King Lear, ACT II - Scene I. quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. When Edmund asks Curan why Cornwall and Regan are coming to the castle that night, what does Curan say?

   • Correct answer: He does not know, though he has heard rumors of war
   • They are coming to judge Edgar for his crime
   • Regan wants to warn Gloucester about her father
   • Cornwall needs Gloucester's soldiers for a battle

   Curan answers "Nay, I know not" and only passes on whispered talk of likely wars between Cornwall and Albany.

   Read the passage
2. 2

   Question 2. What reason does Edmund give Edgar for fleeing at once?

   • Lear has ordered Edgar's arrest for treason
   • Edgar's forged letter has been found by servants
   • Correct answer: Their father is watching and Edgar's hiding place is known
   • Cornwall has come to the castle to challenge Edgar to a duel

   Edmund says "My father watches" and "Intelligence is given where you are hid," pushing Edgar to run before he can explain himself.

   Read the passage
3. 3

   Question 3. Why does Edmund draw his sword on Edgar as Gloucester approaches?

   • He wants to kill Edgar quickly before anyone in the house can stop him
   • Correct answer: He wants the household to hear what sounds like a real struggle
   • He is defending himself after Edgar attacks him first
   • He means to force Edgar to confess to the forged letter

   Edmund tells Edgar "In cunning I must draw my sword upon you" so that the noise of a fight will back up the story he is about to tell.

   Read the passage
4. 4

   Question 4. What does Edmund claim Edgar was doing in the dark before the fight?

   • Reading their father's private letters by candlelight
   • Hiding the gold he had stolen from Gloucester's rooms
   • Writing a secret message to the Duke of Albany
   • Correct answer: Mumbling wicked charms and conjuring the moon

   Edmund paints Edgar as sinister, saying he stood with his sword out "Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon."

   Read the passage
5. 5

   Question 5. According to Edmund's story, what made Edgar attack him?

   • Correct answer: Edmund refused to help murder their father
   • Edmund threatened to tell Lear about the plot
   • Edmund insulted Edgar's mother in an argument
   • Edmund demanded a share of Gloucester's land

   Edmund claims Edgar tried to persuade him to murder Gloucester and charged at him when he stood loathly opposite to the plan.

   Read the passage
6. 6

   Question 6. How does Gloucester plan to make sure Edgar cannot escape?

   • He will hire soldiers from Albany to search the woods
   • He will write to Lear asking for the king's help
   • Correct answer: He will bar all ports and send Edgar's picture far and near
   • He will offer Edgar a pardon if he returns home at once

   Gloucester vows "All ports I'll bar" and promises to send Edgar's picture so the whole kingdom will know him.

   Read the passage
7. 7

   Question 7. Which of Lear's followers does Regan suggest might have led Edgar into the plot?

   • The Fool who mocks her father
   • Correct answer: The riotous knights who attend Lear
   • The disguised servant Lear has hired
   • The French soldiers loyal to Cordelia

   Regan asks if Edgar was a companion of the riotous knights, and Edmund agrees, letting her blame Lear's men for the plot.

   Read the passage
8. 8

   Question 8. What does Gloucester's line "Loyal and natural boy" suggest about how he now sees Edmund?

   • He still distrusts Edmund because of his birth
   • He thinks Edmund is too young to inherit his land
   • He suspects Edmund wounded himself on purpose
   • Correct answer: He sees him as a dutiful son he will make his heir

   Gloucester praises Edmund as a loving son and promises to make him capable of inheriting, though the word natural also hints at his illegitimate birth.

   Read the passage
9. 9

   Question 9. Which of these events actually happen in Act 2, Scene 1?

   • Edmund cuts his own arm after Edgar runs away.

     Happened

   • Edgar tells his father he is innocent before fleeing.

     Didn't happen

   • Cornwall takes Edmund into his service.

     Happened

   • Regan says that Edgar was Lear's godson.

     Happened

   • Gloucester's servants capture Edgar at the castle gate.

     Didn't happen

   • Lear arrives at Gloucester's castle with his knights.

     Didn't happen

   Read the passage
10. 10

    Question 10. What does 'caitiff' mean as used in: 'Bringing the murderous caitiff to the stake'?

    • A royal messenger
    • A trained soldier
    • Correct answer: A base, cowardly villain
    • A servant who has run away

    A caitiff is a contemptible wretch, which is how Gloucester now thinks of Edgar.

    Read the passage
11. 11

    Question 11. What does 'bewray' mean as used in: 'He did bewray his practice, and receiv'd This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him'?

    • Correct answer: To expose or reveal
    • To praise or reward
    • To copy or imitate
    • To excuse or forgive

    Gloucester says Edmund revealed Edgar's plot, and was wounded trying to seize him.

    Read the passage
12. 12

    Question 12. What does 'consort' mean as used in: 'Yes, madam, he was of that consort'?

    • A married partner or spouse
    • Correct answer: A group of companions
    • A private agreement
    • A noble household

    Consort here means a company or band, so Edmund is claiming Edgar ran with Lear's knights.

    Read the passage