Essential Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle English Notes
Leaving Cert & Junior Cycle English Revision Notes | Enda’s English Notes
The next scene follows Lear as he wanders around the heath challenging the weather to take him on. He asks the weather to do its worst as he thinks about the cruelty of his two daughters. ‘Blow, wind and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!’ The fool begs Lear to go back and talk to his … Read more
On the heath, a storm is raging, as Kent goes off in search of Lear who is missing in the storm, since he left his daughters. A knight informs Kent that Lear is somewhere in the area, along with his fool. Kent tells the knight that there is bad blood festering between Cornwall and Albany … Read more
Lear along with his fool arrive at Gloucester’s castle , where he sees Kent in the stocks and is outraged that his daughter and son-in-law would treat one of his servants in this manner, clearly an insult to Lear himself. ‘Tis worse than murder, to do upon respect such violent outrage.’ Lear demands to speak … Read more
With Kent asleep in the stocks, Edgar enters, still on the run from his father’s manhunt. In order to stay alive, he must cast off his fine clothes and lose his clean look, instead, “My face I’ll grime with filth, blanket my loins, elf all my hair with knots…” Edgar is going to pretend to … Read more
Kent arrives at Gloucester’s castle, still disguised as a peasant, with a letter for Gloucester. He meets Kent, who doesn’t recognise him. Kent begins to abuse Oswald calling him, “A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats, a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three suited, hundred pound, worsted stocking knave…” Kent draws his sword and … Read more
The scene is set in Gloucester’s castle, where one of the servants tells Edmund that Regan and her husband, the duke of Cornwall are coming to the castle that night. Curan also mentions that tensions are rising between the duke of Cornwall and Albany, Goneril’s husband. Edmund’s manipulative mind is delighted about the visit, as … Read more
Lear sends Kent with a letter to Gloucester and tells him to be quick or he will be there before the letter. The fool continues to tell Lear about the mistakes he has made and tells him that Regan is as bad if not worse than Goneril. At the end of the short scene, Lear … Read more
We hear the first soliloquy of the play from Edmund, Gloucester’s illegitimate son. He expresses his anger at society’s attitude towards children born out of wedlock. We hear how his half-brother, Edgar will inherit everything from their father and we see Edmund’s dark side, when he tells the audience that he intends to get rid … Read more
The play begins with Gloucester and Kent, two noblemen discussing King Lear and his impending decision to divide up his kingdom. We are also introduced to Gloucester’s son, Edmund, who he explains is a ‘bastard’ who does not live in his home. He does admit that he loves him. Lear, who is the king of … Read more
Scene Summaries and Questions Character Analysis Themes Sample Essays