Language use in King Lear

1.

Recurrent Imagery used to:

emphasise themes e.g animals/monsters the depths to which humanity

may descend; clothing the stripping of authority, or appearances masking
reality; torture the suffering of humanity and, therefore, the need for
patience to endure.

characterise e.g. Goneril and Regan kite, serpent, wolf, those pelican
daughters, tigers, not daughters; Oswald son and heir of a mongrel bitch.

to contrast characters e.g. the evil characters have a poverty of language

which contrasts with the richness of imagery of other characters and gives
them a rationality and starkness of character.

To create atmosphere e.g. in the storm.

2.

Motifs to emphasise themes

Nothing the tragic destruction of the kingdom and the personal

tragedy of Lear the reducing of Lear to nothing.

Blindness, sight, seeing reality and appearance.

Nature.

3.

4.

5.

Reiteration (repetition which stresses and reinforces)

Nothing (I:i) to Never, never, never, never, never (V:iii) with its helplessness
and despair.

Edmunds base, bastard, legitimate bitterness and malice. Note the use
of plosives such as b, p and t, monosyllabic words like fop, and top, which
help the actor to spit out the words.

Lears weep as he struggles to cope with his emotions at the end of Act II:
You think Ill weep; No, Ill not weep. (II:iv)

Cumulation

Kents piling on the despicable characteristics of Oswald: a knave, beggar,

coward, pandar, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch.

Edgars piling on of the misfortunes of Poor Tom: who swallows the old rat
and the ditch-dog; drinks the green mantle of the standing pool; who is
whipped from tithing to tithing...(III:iv).

Prose used to characterise and contrast

I.i starts with prose for the bawdiness of Gloucesters conversation with Kent
which contrasts with the magnificence of the ceremony that follows.
I:i ends with the cold and calculating comments of Goneril and Regan which
contrasts with the opulence of their speeches during the love test.

6.

Stresses the earthiness and commonsense of the Fool and the madness of
Poor Tom.

Rhyme

Rhyming couplets sometimes mark the end of a scene.

Rhyming couplets give Edmunds comments a sinister ring: Let me, if not by
birth, have lands by wit:/All with mes meet that I can fashion fit. (I:ii)

Rhyme gives the Fools comments a ring of truth.

7.

Blank Verse gives rhythm and richness to the language.

Note: Sometimes the rhythm is upset for emphasis e.g. Tigers not daughters with the stress on the first syllable.

8.

Scene setting - Shakespeares stage did not have scenery. The

language was used to enable the audience to imagine it.

9.

The lushness of the kingdom: With shadowy forests and with champains
richd,/With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads (I:i)

The Bedlam beggars: Who with roaring voices/Strike in their numbd and
mortified bare arms/Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary.../Enforce
their charity. (II.iii)

The Storm Act III

The cliff at Dover IV:iv

The Dover fields IV:iv

Creating the character of Lear e.g. I:i commanding, resolute, authority:

imperatives, monosyllables. The bow is bent and drawn; make from the shaft.
Nothing. I have sworn. I am firm.
Note as well

Curses = fury
Storm = anger and self-pity
Prayer = charity
Recognition of Cordelia humility
As he kneels to beg forgiveness, on his way to prison = joy
Last speeches former pride and anger
Simplicity of the language in grief.