Shakespeare's King Lear: Multichoice Questions (MCQs) by M. Zayed

1) The reason why King Lear decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters is that...

a. he is of old age and wants to retire
b. as a reward to his daughters for their loyalty
c. he wants to escape the war with other kingdoms
d. he has terminal disease

Correct answer: a

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2) King Lear decided to divide his kingdom between his three daughters by asking them to...

a. kill for him
b. demonstrate their love and flatter him
c. leave their husbands
d. serve him

Correct answer: b

3) The two older daughters who betrayed their father are...

a. Goneril & Regan
b. Cordelia & Regan
c. Helen & Ophelia
d. None of the previous

Correct answer: a

4) Lear’s youngest and faithful daughter who was banished by Lear for refusing to flatter him and who married the King of France after being rejected by the Earl of Burgundy is...

a. Goneril
b. Regan
c. Cordelia
d. Ophelia

Correct answer: c

5) Upon being forced to flee by his two older daughters, Lear was joined by...

a. fool & Earl of Gloucester
b. Earl of Kent & Fool
c. Duke of Kent & Fool
d. Clown & Albany

Correct answer: b

6) Goneril poisoned Regan out of...

a. hatred because she seized her land
b. envy because both of them fell for Edmund
c. cruelty because she dismissed Lear
d. None of the previous

Correct answer: b

7) Edmund is the bastard son of...and is the opposite of...

a. Earl of Albany & Edgar
b. Earl of Gloucester & Edgar
c. King Lear & Albany
d. None of the previous

Correct answer: b

8) Which of the following is true about the end of the play?

a. Cordelia defeats her sisters and restores her father’s throne
b. Cordelia abandons her father out of boredom with him
c. Cordelia kills her sisters in battles and takes the throne
d. Cordelia is executed for treason and King Lear dies of sorrow

Correct answer: d

9) King Lear is a tragic hero because he suffers the consequences of...

a. wise & calculated behavior
b. rash, arrogant behavior and madness
c. faithfulness
d. unpredictability

Correct answer: b

10) The storm in the play symbolizes...

a. the anger of Lear’s daughters
b. Lear’s growing insanity and rage
c. King Lear’s illness
d. None of the previous

Correct answer: b

11) King Lear shows extreme grief over the death of...

a. Cordelia
b. Regan
c. Goneril
d. Albany

Correct answer: a

12) What does the storm outside represent when King Lear is on the heath?

a. The external chaos of Lear's kingdom
b. The tempest of Lear's mind
c. The violence of the elements
d. None of these

Correct answer: b

13) The Fool often speaks in riddles or songs that...

a. express the folly of others
b. mock King Lear's foolish decisions
c. reveal the truth behind appearances
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d

14) What is the primary theme of King Lear?

a. Betrayal and loyalty
b. The consequences of pride
c. The nature of madness
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d

15) How does Goneril betray her father?

a. By conspiring with Regan against him
b. By refusing to give him shelter
c. By taking away his power
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d

16) The character of Kent is significant because...

a. He is Lear's only loyal supporter
b. He represents the voice of reason
c. He is a nobleman disguised as a commoner
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d

17) What leads to the tragic ending of King Lear?

a. Miscommunication among characters
b. The betrayal of family members
c. The impact of madness
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d

18) The theme of blindness in King Lear refers to...

a. Literal physical blindness
b. The inability to see the truth
c. The loss of sight in characters
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d

19) How does Cordelia differ from her sisters?

a. She is honest and true
b. She is manipulative
c. She seeks power
d. She is ambitious

Correct answer: a

20) The concept of justice in King Lear is portrayed as...

a. Inherent and automatic
b. Arbitrary and absent
c. Certain and unchangeable
d. Unnecessary and irrelevant

Correct answer: b

21) How does Lear's perception of love change throughout the play?

a. He learns to love unconditionally
b. He becomes cynical about love
c. He values power over love
d. He realizes the importance of familial love

