Bonus Features: Discussion Points
Post Act 1
- Discuss important lines and moments from Act 1
- Discuss parent-child relationships in Act 1
- Is Lear a good ruler?
- Why does Cordelia say nothing?
Post Act 2
- How are Lear and Gloucester Similar?
- Discuss important lines and moments from Act 2
- Discuss parent-child relationships in Act 2
- Is the sisters' behaviours justified?
- Who are the truth tellers in King Lear? Why aren't they listened to ?
Post Act 3
- How does costuming support character in this production?
- Discuss the importance of the storm and what it signifies.
- Discuss important lines and moments from Act 3
- Discuss parent-child relationships in Act 3
- Edgar and Kent adopt disguises for various reasons. Under what circumstances do you or would you adopt a disguise in your life?
- Where does the Fool go?
Post Act 4
- How do Lear and Gloucester's journeys connect and differ?
- Discuss important lines and moments from Act 4
- Discuss parent-child relationships in Act 4
Post Act 5
- What role do women play in King Lear? How do the sisters ressemble their father and vice versa?
- Talk about the absent female figures in King Lear (Mrs. Lear, Mrs. Gloucester, Mrs. Kent…) How might the play be different with them? Why does Shakespeare exclude them?
- Is Lear a sympathetic character?
- How do the issues present in King Lear reflect our society today?
- Discuss loyalty in King Lear. How does it relate to our concept of loyalty today?
- What function do Kent and Edgar's disguises serve in the play?
- Discuss important themes in King Lear.
- Discuss important lines and moments from Act 5
- Who are the 'villains' in King Lear?
- Will Edgar be a good ruler?
Produced with the generous participation of:
Laura Dinner and Richard Rooney, The Jenkins Family Foundation, The Henry White Kinnear Foundation, Ophelia and Mike Lazaridis, Jim and Sandra Pitblado, The Slaight Family Foundation, Robert and Jacqueline Sperandio.