Plot summary

• Act 1, Scene 1

  • Edmund introduced as Gl's illegitimate
  • love test
  • deceived by Regan & Goneril
  • disowns Cordelia
  • Kent banished
• Act 1, Scene 2

  • Edmund reveals plot of deceiving father & betraying Edgar
• Act 1, Scene 3

  • Goneril complains of Lear's behaviour
  • refuses him his train of knights
• Act 1, Scene 4

  • Fool suggests Lear has made mistake
  • Lear curses Goneril
  • Kent disguises himself in order to serve Lear
• Act 2, Scene 1

  • Edmund sets up Edgar, telling Gloucester he is planning to kill him
  • Regan & Cornwall visit Gloucester & sympathise with him over Edgar's betrayal
• Act 2, Scene 2

  • Kent put in stocks for fighting Oswald
  • Kent receives Cordelia's letter saying she will fix troubles
• Act 2, Scene 3

  • Edgar disguises himself as Poor Tom
  • suffering
• Act 2, Scene 4

  • Regan & Lear's argument - Regan urges Lear to return to Goneril - General arrives & they both suggest he needs no men
  • Lear kneels to Regan
  • Lear cast into storm & appeals to Gods
• Act 3, Scene 1

  • Lear & Fool in storm
  • Kent gives gentlemen ring to give Cordelia to inform her of Lear
• Act 3, Scene 2

  • Lear curses storm (suffering/ recognition of mistakes)
  • Kent tries to persuade Lear to go into shelter
• Act 3, Scene 3

  • Gloucester confides in Edmund ab concerns of Regan, Goneril & Cornwall not helping the King
  • Edmund soliloquy - reveals he will tell Cornwall everything father has said
• Act 3, Scene 4

  • Kent attempts to lead Lear to shelter
  • Lear meets poor Tom
  • recognition of others suffering
  • Gloucester leads them to shelter
• Act 3, Scene 5

  • Edmund betrays father, telling Cornwall what Gloucester told him & showing him letter
  • Edmund declared Earl of Gloucester
• Act 3, Scene 6

  • mock trial
  • Gloucester warns Lear to flee to dover
  • Edgar's soliloquy on Lear's suffering
• Act 3, Scene 7 


  • Gloucester's blinding - anagnorisis
  • Cornwall killed by servant
  • servant killed
• Act 4, Scene 1

  • Edgar meets blinded father
  • Gloucester reflects on tragedy & anagnorisis
• Act 4, Scene 2

  • Albany & General fight
  • News of Cornwall's death - Goneril worried Regan & Edmund will become lovers
• Act 4, Scene 3

  • Kent receives news of Cordelia
  • Lear too ashamed to see Cordelia
• Act 4, Scene 4

  • Cordelia orders search for Lear
• Act 4, Scene 5

  • Regan insists she is better suited for Edmund
  • Regan suggests Oswald to kill Gloucester if opportunity arises
• Act 4, Scene 6

  • Edgar & Gloucester dover cliff
  • Gloucester recognises Lear (unclear whether Lear recognises)
• Act 4, Scene 7

  • Lear & Cordelia reconcile
• Act 5, Scene 1

  • Albany joins forces w Regan's army to oppose French invasion
  • Edmund reveals he will leave Albany's murder to General & won't show any mercy for Lear & Cordelia if they fall into his power
• Act 5, Scene 2

  • Edgar leads Gl to shade for him to rest
  • Edg reports French army is defeated & Lear & Cordelia imprisoned
• Act 5, Scene 3

  • Lear & Cordelia are prisoners - Edm orders captain to kill them
  • Edm & Edg single combat - Edm killed
  • Edg reveals identity & describes Gl's death
  • messenger announces death of Regan who was poisoned by Goneril, & Goneril who committed suicide
  • Edm reveals plot to kill L & C - Albany & Edg send help
  • Lear enters with dead Cordelia
  • Lear cannot recognise Kent
  • Albany attempts to restore order by return absolute power to Lear
  • Lear dies
  • Edg announces they must learn from parents mistakes