• Is Lear a Tragic Hero?
  In this essay, R. Moore discusses the character of King Lear. Should Lear be regarded as a hero?
• The Power of Language and the Language of Power in King Lear
  P. Pick discusses the use of language in King Lear as it conveys power, deceipt, and flattery between and among the characters. Pick examines the evolution of Lear's language as the play progresses.
• King Lear and Comedy
  In this essay, P. Pick examines comedic elements and structure in King Lear, notwithstanding its overall status as a dark tragedy. The essay includes an overview of critical appraisals of the play, and touches on the sub-plot of Gloucester, Edmund, and Edgar.
• A Brief Critical History of King Lear
  In this essay, P. Pick discusses the major critical assessments of King Lear over the centuries, from Nahum Tate through A. C. Bradley, Samuel Johnson, G. Wilson Knight, and more. What did these giants of literary criticism think of King Lear?
• King Lear: Saints and Sinners
  A. Watkinson examines the Christian themes of redemption, suffering, and sin present in King Lear as portrayed through the main characters in the play.
• The Tragic Ending of King Lear
  In this essay, R. Moore examines how and why Shakespeare imbued the story of Lear with a tragic ending. Moore discusses how the play must be a tragedy in order to illustrate certain poetic truths about life.
• Good and Evil Children in King Lear and Henry IV
  R. Moore discusses the role of children in both works, including Regan, Goneril, Cordelia, Hotspur, and Hal.
• Textual and Contextual Analysis of the Opening Scene in Shakespeare's King Lear
  In this essay, R. Moore examines in-depth the opening scene of King Lear, one which has been the subject of extensive literary interpretation and critical debate.
• Contrast in Character in The Tragedy of King Lear
  In this essay, R. Moore explores in-depth the various characters in the play, and how their human qualities and moral values compare among each other.
• Kingship and the Themes of Shakespeare's Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth
  In this essay, R. Moore examines the manner in which Shakespeare treats the nature of kingship in the three works, and how that treatment reflects the essential tone and themes of the works.
• Madness in King Lear
  R. Moore examines Lear's descent into madness and his subsequent recovery and recognition of his faults.
• Two Critical Episodes in Shakespeare's King Lear
  R. Moore presents an analysis is of two episodes in King Lear: Lear's rage upon the heath in Act III, and the sub-plot of Gloucester in Act IV. Moore discusses how the latter episode serves to reinforce and complement Lear's suffering.

