Notes on Shakespeare's "King Lear"

Act I.

     Scene i.

        fairy-tale opening, and Lear's childishness (35-120)

        Lear's childishness again (235-275)

        Goneril and Regan alone (285-306)

        "nothing" motif (I.i.91, I.ii.30, I.iv.128)

     Scene ii.

        Nature/Society -- Great Chain of Being (100-110)

     Scene iv. 

        Lear demands respect (79-95)

        Fool (128-230)

        Lear turns on Goneril (240-275)

     Scene v.

        Fool: Lear fears madness

Act II.

     Scene iii

        Humorous stuff (15-25, 85-110)

     Scene iv

        Lear turns on both Regan and Goneril -- and is increasingly 
        helpless (200, 265-285)

Act III.

     Scene ii. 

        Lear on the heath

     Scene iv. 

        Lear learns sympathy for his lessers (Poor Tom) (25-35, 
        100-109)

     Scene vii. 

        Regan plucks out Gloucester's eye; a servant cracks and 
        attacks Cornwall (65-95)

Act IV

     Scene iii.

        Lear's shame over Cordelia (34-45)

     Scene vi.

        Gloucester and Edgar at "Dover"

        Lear and Gloucester; Lear's madness (110-180)

     Scene vii 

        Lear and Cordelia; Cordelia's forgiveness (45-76)       

Act V.

     Scene iii 

        Lear's idyllic fantasy (sort of like his retirement plans 
        at the beginning) (5-25)