Excerpt from Act 5, Scene 3 of King Lear LEAR: A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all!
I might have sav'd her; now she's gone for ever!
Cordelia, Cordelia! stay a little. Ha!
What is't thou say'st, Her voice was ever soft,
Gentle, and low—an excellent thing in woman.
I kill'd the slave that was a-hanging thee.

Use the passage to answer the question.
1. Which statement best describes the catharsis that the audience might experience after hearing Lear speak these lines?
A.
The audience might experience fear for Lear that he will be killed next.

B.
The audience might experience happiness for Lear that he is still alive.

C.
The audience might experience judgment of Lear that he remains self-absorbed.

D.
The audience might experience pity that Lear realized Cordelia’s kindnesses too late.

E.
The audience might experience anger at Lear that he is the reason Cordelia was killed.

2. Use the passage to answer the question.

How do the topics brought to light in this passage help develop a complex theme?
A.
It develops the theme using the topic of loyalty by depicting Lear’s unwavering loyalty toward Cordelia.

B.
It develops the theme using the topic of truth by highlighting how Lear has finally discovered it.

C.
It develops the theme using the topic of compassion by showing how Lear feels about Cordelia.

D.
It develops the theme using the topic of justice by revealing that Cordelia's murderer has been punished

E.
It develops the theme using the topic of power by demonstrating that Lear has regained his title.