Premium Essay

Archetypes in King Lear

In: English and Literature

Submitted By sarahzer
Words 1226
Pages 5
King Lear Research Paper Shakespeare’s play, King Lear, characterizes the archetypes ‘good’ and ‘evil’ as good being loyal and bad being disloyal. In all Shakespearean tragedies, there is a series of events with a common theme that lead to the chaos of the plot: here, the theme is fidelity versus infidelity (Bonheim 39). King Lear highlights this theme mainly through familial and hierarchical relationships. The tragedy’s large cast of characters is divided into the archetypal categories of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, which are essentially determined by their faithful or unfaithful actions towards their family and kingdom. In their somewhat parallel lives, King Lear and Gloucester are driven to despair and madness by their familial relationships. Sibling rivalry, betrayal of fathers by daughters and by son and rash misunderstandings of a loyal son and a dutiful daughter, are the roots of chaos in the play (Bloom 15). King Lear and Gloucester’s downfalls are essentially caused by the ‘bad’ child’s betrayal and later resolved by the ‘good’ child’s help and support. Shakespeare introduced Cordelia as caring and loyal daughter, who is profoundly devoted to family (Bonheim 41). When it is her turn to publically confess her love for Lear, she explains in her own defense:
“Why have my sisters husbands, if they say
They love you all? Haply when I shall wed,
That lord whose had must take my plight shall carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty.
Sure I shall never marry like my sisters
To love my father all.” (I.i 95-104).
Cordelia’s speech makes it clear that her two sisters are evil and unfaithful by questioning their exaggerated love confession to Lear. In doing so, Cordelia reveals that Goneril and Regan’s hypocritical love for Lear is nothing more than flattery and that she is the only one who truly loves him, thus expressing her loyalty to her family.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Narrative

...Narrative A narrative is a sequence of events that a narrator tells in story form. A narrator is a storyteller of any kind, whether the authorial voice in a novel or a friend telling you about last night’s party. Point of View The point of view is the perspective that a narrative takes toward the events it describes. First-person narration: A narrative in which the narrator tells the story from his/her own point of view and refers to him/herself as “I.” The narrator may be an active participant in the story or just an observer. When the point of view represented is specifically the author’s, and not a fictional narrator’s, the story is autobiographical and may be nonfictional (see Common Literary Forms and Genres below). Third-person narration: The narrator remains outside the story and describes the characters in the story using proper names and the third-person pronouns “he,” “she,” “it,” and “they.” • Omniscient narration: The narrator knows all of the actions, feelings, and motivations of all of the characters. For example, the narrator of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina seems to know everything about all the characters and events in the story. • Limited omniscient narration: The narrator knows the actions, feelings, and motivations of only one or a handful of characters. For example, the narrator of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has full knowledge of only Alice. • Free indirect discourse: The narrator conveys a character’s inner thoughts...

Words: 12257 - Pages: 50

Free Essay

Miaws

...A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO THE SIGNET CLASSICS EDITION OF G EORG E B E R N A R D S HAW ’S PYGMALION By LAURA REIS MAYER BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS, ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA S E R I E S E D I T O R S JEANNE M. MCGLINN, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Asheville and W. GEIGER ELLIS, Ed.D., University of Georgia, Professor Emeritus 2 A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion TABLE OF CONTENTS An Introduction .......................................................................................3 Synopsis of the Play .................................................................................3 Prereading Activities .................................................................................6 During Reading Activities ......................................................................13 After Reading Activities .........................................................................21 About the Author of this Guide .............................................................29 About the Editors of this Guide .............................................................29 Full List of Free Teacher's Guides...........................................................30 Click on a Classic ..................................................................................31 Copyright © 2007 by Penguin Group (USA) For additional teacher’s manuals, catalogs, or descriptive brochures, please email academic@penguin.com or write...

