Topic Five (1.5): Reading the Play – Act IV
Introduction
In this topic, you will continue to read King Lear. You will focus on Act IV, making detailed notes and annotations as you go.
Read and Make Notes
Read and make notes on Act IV, on pages 303 to 357, using the resources and guidance below.
Tasks
- Deal with one scene at a time.
- For every scene, you should:
- Highlight important quotations as you go along;
- Read the accompanying notes in the text at the same time;
- Use the Sparknotes summary and analysis to consolidate your understanding once you have finished reading:
EXPLORE – Scene by Scene Summary and Analysis (Sparknotes) Links to an external site.
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- Make a very brief summary of the scene, listing key events using simple bullet points. This will be an important ‘map’ of the events of the play to which you can refer later on.
Consolidate
- Now you have read Act IV of King Lear, you will find it helpful to consolidate what you have learnt by watching the following videos from MASSOLIT.
- Make use of your Critical Viewpoints Grid as you watch the videos.
WATCH – Act 4, Scene 1: Edgar and Gloucester – King Lear (MASSOLIT) Links to an external site.
WATCH – Act 4, Scene 2: Goneril, Edmund and Albany – King Lear (MASSOLIT) Links to an external site.
WATCH – Act 4, Scenes 3-5: Battle Preparations – King Lear (MASSOLIT) Links to an external site.
WATCH – Act 4, Scene 6: The Cliff – King Lear (MASSOLIT) Links to an external site.
WATCH – Act 4, Scene 6: The Return of Lear – King Lear (MASSOLIT) Links to an external site.
WATCH – Act 4, Scene 6: Edgar Kills Oswald – King Lear (MASSOLIT) Links to an external site.
WATCH – Act 4, Scene 7: Reconciliation – King Lear (MASSOLIT) Links to an external site.
Terminology
Make sure you understand any new literary terminology covered in this topic. You may like to make flashcards of key terms now, to help you with revision later on.