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English Online. Every child literate - a shared responsibility.

Learning task 2: Plot and character

Plot summary

Using this plot_summary (RTF 59KB) , get students to make their own plot summary, identifying where a particular scene takes place, and what significant events occur within it. When they have identified the significant events in each scene, ask them to choose the most important one and draw a quick sketch to symbolise it.
As the class works through the text, get students to complete the following plot questions, or, alternatively, use them to begin each class with a 10-15 question quiz revising the previous day's work.
plotquiz (RTF 21KB)
quiz_answers (RTF 21KB)

Characters

King Lear

Copy the following quotations onto separate pieces of paper:

  • "only we shall retain the name, all th'additions to a king." (I.i.137)
  • "I did her wrong" (I.v.24)
  • "To take 't again perforce! Monster ingratitude!" (I.v.37)
  • "on my knees I beg that you'll vouchsafe me rainment, bed and food" (II.iv.152)
  • "O, reason not the need!" (II.ii.453)
  • "Here I stand your slave, a poor, infirm, weak and despised old man." (III.ii.20)
  • "O, that way madness lies, let me shun that; no more of that." (III.iv.21)
  • "Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm," (III.iv.28)
  • "trouble him not, his wits are gone." (III.vi.84)
  • "robes and furred gowns hide all. plate sin with gold and the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks" (IV.vi.161)
  • "pray you now, forget and forgive: I am old and foolish." (IV.vii.84)
  • "Come, let's away to prison; we two will sing like birds i'the cage." (V.iii.9)
  • "Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life and thou no breath at all?" (V.iii.305)

Ask students to put them in the correct order, as they occur during the play, then answer the following questions in relation to each quotation:

  1. What does this quotation reveal about Lear?
  2. How is it representative of his state of mind when he says it?
  3. What other ideas do they connect with?

See related essays:

Cordelia

Print off the mutual dictation handouts below. Set up five mixed ability groups in the class and give each group one copy of one of the handouts.
MutualDictation (Word 50KB)

See Shared dictation from ESOL Onlne.

When combined, these handouts form a set of notes. Start with the group who has the first word on the page (in this case Group 1). One of the group members reads this word, which is copied down by each member of the class. This word is followed by the group that has the second word, and so on. Once somebody has read a word, they must pass the page to the person beside them. This ensures that everyone keeps up with the notes and that the groups are not dominated by one or two people. It sounds chaotic, but it works well. Students must concentrate on their listening skills as well. (It is not until the end of the exercise that the class actually realises they have written an entire page of notes.)

The Fool

Ask students to answer these questions based on the character of the Fool.

  1. The Fool first appears in Act I scene iv.
  2. How many times does Lear have to call for him before he comes?
  3. How long has the Fool been absent?
  4. What reason is given for his absence and what does this reveal about his character?
  5. A lot of the Fool's intelligence is conveyed through his jokes and riddles. Find an example of a joke or riddle related to the following topics:
    • Brains
    • Crowns
    • Houses
    • Animals
  6. What is the Fool trying to show Lear in each of these situations?
  7. Why do you think the Fool does not appear again after Act III?

Minor characters

Read an article from the Shakespeare Oxford Society website about the character of Kent.

Characters in the subplot

Show students each of the following websites. Ask them to identify as many similarities and differences between the Lear main plot and the Gloucester subplot as they can.

Ultimately the purpose of including the subplot is to encourage us to view important ideas in different ways. After they have identified the similarities and differences, ask the students to choose five of these and identify how they add to our understanding of the play, eg.

main plot sub plot comparison
Main Plot Subplot Importance
Lear has three legitimate daughters. Gloucester has one legitimate son and one illegitimate one. Evil is not confined either to gender or to being illegitimate. It can occur anywhere.

 

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