Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

flies to wanton boys

QUIZ: How well do you remember King Lear?

The Leaving Cert starts this week – do you remember much from your studies?

IT’S ALMOST LEAVING Cert time.

This year thousands of students have been pouring over Shakespere’s works and many of you reading this will have done the same with King Lear back in the day.

It’s time for a pop quiz on Lear’s descent into madness:

Why did the Duke of Burgundy decline to marry Cordelia?
He didn't fancy her
She had no dowry

She was a "baseless wretch"
He was in love with one of her sisters
What's the name of Gloucester's ILLEGITIMATE son?
Edgar
Edward

Edmund
Frank
When Kent returns from exile with a fake name, Lear hires him as a...
Soldier
Jester

Food taster
Servant
Gloucester eventually goes literally blind, but what is Lear metaphorically blind to at the start of the play?
Cordelia’s love
His daughters' beauty

His own greed
How funny the Fool is
Curan has just nine lines in the entire play. What does he talk about?
His upcoming wedding
How mad King Lear is

Rumours of war between Cornwall and Albany
A GAA match
Who is in the hovel that Lear could use to take shelter from the storm?
Poor Tom
Cordelia

The Fool
A stranger
How does Lear react?
He gives the person in the hovel a hug.
He takes off all his clothes

He starts laughing
He faints
What place are the British and French camps set up close to?
Hastings
Dover

The Duke of Albany's palace
The Earl of Gloucester's castle
Which of these is not a major theme in the play?
Blindness
Forgiveness

Divine justice
The supernatural
Who says "As flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods, They kill us for their sport"?
Lear
Albany

Gloucester
Pat Kenny
Answer all the questions to see your result!
Wikimedia
You scored out of !
Well done, Shakespeare.
Glad to see you're reading TheJournal.ie after coming back from the dead.
Share your result:
Niall Carson/PA Archive/Press Association Images
You scored out of !
You were the pride and joy of your English teacher
You were probably the one who that spotted that The Fool and Cordelia are never in the same scene together, and asked if they're the same person.
Share your result:
Niall Carson/PA Archive/Press Association Images
You scored out of !
You were the pride and joy of your English teacher
You were probably the one who that spotted that The Fool and Cordelia are never in the same scene together, and asked if they're the same person.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
You knew the play well, but didn't understand the themes.
With that B3 in your mocks, it's time to hit the Less Stress More Success if you want the A.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
You knew the play well, but didn't understand the themes.
With that C1 in your mocks, it's time to hit the Less Stress More Success if you want that B.
Share your result:
Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
You scored out of !
There's still time to drop down to Ordinary level.
Sure once the Leaving is done you'll hardly ever need to know again how the ending of King Lear demonstrates a lack of divine justice.
Share your result:
Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
You scored out of !
There's still time to drop down to Ordinary level.
Sure once the Leaving is done you'll hardly ever need to know again how the ending of King Lear demonstrates a lack of divine justice.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
You must have studied a different Shakespearean play.
That's the only explanation for your score. Lord forbid you'd forget these crucial details.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
You must have studied a different Shakespearean play.
That's the only explanation for your score. Lord forbid you'd forget these crucial details.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
You must have studied a different Shakespearean play.
That's the only explanation for your score. Lord forbid you'd forget these crucial details.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
You must have studied a different Shakespearean play.
That's the only explanation for your score. Lord forbid you'd forget these crucial details.
Share your result:

By Michelle Hennessy and Nicky Ryan

Your Voice
Readers Comments
67
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.