Words: 11837 - Pages: 48

Free Essay

Architect

...Fayette County Schools Research Paper Survival Guide June 2009 (revised November 2011) Compiled by: Jillian Bowen, Joanne Dirring, Monica Dorner, Greta Jackson, Shery Kearney, Ann Richardson, and Cheryll Thompson-Smith Based on the work of: Linda Brem, Kathy Franks, Cathy Nix, Ann Richardson, and Cynde Snider Table of Contents Plagiarism………………………………………………………………. Plagiarism Statement - Middle School……………………………..... Plagiarism Statement - High School……………………………….... English Research Requirements…………………………………….. Middle School Requirements…………………………………... 9th Grade Requirements………………………………………… 10th Grade Requirements………………………………………. 11th Grade Requirements………………………………………. 12th Grade Requirements………………………………………. Frequently Asked Questions…………………………………………. Annotated Bibliographies……………………………………….. Citation Formats…………………..……………………………... Common Mistakes………………………………………………. Documentation and Plagiarism…………..…………………….. Internet and Databases…………………………………………. MLA Manuscript Form…...……………………………………… Note Cards…..…………………………………………………… Outlines…………………………………………………………… Paraphrases and Quotations..…………………………………. Parenthetical Documentation……………………………...…... Quoting Poetry……………………………..……………………. Research Papers..………………………………………………. Research Process……………….……………………………… Research Projects……….……………………………………… Source Cards..…………………………………………………… Works Cited Page……………………………………………….. Research Glossary……………………………………………………. Online Resources……………………………………………………… Works Cited…………………………………………………………….....

Words: 19261 - Pages: 78

Free Essay

The Outline of English Literature

...Министерство образования и науки Республики Казахстан Кокшетауский государственный университет им. Ш. Уалиханова An Outline of British Literature (from tradition to post modernism) Кокшетау 2011 УДК 802.0 – 5:20 ББК 81:432.1-923 № 39 Рекомендовано к печати кафедрой английского языка и МП КГУ им. Ш. Уалиханова, Ученым Советом филологического факультета КГУ им. Ш. Уалиханова, УМС КГУ им. Ш. Уалиханова. Рецензенты: Баяндина С.Ж. доктор филологических наук, профессор, декан филологического факультета КГУ им. Ш. Уалиханова Батаева Ф.А. кандидат филологических наук, доцент кафедры «Переводческое дело» Кокшетауского университета им. А. Мырзахметова Кожанова К.Т. преподаватель английского языка кафедры гуманитарного цикла ИПК и ПРО Акмолинской области An Outline of British Literature from tradition to post modernism (on specialties 050119 – “Foreign Language: Two Foreign Languages”, 050205 – “Foreign Philology” and 050207 – “Translation”): Учебное пособие / Сост. Немченко Н.Ф. – Кокшетау: Типография КГУ им. Ш. Уалиханова, 2010 – 170 с. ISBN 9965-19-350-9 Пособие представляет собой краткие очерки, характеризующие английскую литературу Великобритании, ее основные направления и тенденции. Все известные направления в литературе иллюстрированы примерами жизни и творчества авторов, вошедших в мировую литературу благодаря...

Words: 82733 - Pages: 331

Premium Essay

Consumption and the Beat Generation

...[pic][pic] [pic]Copyright © 2005 West Chester University. All rights reserved. College Literature 32.2 (2005) 103-126 [pic] |  |[pic][pic][pic] |  | | |[pic] | | | |[pic] | | | |[pic] | | | |[pic] | | | |[pic] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Access provided by Northwestern University Library ...

Words: 36700 - Pages: 147

Premium Essay

Learning Theory

...Beginning theory An introduction to literary and cultural theory Second edition Peter Barry © Peter Barry 1995, 2002 ISBN: 0719062683 Contents Acknowledgements - page x Preface to the second edition - xii Introduction - 1 About this book - 1 Approaching theory - 6 Slop and think: reviewing your study of literature to date - 8 My own 'stock-taking' - 9 1 Theory before 'theory' - liberal humanism - 11 The history of English studies - 11 Stop and think - 11 Ten tenets of liberal humanism - 16 Literary theorising from Aristotle to Leavis some key moments - 21 Liberal humanism in practice - 31 The transition to 'theory' - 32 Some recurrent ideas in critical theory - 34 Selected reading - 36 2 Structuralism - 39 Structuralist chickens and liberal humanist eggs Signs of the fathers - Saussure - 41 Stop and think - 45 The scope of structuralism - 46 What structuralist critics do - 49 Structuralist criticism: examples - 50 Stop and think - 53 Stop and think - 55 39 Stop and think - 57 Selected reading - 60 3 Post-structuralism and deconstruction - 61 Some theoretical differences between structuralism and post-structuralism - 61 Post-structuralism - life on a decentred planet - 65 Stop and think - 68 Structuralism and post-structuralism - some practical differences - 70 What post-structuralist critics do - 73 Deconstruction: an example - 73 Selected reading - 79 4 Postmodernism - 81 What is postmodernism? What was modernism? -...