Related Topics

1. King Lear: Introduction
2. William Shakespeare Biography
3. Reading Shakespeare
4. List of Characters
5. Historical Background
6. One-Page Summary
7. Summary and Analysis
   1. Act I, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
   2. Act I, Scene 2: Summary and Analysis
   3. Act I, Scene 3: Summary and Analysis
   4. Act I, Scene 4: Summary and Analysis
   5. Act I, Scene 5: Summary and Analysis
   6. Act II, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
   7. Act II, Scenes 2 and 3: Summary and Analysis
   8. Act II, Scene 4: Summary and Analysis
   9. Act III, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
   10. Act III, Scene 2: Summary and Analysis
   11. Act III, Scene 3: Summary and Analysis
   12. Act III, Scene 4: Summary and Analysis
   13. Act III, Scene 5: Summary and Analysis
   14. Act III, Scene 6: Summary and Analysis
   15. Act III, Scene 7: Summary and Analysis
   16. Act IV, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis
   17. Act IV, Scene 2: Summary and Analysis
   18. Act IV, Scene 3: Summary and Analysis
   19. Act IV, Scene 4: Summary and Analysis
   20. Act IV, Scene 5: Summary and Analysis
   21. Act IV, Scene 6: Summary and Analysis
   22. Act IV, Scene 7: Summary and Analysis
   23. Act V, Scenes 1 and 2: Summary and Analysis
   24. Act V, Scene 3: Summary and Analysis
8. Quizzes
   1. Act I, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
   2. Act I, Scene 2: Questions and Answers
   3. Act I, Scene 3: Questions and Answers
   4. Act I, Scene 4: Questions and Answers
   5. Act I, Scene 5: Questions and Answers
   6. Act II, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
   7. Act II, Scenes 2 and 3: Questions and Answers
   8. Act II, Scene 4: Questions and Answers
   9. Act III, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
   10. Act III, Scene 2: Questions and Answers
   11. Act III, Scene 3: Questions and Answers
   12. Act III, Scene 4: Questions and Answers
   13. Act III, Scene 5: Questions and Answers
   14. Act III, Scene 6: Questions and Answers
   15. Act III, Scene 7: Questions and Answers
   16. Act IV, Scene 1: Questions and Answers
   17. Act IV, Scene 2: Questions and Answers
   18. Act IV, Scene 3: Questions and Answers
   19. Act IV, Scene 4: Questions and Answers
   20. Act IV, Scene 5: Questions and Answers
   21. Act IV, Scene 6: Questions and Answers
   22. Act IV, Scene 7: Questions and Answers
   23. Act V, Scenes 1 and 2: Questions and Answers
   24. Act V, Scene 3: Questions and Answers
9. Themes
10. Character Analysis
    1. Albany (Character Analysis)
    2. Cordelia (Character Analysis)
    3. Edgar (Character Analysis)
    4. Edmund (Character Analysis)
    5. Gloucester (Character Analysis)
    6. Goneril (Character Analysis)
    7. Kent (Character Analysis)
    8. King Lear (Character Analysis)
    9. Other Characters (Descriptions)
11. Principal Topics
12. Essays
    1. Is Lear a Tragic Hero?
    2. The Power of Language and the Language of Power in King Lear
    3. King Lear and Comedy
    4. A Brief Critical History of King Lear
    5. King Lear: Saints and Sinners
    6. The Tragic Ending of King Lear
    7. Good and Evil Children in King Lear and Henry IV
    8. Textual and Contextual Analysis of the Opening Scene in Shakespeare's King Lear
    9. Contrast in Character in The Tragedy of King Lear
    10. Kingship and the Themes of Shakespeare's Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth
    11. Madness in King Lear
    12. Two Critical Episodes in Shakespeare's King Lear
13. Criticism
    1. Tragic Form in Shakespeare
    2. All of Shakespeare
    3. Overview
    4. Double Plot
    5. Language and Imagery
    6. Love
    7. Madness
    8. Lear
    9. The Fool
    10. Lear's Daughters
14. Selected Quotes
15. Suggested Essay Topics
16. Sample Essay Outlines
17. Modern Connections
18. Pictures
    1. Lear and Cordelia in Russian-language film adaptation (1970)
    2. The Doctor, Cordelia, Lear, and Kent (Act IV, scene viii)
    3. Lear, Kent, the Fool, Edgar, and Gloucester
    4. King Lear as played by Edwin Forrest (1816)
    5. Lear and the Fool in National Theatre production (1990)
    6. The Fool
    7. Lear, his daughters, Edmund, Albany, Edgar, Kent, and soldiers (Act V, scene iii)
    8. Illustration: King Lear, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia
    9. Illustration: Cordelia, The King of France, Regan, and Goneril
    10. Illustration: Earl of Gloucester
    11. Illustration: King Lear and The Fool
    12. Illustration: King Lear, The Fool, and Kent
    13. Illustration: Kent
    14. Illustration: King Lear and Regan
    15. Illustration: King Lear, Kent and The Fool
    16. Illustration: Gloucester and Regan
    17. Illustration: Gloucester and Regan
    18. Illustration: Cordelia and the Doctor
    19. Illustration: Edgar and Gloucester
    20. Illustration: Lear and Gloucester
    21. Illustration: Edgar and Edmund
    22. Illustration: Lear and Cordelia
    23. Illustration: Edgar and Gloucester
    24. Illustration: Edmond, Lear, and Cordelia
    25. Illustration: Lear and Cordelia
    26. Illustration: Albany, Kent, and Edgar
19. FAQs
    1. Is Lear a good king?
    2. Is Lear a good father?
    3. Does Edmund have legitimate cause for complaint?
    4. Why did Shakespeare insert the conflict between Goneril and Regan over Edmund?
20. Bibliography and Further Reading
21. Copyright

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