King Lear
Play Written by:
William Shakespeare
Deborah Andrews, Leticia Rocha, Rupal Nayi, and Jazmine King
Background of play
• Was written between 1603 and 1606
• Was a tragedy
• It was originally written with a happy
ending
• Some people liked it so much and tried to
make a sequel to it
Introduction to characters
King Lear: Cordelia:
•King of Britain •King Lear’s youngest
•He doesn’t know and nicest daughter
how to split up his •She doesn’t have any
country to his 3 words to say how
daughters. much she loves
•Foolish and her father and
miserable that annoys him.
•Loving and Caring
Goneril: Regan:
•King Lear’s oldest daughter -King Lear’s middle daughter.
•She and her sister, Regan, are -She cheats on her husband and fights
fighting over Edmund. over Edmund with Goneril.
•Evil and selfish -Heartless and evil
The king disowns
Cordelia thinking
she didn’t love him.
He asked all his daughters to tell him how
much they loved him in order to divide his
kingdom. The two older sisters lied and said
they loved him when they didn’t. The King Lear noticed he made a
youngest couldn’t tell him how much she mistake and tries to reverse it but
loved him and didn’t get any land. can’t. Since the daughters won’t
give his land back, he gets mad.
15th -16th century
Britain
Cordelia is hanged and killed by
King Lear was resigning his throne and had orders of Edmund. Reagan gets
to divide his land between his three poisoned by Goneril and Goneril
daughters. gets stabbed by Reagan. The king
dies of a broken heart.
Summary in Iambic Pentameter
• King Lear lived in Britain with his daughters
• One day he decided he was too old
• He then decided to resign his throne
• He asked his daughters to declare their love
• When they did, the two older sisters lied
• They said they loved him when they really don’t
• But the youngest could not exclaim her love
• She loved him so much and couldn’t say it
• With that said, King Lear disowned his daughter
• He quickly learns that he made a mistake
• The two evil sisters are now rulers
• After a series of events it ends
• Regan and Goneril kill each other
• Cordelia was murdered by a guard
• And so, the king died of a broken heart
• KING LEAR– My daughters, since
Act 1 Scene 1 I’m about to give up my throne and
• KING LEAR - Since now we will the worries that go along with it, tell
divest us both of rule, Interest of me which one of you loves me
territory, cares of state,-- Which of most.
you shall we say doth love us
• GONERIL- Sir, I love you more
most?
than words can say. I love you more
• GONERIL - Sir, I love you more than eyesight, space, and freedom;
than words can wield the matter; beyond wealth or anything of value.
Dearer than eye-sight, space, and
• KING LEAR - This land will belong
liberty; Beyond all manner of so
to your and Albany’s children
much I love you.
forever.—And now what does my
• KING LEAR - We make thee lady: second daughter Regan, the wife of
to thine and Albany's issue. Our Cornwall, have to say?
dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall?
• REGAN - Sir, I’m made of the same
Speak.
stuff as my sister and consider
• REGAN - Sir, I am made Of the myself just as good as she is. She’s
self-same metal that my sister is, described my feelings of love for
And prize me at her worth. In my you precisely, but her description
true heart I find she names my very falls a little short of the truth.
deed of love; Only she comes too
short.
Scene title
• KING LEAR - To thee and thine • KING LEAR - You and your heirs
hereditary ever Remain this ample hereby receive this large third of
third of our fair kingdom; No less in our lovely kingdom, no smaller in
space, validity, and pleasure, A third area or value than what I gave
more opulent than your sisters? Goneril. Now, you, my youngest
Speak. daughter, my joy, speak.
• CORDELIA - Nothing, my lord. • CORDELIA - Nothing, my lord.
• KING LEAR - Nothing! • KING LEAR- Nothing?
• CORDELIA - Nothing. • Cordelia - Nothing.
• KING LEAR - Nothing will come of • KING LEAR - Come on, ―nothing‖
nothing: speak again. will get you nothing. Try again.
• CORDELIA - Unhappy that I am, I • CORDELIA - I’m unlucky. I don’t
cannot heave My heart into my have a talent for putting my heart’s
mouth: I love your majesty feelings into words. I love you as a
According to my bond; nor more nor child should love her father, neither
less. more nor less.