Thursday, July 2, 2009

Laura's King Lear assignment

(a) There is a slant rhyme in 145-146. Kent uses "unmannerly" and "man". But in the rest of the passage (144-154) there are no rhyme schemes.

(b) There is an interesting phrase in 148: "When power to flattery bows". It is grammatically ambiguous. Is "power" the direct object to "flattery"? Or is "flattery" the direct object of "power". It is most likely the former, because people in inferior positions tend to flatter those who are in power, in an attempt to improve their position. Or it could be that those in power are more likely to cater to those who flatter them.

(c) "When power to flattery bows" is in a question form. In the next line (149), it says in a statement: "When majesty falls to folly." It seems as though "when power to flattery bows" is asking "when will the king cater to the ones who love him most?" And the answer being: "When the king is stupid." This could also mean that those who are swayed merely by flattery are stupid.

(d) Alliteration (146) "When Lear is mad, what wouldest thou do old man? This could also be internal rhyme. Alliteration (149): falls to folly

(e) "empty-hearted" and "reverb no hollowness". (153 and 154). This is an example of antithesis. "empty-hearted" would indicate that one's chest would reverb hollowness, but then in the next line, these people "reverb no hollowness." This could be referring to those who pretend to love the king (reverb no hollowness), but who are really "empty-hearted"

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