King Lear Background & Information

William Shakespeare What do you know or remember about Shakespeare’s life, the time he lived in, the works he wrote?

Unit I Literary Terms Act Aside Comic Relief Complication Conflict Couplet Dialogue Drama End Rhyme Expository/Exposition Foil Metaphor Meter Monologue Protagonist/Antagonist Soliloquy Stage Directions Theme Tragedy

Why Shakespeare? His work has had more influence on modern language, literature, music, art, and theatre than any other person Helped standardize modern English spelling and grammar and created nearly 2000 words and phrases we still use now Nearly every English/American author has given Shakespeare credit as inspiration 20,000 pieces of music has direct links to Shakespeare Two major art movements and thousands of individual pieces of art Freud and other psychologists look to Shakespeare to analyze human nature and behavior Expanded dramatic potential of characterization, plot, language, and genre (esp. romance and revenge as major themes)

Shakespeare in America Books of Shakespeare plays and sonnets were considered essential household items for all social classes until the early 20 th 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 Lear Tragedy 5 Acts (1, 3, 5 have highest action, 2 and 4 subplot, character development, etc.) Iambic Pentameter (unstressed/stressed syllables) and frequent end-rhyme Entertainment, 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 Background Written 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 Purpose Given 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 Information After the English Civil War ( ), 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 Material Volume 1, Book 2 of Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles Story 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 Lear Based on Leir of Briton, a legendary Celtic king After 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 & Motifs Family Drama = universal & timeless Foolishness of aged and ingratitude of youth Roles of parent and child Importance of nature and the natural order Man’s fate viewed as a wheel of fortune Consequences of unregulated passion Corruption of power and redemption through suffering Good and Evil Vision and Blindness Reality and Appearance