Assignment on Shakespeare, King Lear, Acts 1-3

1. Read Acts 1-3 through carefully. Read all the vocabulary, and the page notes. Make sure you understand the text -- get through the language issues.

Make notes on all the references to the following:

• Nature -- and, "natural", "unnatural"
  • Important: include words that denote "unnatural", such as "monster" ("monstruous"); "bastard" (both "unnatural" and, at the same time, "born of Nature" as opposed to law -- the natural, not divine or positive, law)
• Monsters, monstruous. -- see above, but note that "two heads" is "monstruous".
• Reason - virtue; lack of reason - sin, also madness; also foolishness; so, "to fool", to trick, delude (overcome someone's reason); "a Fool", etc.
• How "Nature" -- e.g., the weather -- mirrors madness; how "nature becomes unnatural", so to speak.

2. Write 300 - 400 words on the question of "nature" and "unnatural" in King Lear. Email to me and to your group.