1. “King Lear in Respite Care”
Making connections to King lear

2. Margaret Atwood Canadian Multi-talented Morning in the Burned House
Father’s death
Aging, mortality

3. “King Lear in Respite Care” Motif Activity
Listen to the poem as a class
Read along and annotate
Find the shared motif
Complete 1-3 on the handout (10 minutes)
Get in groups from Monday and collaborate for group answer (5 minutes)

4. Bridging Lear and “Respite Care”
Begin the Socratic seminar with this warm-up question
“Is the presence of a motif in a work necessary to the creation of a theme? Why or why not? Make sure to include support from either “King Lear” or “King Lear in Respite Care.”

5. Socratic Seminar Contribute—I’m keeping track! Major Grade
Remember: You’re responsible for running the discussion

6. Discussion Questions
Discuss the Fool in King Lear and his function in the play.  What is his character’s purpose?
What is your opinion of the condition of Lear's mind in the opening scene? What effect does his increasing passion seem to have upon his faculties? Discuss the character of the king.
What is the view of human society in King Lear?
What is your idea of the aim and lesson of the play?
Trace the different stages of Lear's insanity. Is it true that King Lear is the tragedy of a "man going sane", as some critics suggest?
What is the significance of the Gloucester subplot?
Compare Lear's three daughters. By what means does Shakespeare deepen the contrast between Cordelia and her two sinister sisters?
Outline the character of Kent. How is he similar to Lear?
Discuss the effect of suffering on both Lear and Gloucester.
What are the comedic elements of the play and how do they function?