Question

reading read the two passages. then, choose the best answer to each question. passage 1: from the tragedy of king lear by william shakespeare in the opening scene of the tragedy of king lear, the king has decided to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters. as a test, he asks his daughters “which of you shall we say doth love us most, / that we our largest bounty may extend / where nature doth with merit challenge?” to secure a bigger inheritance, lear’s oldest two daughters reply with effusive flattery, but his youngest, cordelia, will not, saying simply “unhappy that i am, i cannot heave / my heart into my mouth. i love your majesty / according to my bond, no more nor less.” enraged, king lear disowns cordelia. the except below is from much later in the play: act iv, scene vii. king lear, now based on the excerpt from king lear and what you know about the structure of shakespearean tragedies, which is the most plausible prediction about what might happen at the end of the drama? a. king lear will die of grief and his children will all come to bad ends. b. despite her father’s mistrust, cordelia will triumph over her scheming sisters. c. king lear will reveal that he has been pretending to be mad as a test for his children. d. cordelia will drink her father’s poison, and her sisters, overwhelmed with grief, will reconcile with him.

Explanation:

Shakespearean tragedies typically end in death and disaster for the main characters. Option A aligns with the tragic nature of the genre, where the protagonist and often other key - figures meet a bad end. Option B suggests a positive outcome for Cordelia which is not typical of Shakespearean tragedy. Option C goes against the established themes and the tragic arc. Option D also presents an unlikely and non - tragic resolution.

Answer:

A. King Lear will die of grief and his children will all come to bad ends.