King Lear in the Classroom

Different Writings on King Lear for Students:
Narrative:
Have you ever felt wronged out of something rightfully yours? How was the situation resolved? How is this shown in King Lear?

Research Argumentative:Can a person with an unstable home-life be a ruler? (Could a divorcee be president?) How does King Lear address this?

Argumentative Free-Write (Journal): 
Do you believe our actions decide our fate or our fate our actions? How does the play address this question?

Sight and blindness are a motif throughout the play. Are sight and clarity interrelated? Could one's perception increase if they are blinded?
"I have no way, and therefore want no eyes;

I stumbled when I saw: full oft 'tis seen,Our means secure us, and our mere defectsProve our commodities. O dear son Edgar,The food of thy abused father's wrath!

Might I but live to see thee in my touch,I'ld say I had eyes again!"

http://shakespeare.inkskratch.com/comics/Spread-Lear_02.jpg

Other Ways of Engagement:Allow students to journal about topics that they find intriguing. Afterwards allow them to form groups to discuss their different close readings.

Some examples of possible topics include:
WomenPolitics
Philosophy
Greed

Fun Links:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uGaPZTDFa1k/UKz35E8eOsI/AAAAAAAAAvE/LnEgwwPIqhE/s1600/TRAGEDIES+2.jpg

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/193039/193039,1255411656,1/stock-photo-a-word-cloud-based-on-shakespeare-s-king-lear-38755855.jpg

http://blog.iqmatrix.com/wp-content/gallery/shakespeare/king-lear-quotations-william-shakespeare.jpg
Audio book with closed captioning for following along:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA27Q5ZIhO0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ0CsVHjltM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSBkjnVoLgY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbqhRfRg0MM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jStYMbbbltw

60 second recap of characters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcuqmO_VCOw
Video SparkNotes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptXr7LKylpg