'King Lear' webinar: light and dark

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I’ll be giving a free webinar on King Lear for the English Community of Practice organised by Joe Rolston via the Wexford Education Support Centre on Tuesday 7th May, from 7.00pm to 8.00pm.

This webinar will explore key ideas teachers might consider in their knowledge of the play, especially the relationship between the darkness at its heart, and ‘lighter’ elements in it, a tension which has been there from its creation, since Shakespeare himself rewrote it.

Among the considerations, and the writers I will talk about:

  • Emma Smith on this ‘most desolate tragedy.’

  • James Shapiro: from Leir to Lear.

  • Nahum Tate: a happy Lear.

  • Caravaggio and chiarosuro.

  • ‘All’s cheerless, dark and deadly’: teaching the ending, including John Cleese.

  • Finally, some useful resources and reading.

If you’d like a more classroom-based webinar (also free) on practical ideas for revision of King Lear for the Leaving Certificate examination, then also tune in on Wednesday 16th October, this time via Tralee Education Support Centre.

Register for King Lear: light and dark at Wexford Education Support Centre.