William ShakespeareKing Lear

Background & Information

William ShakespeareWhat do you know or remember about

Shakespeare’s life, the time he lived in, the works he wrote?

Unit I Literary TermsActAsideComic ReliefComplicationConflictCoupletDialogueDramaEnd RhymeExpository/Exposition

FoilMetaphorMeterMonologueProtagonist/

AntagonistSoliloquyStage DirectionsThemeTragedy

Why Shakespeare?His work has had more influence on modern language,

literature, music, art, and theatre than any other personHelped standardize modern English spelling and grammar

and created nearly 2000 words and phrases we still use nowNearly every English/American author has given Shakespeare

credit as inspiration20,000 pieces of music has direct links to ShakespeareTwo major art movements and thousands of individual pieces

of artFreud and other psychologists look to Shakespeare to analyze

human nature and behaviorExpanded dramatic potential of characterization, plot,

language, and genre (esp. romance and revenge as major themes)

Shakespeare in AmericaBooks of Shakespeare plays and sonnets were

considered essential household items for all social classes until the early 20th century

Most popular form of entertainment until the radio

Only became elitist literature during the Industrial Revolution because of a shift in values (strong workers didn’t need literary skills)

Now realizing that literary abilities are the mark of high reasoning, problem-solving, and intellect

King LearTragedy5 Acts (1, 3, 5 have highest action, 2 and 4

subplot, character development, etc.)Iambic Pentameter (unstressed/stressed

syllables) and frequent end-rhymeEntertainment, not academic – even his most

serious plays are full of double meanings, puns, jokes, bawdy humor, and action

Focuses on King Lear & his three daughters

Historical BackgroundWritten between 1604 & 1606 after King

James I (aka King James VI of Scotland) took the throne in England

Power transferred from Queen Elizabeth I to him

People in England were worried about how the transition of power would go

Author’s PurposeGiven those pieces of information, what can

you infer Shakespeare’s purpose was in writing King Lear?

Remember author’s purpose is stated: to entertain ____, to inform ____, to persuade ____.

General Interesting InformationAfter the English Civil War (1642-1651), the

play was seen as a theatrical failure because of the excessive cruelty & suffering; deemed painful for the audience to watch

Rewritten by Nahum Tate in 1681 who changed the ending of the play & other actions in the play; the revision was performed until 1838

Source MaterialVolume 1, Book 2 of Raphael Holinshed’s

ChroniclesStory of King Leir – ancient British monarch

who divided his kingdom between 3 daughters

Holinshed likely pulled his source material from Book 2, Chapter 11 of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain

King LearBased on Leir of Briton, a legendary Celtic

kingAfter a long and successful reign, King Lear

wants to retire and leave his kingdom to his three daughters.

Rather than base the nation’s divisions and his daughters’ inheritances on age, he chooses to divide his land and wealth based on how much his children love him.

Themes & MotifsFamily Drama = universal & timelessFoolishness of aged and ingratitude of youthRoles of parent and childImportance of nature and the natural orderMan’s fate viewed as a wheel of fortuneConsequences of unregulated passionCorruption of power and redemption through

sufferingGood and EvilVision and BlindnessReality and Appearance