayal of Goneril and Regan. The storm is sort of an outward manifestation of his grief and rage.

10. What is the name of Goneril's servant, the annoying one who is killed by Edgar?

Answer: Oswald

Oswald is truly an evil guy. He delights in participating in Goneril's schemes and is responsible for getting Kent put in the stocks.

11. Who sends out the order for the death of Cordelia?

Answer: Edmund

When he is dying he tries to halt the order, but it is too late.

12. The Earl of Gloucester is maimed by whom?

Answer: Regan and Cornwall

Cornwall gets one eye, gets stabbed, and then Regan gets the other one.

13. What city is invaded by the King of France's army?

Answer: Dover

The King of France and Cordelia are trying to help King Lear get his throne back.

14. At the end of the play, who is going to be the next king?

Answer: Edgar

The Duke of Albany leaves the job to both Edgar and Kent, but Kent hints that he is going to follow King Lear into death.

15. Who says, 'Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less.'?

Answer: Cordelia

Cordelia refuses to lie to her father. She is stubborn, like him, and will not feed his ego. But honestly, would it have killed her to flatter her father just a little? But then I guess we wouldn't have a play.

Source: Author KatidydWM

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor MotherGoose before going online.
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