King Lear; Animal & Monster Imagery Flashcards
(14 cards)
What are the 3 categories of Animal & Monster quotes?
- References to both the daughters.
- References to Goneril as a serpent.
- Comments on the nature of the world.
Why and how is Animal & Monster imagery adopted throughout the play.
Animal and monster imagery is used throughout King Lear to highlight the breakdown of natural order, moral corruption, and the dehumanization of characters. Shakespeare uses this imagery to emphasize how characters behave in ways that are cruel, primal, and unnatural, especially when familial and political bonds are betrayed. The world itself along with many characters use animal imagery and are referred to as animals, but mainly Goneril and Regan
What are 3 quotes that compare both of the daughters to animals or monsters?
- Albany refers to the girls as Tigers, not daughters.
- Lear refers to them as Pelican daughters.
- Gloucester remarks that the daughters posess Boarish fangs.
Give some context to the quote Tigers, not daughters.
Inside Albany’s palace, Albany is criticising Goneral for the way herself, Regan and Cornwall have treated Lear. When she retorts back apathetically, he refers to the 2 girls as Tigers, not daughters to highlight their wild, predatory nature.
Give some context to the quote Pelican daughters.
Inside Edgars hovel, Lear refers to both Goneril and Regan as pelican daughters. This is in reference to how pelicans were reputed to feed on the blood of their parents, comparing their acts of betrayal to pelicans feeding on him.
Give some context to the quote Boarish Fangs.
Inside Gloucesters Castle, Gloucester is about to be tortured by the daughters. He remarks that the daughters posess boarish fangs to highlight the primal depravity of their actions comparing them both to that of a wild animal attacking Lear’s anointed flesh (sacred kingly body).
What are 3 quotes that compare Goneril to a serpent?
- Lear stating how sharper than a serpents tooth it is.
- Lear then stating she struck me with her tongue most serpent-like.
- Albany refering to her as a gilded serpent.
Give some context to the quote how sharper than a serpents tooth it is.
Inside Albany’s Palace, Lear is starting to feel the impact of her betrayal of Goneril’s betrayal when she disrespects him and rids him of many of his knights. He goes on to describe how sharper than a serpents tooth it is to have a thankless child.
Give some context to the quote she struck me with her tongue most serpent-like.
At Gloucesters Castle, Lear is recalling how Goneril treated him to Regan expecting pity. He reiterates the image that she struck me with her tongue most serpent-like. The repetition of the image further affirms just how deeply her actions have affected him.
Give some context to the quote gilded-serpent.
At the British Camp near Dover, Albany whilst arresting Goneril refers to her as a gilded serpent. The word “gilded” means to have a covering of gold, paint or whatever substance rather than being made-up of it. Here he is calling Goneril a snake that only looks pretty, but on the inside is a monster.
What are 3 quotes that comment on the world being monsterous or animal-like?
- Lear stating allow not nature more than nature needs, Man’s life’s as cheap as beast’s.
- One of Lear’s Knights stating that The lion and the belly-pinched wolrd keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs.
- Albany stating Humanity must perforce prey on itself, like monsters of the deep.
Give some context to the quote allow not nature more than nature needs, Man’s life’s as cheap as beast’s.
At Gloucesters Castle, Lear is beginning to understand that without rights, priviledge or power, man is no different from animal. If given only nature needs, your life is is as cheap as beast’s.
Give some context to the quote The lion and the belly-pinched wolf / Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs.
In the Storm, One of Lear’s knights in reference to the severity of the storm commends to Kent that The lion and the belly-pinched wolf keep their fur dry implying that even wild animals wouldn’t have to weather this storm yet lear is facing it without any protection: Unbonneted he runs.
Give some context to the quote Humanity must perforce prey on itself, like monsters of the deep.
At Albany’s Palace, Albany has just realised the depths of Regan and Gonerils treachery He remarked that humanity must perforce prey on itself, Like monsters of the deep. Here is comparing society to sea monsters cannibalizing on each other, suggesting a sort of Darwinian world where humans behave like animals in the wild.
