Study Questions
1. Why is Kent violently angry at Oswald, Goneril’s steward?

2. Does Oswald pretend that Kent is a total stranger to him? What proves him wrong?

3. Why is Kent placed in the stocks?

4. What does Regan think would be worse than putting her father’s servant in the stocks?

5. What is Cornwall’s response to Kent’s statement that he serves the King?

6. How does Gloucester feel about Kent being placed in the stocks?

7. Why does Kent speak in verse when he is alone in the stocks and in prose earlier in the scene?

8. Whose letter does Kent read before he falls asleep?

9. Where has Edgar been living since he fled from his father’s castle?

10. How will he disguise himself in order to save his life?

Answers
1. Kent is angry because Oswald comes with letters against the King and, pretends he has never seen Kent.

2. Oswald pretends he has never met Kent, but later he tells Cornwall the entire story.

3. Kent is placed in the stocks because Cornwall takes Oswald’s side against Kent’s in the quarrel.

4. Regan feels it would be worse to have her sister’s steward abused than to have her father’s courier put in the stocks.

5. Cornwall remains stoic about putting the King’s servant in the stocks.

6. Gloucester feels the King will “take it ill” when he sees him in this condition.

7. When he is alone he no longer needs to maintain his disguise.

8. Kent reads a letter from Cordelia.

9. Edgar has been living in the hollow of a tree.

10. Edgar will disguise himself as Tom o’ Bedlam.