'King Lear' scene by scene 8
Episode 8 of the King Lear scene by scene post looks at the horrifying Act 3 scene 7 - the blinding of Gloucester, and how images of seeing and blindness ramify through the story.
Read More'King Lear' scene by scene 7
Episode 7 of King Lear scene by scene looks at Act 3 scene 4 (the second one in the storm) and scene 6 (the mock trial). Scene 5 is skipped - little to say.
Read More'King Lear' scene by scene 6
Episode 6 of the King Lear scene by scene podcast looks at the first three scenes of Act 3, as the storm takes over.
Read More'King Lear' scene by scene 5
Episode 5 of King Lear scene by scene looks at the very significant but very short Act 2 scene 3 and then the much more meaty Act 2 scene 4. They are both connected by the idea ‘nothing’.
Read More'King Lear' scene by scene 4
Episode 4 of the King Lear scene by scene podcast looks at Act 1 scene 5, Act 2 scene 1 and Act 2 scene 2.
Read More'King Lear' scene by scene 3
The third in the King Lear scene by scene podcast looks at Act One scenes Three and Four.
Read MoreSpecial Fortnightly: King Lear
A special issue from the Fortnightly, kicking off my podcast series King Lear scene by scene.
Read More'King Lear' scene by scene 2
The second talk in the series King Lear scene by scene looks at Act 1 scene 2, in which we are introduced to the sub-plot (unique in Shakespeare's tragedies), starting with the fascinating villain Edmund.
Read More'King Lear' revision webinar
Notes, links and resources from a webinar on revising King Lear for the Leaving Certificate on Wednesday 16th October via Tralee Education Support Centre.
Read More'King Lear' scene by scene 1
The first in the series of King Lear: scene by scene podcasts (with transcripts) looks at Act I scene i
Read MoreJames Shapiro at the Dalkey Book Festival
A brief account of James Shapiro’s appearance with Fintan O’Toole at the 2024 Dalkey Book Festival.
Read More'King Lear' light and dark: webinar
Links and notes from my webinar on Tuesday 7th May 2024 for the English Community of Practice organised by Joe Rolston via Wexford Education Support Centre.
Read More'King Lear' webinar: light and dark
A free webinar on ideas of ‘light and dark’ in ‘King Lear’, via Wexford Education Centre, at 7.00pm on Tuesday 7th May 2024.
Read MoreWebinar on teaching 'King Lear'
A free webinar on Wednesday 16th October 2024 for teachers of King Lear in the Leaving Certificate.
Read MoreEmma Smith on 'King Lear'
Notes on the ‘King Lear’ chapter of Emma Smith’s book This is Shakespeare.
Read MoreCaravaggio and 'King Lear'
King Lear and Caravaggio’s ‘The Taking of Christ’ were created at the same time, in two different countries, by two artists who never met each other: but they share a lot.
Read MoreKing Lear for Litdrive
‘Shownotes’ from a presentation on teaching the end of King Lear, as part of Litdrive’s online CPD programme, January 2023.
Read MoreThinking about the tragedies: 54 exercises
54 exercises to discuss key quotations when revising Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear and Othello, with the rationale behind them, and an example from a key scene in Macbeth.
Read MoreThinking about 'King Lear'
Here are some exercises on quotations in King Lear. They are designed for pair-work 10-minute sessions in class, but work perfectly well for individuals.
Read MoreINOTE, November 28th 2020
Here are the slides from my two presentations at the (virtual) conference of the Irish National Teachers of English on November 28th.
Read More