Words: 98252 - Pages: 394

Premium Essay

Barron 3500

...6 Build Your Vocabulary ■ ■ ■ ■ The SAT High-Frequency Word List The SAT Hot Prospects Word List The 3,500 Basic Word List Basic Word Parts be facing on the test. First, look over the words on our SAT High-Frequency Word List, which you’ll find on the following pages. Each of these words has appeared (as answer choices or as question words) from eight to forty times on SATs published in the past two decades. Next, look over the words on our Hot Prospects List, which appears immediately after the High-Frequency List. Though these words don’t appear as often as the high-frequency words do, when they do appear, the odds are that they’re key words in questions. As such, they deserve your special attention. Now you’re ready to master the words on the High-Frequency and Hot Prospects Word Lists. First, check off those words you think you know. Then, look up all the words and their definitions in our 3,500 Basic Word List. Pay particular attention to the words you thought you knew. See whether any of them are defined in an unexpected way. If they are, make a special note of them. As you know from the preceding chapters, SAT often stumps students with questions based on unfamiliar meanings of familiar-looking words. Use the flash cards in the back of this book and create others for the words you want to master. Work up memory tricks to help yourself remember them. Try using them on your parents and friends. Not only will going over these high-frequency words reassure you that you...

Words: 92038 - Pages: 369

Premium Essay

Rs Aggarwal Reasoning

...ANALOGY EXERCISE A Directions: In each of the following questions,there is a certain relationship between two given words on one side of : : and one word is given on another side of : :while another word is to be found from the given alternatives,having the same relation with this word as the words of the given pair bear. Choose the correct alternative. 1 . Moon : Satellite : : Earth :? (A) Sun (B) Planet (C)Solar System (D) Asteroid Ans: (B) Explanation: Moon is a satellite and Earth is a Planet . 2 . Forecast : Future : : Regret :? (A) Present (B) Atone (C)Past (D)Sins Ans: (C) Explanation: Forecast is for Future happenings and Regret is for past actions . 3. Influenza : Virus : : Typhoid : ? (A) Bacillus (B)Parasite (C)Protozoa (D) Bacteria Ans: (D) Explanation: First is the disease caused by the second . 4. Fear : Threat : : Anger : ? (A)Compulsion (B)Panic (C)Provocation (D)Force Ans: (C) Explanation: First arises from the second . 5. Melt : Liquid : : Freeze : ? (A)Ice (B)Condense (C)Solid (D)Crystal Ans: (C) Explanation: First is the process of formation of the second . 6. Clock : Time : : Thermometer : ? (A)Heat (B)Radiation (C)Energy (D)Temperature Ans: (D) Explanation: First is an instrument used to measure the second . 7. Muslim : Mosque : : Sikhs : ? (A)Golden Temple (B)Medina (C)Fire Temple (D)Gurudwara Ans: (D) Explanation: Second is the pace of worship for the first . 8. Paw : Cat : : Hoof : ? (A)Horse (B)Lion (C)Lamb (D)Elephant Ans: (A) Explanation: First...

