Story

King Lear

1. Match the words and the definitions.

1. sword, e. a long, sharp knife
2. divide, d. separate something into two or more parts
3. duty, h. something you do because it is right or part of your job
4. foolish, f. not sensible or clever
5. kingdom, b. a country that has a king or queen
6. riches, a. a lot of money or things
7. beauty, g. something that looks nice or attractive has this
8. title, c. the official name of a job

2. Put the events in the correct order.

a. Cordelia says it is her duty to love her father. 5
b. King Lear shows people a map of his kingdom. 2
c. Regan tells Lear how happy he makes her. 4
d. King Lear tells Kent to leave the kingdom. 7
e. France says he will marry Cordelia. 8
f. Goneril says how much she loves her father. 3
g. Kent meets Gloucester’s son, Edmund. 1
h. King Lear gives all his kingdom to Regan and Goneril. 6

3. Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? Correct the false sentences.

1. The King of France and the Duke of Burgundy both want to marry Cordelia. T
2. Gloucester’s son Edmund is older than Edgar. F, Edgar is older.
3. Cordelia tells her father that she does not love him. F, Cordelia tells her father she doesn’t know how to put her feelings into words, but she loves him as a daughter should love a father.
4. King Lear decides to give all his power and riches to Goneril and Regan. T
5. Kent tells Lear that he is doing a good thing. F, He tells the king he is foolish.
6. The Duke of Burgundy does not want to marry Cordelia without some land too. T
7. King Lear advises the King of France to marry Cordelia. F, He advises him to find a better person.
8. Cordelia knows she has done something wrong to her father. F, She says she hasn’t done anything wrong.

4. Read again. Who has or will have the following?

1. a son he is proud of Gloucester
2. three daughters and a title King Lear
3. green forests and beautiful countryside Goneril
4. a half of her father’s kingdom with Goneril Regan
5. a new wife King of France
6. nothing from her father Cordelia

5. Match to make collocations.

1. ask, e. someone to marry you
2. divide, c. something into two
3. give, a. an answer to a question
4. make, b. someone happy
5. pleased, d. to meet someone

6. Read the quotations and answer the questions.

1. “No child can love a father more than I love you.”
Why do you think Goneril says this?

She wants to have the largest part of her father’s land, so she says she loves him more than his other children.

2. “You’ve got five days to leave my kingdom, or you’ll be killed!”
Who does Lear say this to and why?

Lear says this to Kent, because Kent does not agree with his decisions.

3. “Understand that I show my love in my actions, not my words.”
Who says this and why?

Cordelia says this because she wants her father to know that she loves him, but can only show it in what she does, not what she says.

4. “You are richer for being poor and I love you more now that you are hated!”
Why does the King of France say this?

He says this to show that he loves Cordelia as a person, not because of what she owns or what people think of her.