King Lear - Literary Touchstone ClassicTo make King Lear more accessible to the modern reader, our Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Classic? provides in-depth explanations, as well as historical background. Convenient sidebar notes and an extensive glossary help the reader navigate the complexities of the text and enjoy the beauty of Shakespeare's verse, the wisdom of his insights, and the impact of his drama.'Which of you shall we say doth love us most?With these reckless words, Lear, the aged king of ancient Britain begins a game that will tear apart his kingdom, his family, and his own sense of self, pitting sister against sister, rewarding flattery, and punishing integrity. Lear is unable to foresee the consequences that will follow from his choice.The loyal Duke of Gloucester is likewise blinded, figuratively and literally, by flattery and deceptions, and he also learns too late the price of misplaced trust.This tragedy of the foolish king'arguably Shakespeare's greatest work'is a poignant examination of the complexities of human nature: wisdom and foolishness, vision and blindness, and true love and loyalty between parents and their children. |
Contents
SCENE VI | 71 |
ACT IV | 75 |
SCENE II | 77 |
SCENE III | 80 |
SCENE IV | 82 |
SCENE V | 83 |
SCENE VI | 84 |
SCENE VII | 92 |
SCENE IV | 48 |
ACT III | 57 |
SCENE II | 58 |
SCENE III | 61 |
SCENE IV | 62 |
SCENE V | 67 |
ACT V | 97 |
SCENE II | 99 |
SCENE III | 100 |
GLOSSARY AND VOCABULARY | 111 |
Common terms and phrases
Alack aLbany answer arms Attendants bear bring brother Burgundy cause comes Cordelia cornwaLL daughter dead dear death dost doth Dover draw duke duty edgar edmUnd Enter Exeunt Exit eyes father fear feel fire follow fooL fortune foul France gentLeman Give glossary gLoUceSter gods gone goneriL grace hand hast hath head hear heart heavens hither hold honor horse I’ll keep kent kind king Lear knave lady leave less letter live look lord madam man’s mark master means meSSenger mind nature never night noble notes nuncle oSwaLd poor pray reason regan sCene seek seen Servants sister speak stand stocks sword tears tell thee there’s thine thing thou thou art thought traitor true trumpet turn villain wits