Words: 44982 - Pages: 180

Free Essay

Ggggg

...IMPORTANT This electronic version of The Century Vocabulary Builder (1922) has been prepared by Serenson Pty Ltd for www.write-better-english.com. This PDF follows the pagination of the original (hard copy) book and includes hypertext links that we have inserted, which look like this. Please do not remove links. Reformatting the original text into this PDF has been no easy task; it is possible that the process has introduced errors or caused omissions. As a result, we make no guarantee about the accuracy or completeness of this version of the Vocabulary Builder. If you find an error or omission in this PDF, please check the original book and contact us so that we can fix the error or omission. Please check your local copyright laws before accessing this PDF. If you are serious about building your vocabulary, we highly recommend you try the popular vocabularybuilding program called Ultimate Vocabulary Want the ultimate vocabulary builder? Click www.write-better-english com/ultimate-vocabulary.aspx THE CENTURY VOCABULARY BUILDER BY GARLAND GREEVER AND JOSEPH M. BACHELOR NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. Want the ultimate vocabulary builder? Click www.write-better-english com/ultimate-vocabulary.aspx PREFACE You should know at the outset what this book does not attempt to do. It does not, save to the extent that its own special purpose requires, concern itself with the many and intricate problems of grammar, rhetoric, spelling, punctuation, and the like; or clarify...

Words: 97231 - Pages: 389

Premium Essay

Holly Farm

...Robert Johnston Stuart Chambers Christine Harland Alan Harrison Nigel Slack Cases in Operations Management third edition Cases in Operations Management We work with leading authors to develop the strongest educational materials in operations management, bringing cutting-edge thinking and best learning practice to a global market. Under a range of well-known imprints, including Financial Times Prentice Hall, we craft high quality print and electronic publications which help readers to understand and apply their content, whether studying or at work. To find out more about the complete range of our publishing, please visit us on the World Wide Web at: www.pearsoneduc.com THIRD EDITION Cases in Operations Management Robert Johnston Warwick Business School, University of Warwick Stuart Chambers Warwick Business School, University of Warwick Christine Harland School of Management, University of Bath Alan Harrison Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University Nigel Slack Warwick Business School, University of Warwick Pearson Education Limited Edinburgh Gate Harlow Essex CM20 2JE United Kingdom and Associated Companies throughout the world Visit us on the World Wide Web at: www.pearsoned.co.uk First published 1993 Second published 1997 Third Edition 2003 © Robert Johnston, Stuart Chambers, Christine Harland, Alan Harrison and Nigel Slack 1993, 2003 The rights of Robert Johnston, Stuart Chambers, Christine Harland, Alan Harrison...

Words: 207956 - Pages: 832

Free Essay

Test2

...62118 0/nm 1/n1 2/nm 3/nm 4/nm 5/nm 6/nm 7/nm 8/nm 9/nm 1990s 0th/pt 1st/p 1th/tc 2nd/p 2th/tc 3rd/p 3th/tc 4th/pt 5th/pt 6th/pt 7th/pt 8th/pt 9th/pt 0s/pt a A AA AAA Aachen/M aardvark/SM Aaren/M Aarhus/M Aarika/M Aaron/M AB aback abacus/SM abaft Abagael/M Abagail/M abalone/SM abandoner/M abandon/LGDRS abandonment/SM abase/LGDSR abasement/S abaser/M abashed/UY abashment/MS abash/SDLG abate/DSRLG abated/U abatement/MS abater/M abattoir/SM Abba/M Abbe/M abbé/S abbess/SM Abbey/M abbey/MS Abbie/M Abbi/M Abbot/M abbot/MS Abbott/M abbr abbrev abbreviated/UA abbreviates/A abbreviate/XDSNG abbreviating/A abbreviation/M Abbye/M Abby/M ABC/M Abdel/M abdicate/NGDSX abdication/M abdomen/SM abdominal/YS abduct/DGS abduction/SM abductor/SM Abdul/M ab/DY abeam Abelard/M Abel/M Abelson/M Abe/M Aberdeen/M Abernathy/M aberrant/YS aberrational aberration/SM abet/S abetted abetting abettor/SM Abeu/M abeyance/MS abeyant Abey/M abhorred abhorrence/MS abhorrent/Y abhorrer/M abhorring abhor/S abidance/MS abide/JGSR abider/M abiding/Y Abidjan/M Abie/M Abigael/M Abigail/M Abigale/M Abilene/M ability/IMES abjection/MS abjectness/SM abject/SGPDY abjuration/SM abjuratory abjurer/M abjure/ZGSRD ablate/VGNSDX ablation/M ablative/SY ablaze abler/E ables/E ablest able/U abloom ablution/MS Ab/M ABM/S abnegate/NGSDX abnegation/M Abner/M abnormality/SM abnormal/SY aboard ...

Words: 113589 - Pages: 455