King Lear, ACT V - Scene II. quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. Where is Act 5, Scene 2 of King Lear set?

   • Inside Gloucester's castle on the night of the storm
   • Correct answer: On a field between the two camps as the battle begins
   • On the cliffs near Dover where Gloucester wished to die
   • In the British camp where Edmund gives his orders

   The opening stage direction places the scene on a field between the two camps, at the moment the fighting starts.

   Read the passage
2. 2

   Question 2. Who leads Lear across the stage at the start of the scene?

   • Kent, still disguised as the servant Caius
   • The Fool, who guides him toward the French lines
   • Correct answer: Cordelia, holding her father by the hand
   • Edgar, who has joined the French army

   The stage direction reads that Cordelia enters with her father in her hand as the French powers pass over the stage.

   Read the passage
3. 3

   Question 3. Where does Edgar leave Gloucester before he goes off?

   • Beside a fire in a nearby farmer's hovel
   • Inside the French tents behind the battle line
   • On the cliff edge where they stood earlier
   • Correct answer: In the shade of a tree, which he calls a good host

   Edgar tells his father to take the shadow of this tree for his good host, meaning the tree will shelter him.

   Read the passage
4. 4

   Question 4. How does the audience learn about the battle in this scene?

   • Correct answer: Through offstage sound cues and Edgar's quick report
   • Through a long speech by a messenger from France
   • Through a sword fight between soldiers on the stage
   • Through a letter that Gloucester has read aloud to him

   Shakespeare never stages the fighting; an alarum and a retreat sound offstage, and Edgar then reports the result.

   Read the passage
5. 5

   Question 5. What news does Edgar bring when he returns from the fighting?

   • France has won and Lear has been restored to his throne
   • Correct answer: Lear has lost, and both he and Cordelia have been captured
   • Edmund has been killed and the British army has fled
   • The battle was called off and a truce has been agreed

   Edgar says King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en, meaning both were taken prisoner.

   Read the passage
6. 6

   Question 6. Why does Gloucester say 'A man may rot even here'?

   • He is too badly wounded to walk any further on his own
   • He wants to wait for Cordelia to return and rescue him
   • Correct answer: He has given up and is willing to die where he sits
   • He believes the British soldiers will spare an old man

   Gloucester sees no reason to flee after the defeat; his words show his despair and his readiness to die.

   Read the passage
7. 7

   Question 7. What is the main point of Edgar's reply that ends with 'Ripeness is all'?

   • People should flee danger by any means to stay alive
   • Old men should leave the fighting to the young men
   • Defeat in battle is a punishment sent by the gods
   • Correct answer: People must wait for death to come in its own due time

   Edgar argues that men must endure their going hence as their coming hither, so death should not be sought early.

   Read the passage
8. 8

   Question 8. What makes Edgar's prayer 'that the right may thrive' ironic?

   • Correct answer: The right side loses the battle almost immediately
   • Edgar secretly wants the British army to win the day
   • Gloucester refuses to pray and mocks his guide for it
   • The prayer is spoken in French so Gloucester can't follow

   Moments after Edgar asks his father to pray for the right side, he returns with the news that it has been defeated.

   Read the passage
9. 9

   Question 9. Which of these events happen in Act 5, Scene 2?

   • Cordelia leads Lear across the stage with the French army.

     Happened

   • Edgar reveals to Gloucester that he is his son.

     Didn't happen

   • Edgar returns and tells Gloucester they must leave.

     Happened

   • Lear speaks to his soldiers before the fighting begins.

     Didn't happen

   • Gloucester agrees with Edgar's advice before they exit.

     Happened

   • Gloucester tries to throw himself from a cliff.

     Didn't happen

   Read the passage
10. 10

    Question 10. What does 'ta'en' mean in 'King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en'?

    • Killed in the fighting
    • Hidden from the enemy
    • Correct answer: Captured as prisoners
    • Sent away by ship

    Ta'en is a contraction of taken; Lear and Cordelia have been captured.

    Read the passage
11. 11

    Question 11. What does 'hence' mean in 'Men must endure / Their going hence, even as their coming hither'?

    • Toward this place
    • Correct answer: Away from this place
    • Slowly and with care
    • With great sorrow

    Hence means from here; going hence is a way of saying leaving life, while coming hither means being born.

    Read the passage
12. 12

    Question 12. What is an 'alarum' in the stage direction 'Alarum and retreat within'?

    • Correct answer: A call to arms in battle
    • A cry of grief for the dead
    • A song sung by the soldiers
    • A signal to begin a feast

    An alarum is a trumpet or drum call to arms; here it tells the audience the battle is being fought offstage.

    Read the passage