King Lear Assignment Friday Apr. 12
You have 2 options for this assignment.
OPTION 1
1. Watch the first 30 minutes of the movie "RAN". (This is Akira Kurosawa's epic version of King Lear set in feudal Japan). Then write a paragraph that describes 3 key similarities to "King Lear" and 4 key differences.
2. Read Act II sc. 4 (Regan and Cornwall have just finished putting Kent into the stocks and Lear will arrive at Regan's castle to find that his servant has been left in pain all night long). He will be furious and shocked to find out that Regan had anything to do with it...
Here is the text (you may read the original Shakespearean or the modern version)
OR Watch the scene (warning: this is from a different version than the one we are watching in class-in this version Ian McKellen (Gandalf) plays Lear. You will have to watch 2 sections.
Lear Arrives, furious about Kent
Sisters reduce knights to one, Lear leaves
a) Summarize 5 Key things that happen in this scene.
b) Do you think Lear is being unreasonable in his demands to have 100 knights, or are Regan and Goneril being disespectful. Please justify your answer.
OPTION 2 (Complete all of the following questions, print off the answers and hand in- or email to me at [email protected])
1. Choose a main character from the play besides Edmund (King Lear, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, Fool, Kent, Gloucester, Edgar), and pick a song that represents that character. Explain 2 things the character has done in the play to justify the song you chose, and quote 2 lines from the song to justify why you chose it.
Example: (Edmund) A song that is a good representation of Edumund's character is "Fighting Against the World". Edmund is a bastard and because of that he has no rights and will not inherit his father's titles. He decides that he will get his land "if not by birth then by wit". In other words, if society says that he gets nothing because of the "rules" then he will make up his own rules and get what he wants. He manipulates his father and his brother in order to try and change his future. The song "Fighting Against the World" captures this attitude with the following lines:
"I don't agree with the way some people make all the rules of society". This is similar to the way Edmund hates how the rules of society are made up to take everything away from him, and give it to people like Edgar.
"I make my own rules and fight/I'll get what I want, I'll make a stand" This shows how Edmund is going to take his fate into his own hands and do whatever it takes to get what he believes he deserves, even if that means manipulating people who trust him and committing murder.
2. Which character do you believe has been the most evil so far? Give three specific things this character has done or said to justify your answer. This clip summarizes they key characters.
3. Watch the following clips.
Clip 1
Clip 2
Clip 3
The characters of Kent (and Clark Kent) are pretty unbelievable. Does everything in a book or movie have to be absolutely realistic and believable, or can it have power and meaning even if there are some parts that you have to just accept? (Explain how you feel about his- are you ok with it, or do things like that ruin movies for you?)
4. Read (or watch) Act II sc. 4 (Regan and Cornwall have just finished putting Kent into the stocks and Lear will arrive at Regan's castle to find that his servant has been left in pain all night long). He will be furious and shocked to find out that Regan had anything to do with it...
Here is the text (you may read the original Shakespearean or the modern version)
a) Summarize 5 Key things that happen in this scene.
b) Do you think Lear is being unreasonable in his demands to have 100 knights, or are Regan and Goneril being disespectful. Please justify your answer.
5. Predict what is going to happen to the following characters at the end of the play:
a) King Lear
b) Edmund
c) Cordelia
6. At the beginning of the play, Lear is an absolute jerk to Cordelia and Kent. Do you think they should still support him? What do you think loyalty means? Does it mean staying true to someone only when they are good to you, or does it mean staying loyal even if you are treated badly? Explain.
The End (Have a Great Weekend!)
You may print your answers off and give them to the sub, or email this assignment to me at [email protected]
You have 2 options for this assignment.
OPTION 1
1. Watch the first 30 minutes of the movie "RAN". (This is Akira Kurosawa's epic version of King Lear set in feudal Japan). Then write a paragraph that describes 3 key similarities to "King Lear" and 4 key differences.
2. Read Act II sc. 4 (Regan and Cornwall have just finished putting Kent into the stocks and Lear will arrive at Regan's castle to find that his servant has been left in pain all night long). He will be furious and shocked to find out that Regan had anything to do with it...
Here is the text (you may read the original Shakespearean or the modern version)
OR Watch the scene (warning: this is from a different version than the one we are watching in class-in this version Ian McKellen (Gandalf) plays Lear. You will have to watch 2 sections.
Lear Arrives, furious about Kent
Sisters reduce knights to one, Lear leaves
a) Summarize 5 Key things that happen in this scene.
b) Do you think Lear is being unreasonable in his demands to have 100 knights, or are Regan and Goneril being disespectful. Please justify your answer.
OPTION 2 (Complete all of the following questions, print off the answers and hand in- or email to me at [email protected])
1. Choose a main character from the play besides Edmund (King Lear, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, Fool, Kent, Gloucester, Edgar), and pick a song that represents that character. Explain 2 things the character has done in the play to justify the song you chose, and quote 2 lines from the song to justify why you chose it.
Example: (Edmund) A song that is a good representation of Edumund's character is "Fighting Against the World". Edmund is a bastard and because of that he has no rights and will not inherit his father's titles. He decides that he will get his land "if not by birth then by wit". In other words, if society says that he gets nothing because of the "rules" then he will make up his own rules and get what he wants. He manipulates his father and his brother in order to try and change his future. The song "Fighting Against the World" captures this attitude with the following lines:
"I don't agree with the way some people make all the rules of society". This is similar to the way Edmund hates how the rules of society are made up to take everything away from him, and give it to people like Edgar.
"I make my own rules and fight/I'll get what I want, I'll make a stand" This shows how Edmund is going to take his fate into his own hands and do whatever it takes to get what he believes he deserves, even if that means manipulating people who trust him and committing murder.
2. Which character do you believe has been the most evil so far? Give three specific things this character has done or said to justify your answer. This clip summarizes they key characters.
3. Watch the following clips.
Clip 1
Clip 2
Clip 3
The characters of Kent (and Clark Kent) are pretty unbelievable. Does everything in a book or movie have to be absolutely realistic and believable, or can it have power and meaning even if there are some parts that you have to just accept? (Explain how you feel about his- are you ok with it, or do things like that ruin movies for you?)
4. Read (or watch) Act II sc. 4 (Regan and Cornwall have just finished putting Kent into the stocks and Lear will arrive at Regan's castle to find that his servant has been left in pain all night long). He will be furious and shocked to find out that Regan had anything to do with it...
Here is the text (you may read the original Shakespearean or the modern version)
a) Summarize 5 Key things that happen in this scene.
b) Do you think Lear is being unreasonable in his demands to have 100 knights, or are Regan and Goneril being disespectful. Please justify your answer.
5. Predict what is going to happen to the following characters at the end of the play:
a) King Lear
b) Edmund
c) Cordelia
6. At the beginning of the play, Lear is an absolute jerk to Cordelia and Kent. Do you think they should still support him? What do you think loyalty means? Does it mean staying true to someone only when they are good to you, or does it mean staying loyal even if you are treated badly? Explain.
The End (Have a Great Weekend!)
You may print your answers off and give them to the sub, or email this assignment to me at [email protected]