Correct answer: d

22) The relationship between Lear and his daughters can be described as...

a. Harmonious and supportive
b. Conflicted and antagonistic
c. Distant and indifferent
d. None of the above

Correct answer: b

23) The character of Edmund represents...

a. Legitimate power
b. Illegitimacy and ambition
c. Loyalty to family
d. Honor and integrity

Correct answer: b

24) The storm in King Lear symbolizes...

a. The turmoil in Lear's mind
b. Nature's wrath against mankind
c. The chaos of the kingdom
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d

25) Lear's journey can best be described as...

a. A search for power
b. A quest for identity
c. A path to redemption
d. A journey of self-discovery

Correct answer: d

26) The play reflects the theme of nature versus nurture through...

a. The division between Goneril and Cordelia
b. The contrasting characters of Edmund and Edgar
c. Lear's transformation
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d

27) The character of Oswald serves to...

a. Highlight Goneril's ambition
b. Contrast with Kent
c. Illustrate loyalty
d. None of the above

Correct answer: a

28) Lear’s recognition of his mistakes occurs when he...

a. Is confronted by the storm
b. Sees Cordelia again
c. Realizes the true nature of his daughters
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d

29) The ending of King Lear is marked by...

a. Reconciliation and peace
b. Tragedy and loss
c. A new beginning
d. Hope and redemption

Correct answer: b

30) What is the role of the Fool in King Lear?

a. To provide comic relief
b. To speak truth to power
c. To guide Lear
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d

31) How does Regan die?

a. Lear strangles her.
b. She stabs herself.
c. Cornwall hangs her.
d. Goneril poisons her.

Correct answer: d

32) Who orders the deaths of Cordelia and Lear?

a. Cornwall
b. Albany
c. Edmund
d. Edgar

Correct answer: c

33) In this tragedy, what does Gloucester lose?

a. His earldom
b. His sight
c. His life
d. All of these

Correct answer: d

34) Flibbertigibbet, Modo, and Obidicut are:

a. Servants
b. Demons
c. Knights
d. None of these

Correct answer: b

35) Who kills Oswald?

a. Edgar
b. Edmund
c. Kent
d. Lear

Correct answer: a

36) Why does the Duke of Burgundy refuse to marry Cordelia?

a. He finds her unattractive.
b. He believes she is unchaste.
c. He prefers her younger sister.
d. He won’t wed a dowerless princess.

Correct answer: d

37) Characters who assume disguises in the play are:

a. Kent and the Fool
b. Kent and Lear
c. Kent and Edgar
d. Edgar and Albany

Correct answer: c

38) Which characters come to realize that poverty-stricken people need attention?

a. Lear and Gloucester
b. Kent and Albany
c. Cornwall and Goneril
d. Oswald and Edmund

Correct answer: a

39) As Poor Tom, Edgar’s clothing consists of:

a. A tattered beggar’s suit
b. A blanket
c. A rusty suit of armor
d. A fool’s cap and codpiece

Correct answer: b

40) Who disappears from the play without explanation?

a. Regan
b. King of France
c. Fool
d. Cornwall

Correct answer: c

41) A coxcomb is a:

a. Rooster
b. Fool’s cap
c. Person with little education
d. Cape

Correct answer: b

42) As he descends into madness, Lear decorates himself with:

a. A crown
b. Lavish garments
c. Flowers
d. Jewels

Correct answer: c

43) Cornwall insults Lear by:

a. Calling him a fool
b. Slapping him
c. Dismissing his retinue of knights
d. Putting his servant in the stocks

Correct answer: d

44) Edmund plays on Gloucester’s belief in:

a. The power of the stars
b. The power of curses
c. The existence of demons
d. The existence of angels

Correct answer: a

45) Gloucester receives kind treatment from:

a. One of his tenants
b. Edgar
c. Servants
d. All of the above

Correct answer: d