Macbeth (1)

1
Macbeth

• A Tragedy by William Shakespeare (A.K.A. Billy
  Shakes)

2
Day One Journal

• Agree or Disagree with this statement and use
  examples to support your opinion
• Our fate is predetermined

3
Pre Reading Activity

• Individually, or in groups, write a brief scene
  in which one of the following situations is
  developed
• A boy acts in a macho fashion to please his
  girlfriend
• A girl attacks a boys manhood
• Peer pressure accounts for someone committing a
  wrongful deed
• Ambition brings out the best (or worse) in
  someone
• A person wrestles with an issue of conscience
• These will be performed tomorrow at the start of
  class.
• Minimum one minute length

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Day Two Journal

• Agree or Disagree with this statement and use
  examples to support your opinion
• It is natural for humans to strive for power
• Additionally, give a modern day example of a
  person (or people) who either strove for power
  and failed or succeeded.

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Macbeth Reading Logs

• These logs will help you interact with the text
  and will enable you me to track your
  understanding and comprehension.
• In these logs, you should
• Ask questions of the text
• Indicate things that they do not understand in
  the text
• Note your favourite parts, or quotations, in the
  text
• Give your opinions about what is happening, about
  why characters are saying and doing certain
  things, etc.
• Do not simply provide plot summaries (they will
  receive a mark of zero!)
• You should submit one reading log after
  completing each act (five in total)
• Each log should reach approximately one page in
  length

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Reading Log (Assessment Criteria)

• Completeness,
• Development of entries
• Evidence that student is making a thoughtful
  attempt to come to terms with, to engage, the
  text.
• For students who read the entire play and
  honestly complete the logs to the best of their
  abilities, success rates on this aspect of the
  study of Macbeth should be high
• Levelled

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Present Scenes
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Backgrounding Macbeth

• Macbeth was real
• Divine Right of Kings
• Tragedy
• Macbeth as a Royal Play

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Reality of Macbeth (c.1005 - 1057)

• Shakespeare's Macbeth bears little resemblance to
  the real 11th century Scottish king.
• Mac Bethad mac Findláich,
• born in around 1005.
• In August 1040, he killed the ruling king, Duncan
  I, in battle. Macbeth became king.
• In 1045, Macbeth defeated and killed Duncan I's
  father.
• Equal ruler and noble.
• In 1054, challenged by Siward, to return Malcolm
  to throne
• In August 1057,
• killed by Malcolm in battle (later Malcolm III).

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The Divine Right of Kings

• Royal Absolutism.
• Will of God.
• King Rules above Church State
• Deposing the King Heresy

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King James I

• Believed in the Divine Right of Kings and
  Absolutism (King James Bible)
• Macbeth written between 1603-1607
• Gunpowder Plot (1605)
• Catholics vs. Protestants
• Conversions

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Shakespearean Tragedy

• Many have linked his plays to Aristotle's precept
  about tragedy
• that the protagonist must be an admirable but
  flawed character, with the audience able to
  understand and sympathize with the character.

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Tragedy Contd

• As one of the most influential Shakespearean
  critics of the 19th century, A.C. Bradley argues,
• " the playwright always insists on the operation
  of the doctrine of free will the (anti)hero is
  always able to back out, to redeem himself. But,
  the author dictates, they must move unheedingly
  to their doom."

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Day Three Journal

• Agree or Disagree with this statement and use
  examples to support your opinion
• When in power, humans will do anything to
  maintain it.
• Or...
• God and only god controls what humanity
  achieves and endures.

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Present Scenes
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Day Four Journal

• Agree or Disagree with this statement and use
  examples to support your opinion
• An accomplice is just as guilty as the person who
  commits the crime.
• Or
• If you kill, you should be killed in return (an
  eye for an eye)

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Study QuestionsAct I to Act V

• That Scottish Play

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Act I Activity

• Re-read this act find references to images of
  the following and provide two to three examples
  of each.
• Clothing
• Blood
• Food
• Birds
• Animals
• Comment on the purpose and/or meaning of these
  references. Place these in your journals

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Act I Scene i

• 1. What is the mood of this opening scene?
• 2. In what way is this mood created?
• 3. Identify two or three specific words which
  help establish this theme

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Act I Scene ii

• 1. Why, according to the Soldiers report is the
  epithet brave Macbeth fitting?
• 2. To which Roman God is Macbeth compared to?
• Why is this comparison effective?
• 3. What has Macbeth gained by the end of this
  scene?
• 4. Compare the mood of this scene with that of
  the opening scene.

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Act I Scene iii

• 1. Describe the prophecies given to Macbeth and
  to Banquo.
• 2. What do Banquos observation of Macbeth (line
  50) reveal to us about Macbeth
• 3. Why does Ross news surprise Macbeth?
• 4. What does Macbeth mean when he concludes that
  This supernatural soliciting/Cannot be ill
  cannot be good?
• 5. One of the most prevalent themes in Macbeth is
  that of the difference between appearance and
  reality. In what way is that theme inherent in
  this scene?

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Act I Scene iv

• 1. Describe the character of Duncan as well as
  you can from what you have seen thus far.
• 2. What is Macbeths reaction to the naming of
  Malcolm as Duncans successor?
• 3. What does this reaction reveal to us about
  Macbeth?

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Act I Scene v

• 1. Quote three lines from Lady Macbeth that
  indicate the intensity of her character.
• 2. Why does Lady Macbeth so quickly accept the
  prophecies of the witches?
• 3. Indicate Lady Macbeths plans for Duncan and
  cite two lines which support this.
• 4. Do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth love one another?
  Reference the text.

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Act I Scene vi

• Define the term dramatic irony
• 1. Give an example of dramatic irony in this
  scene.
• 2. What is your final estimation of Duncan as a
  person and as a king?

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Act I Scene vii

• Define the term soliloquy.
• 1. Why does Macbeth appear to hesitate about
  killing Duncan? Cite two examples.
• 2. Indicate two of three methods used, or
  arguments made, by Lady Macbeth to convince her
  husband to do the deed.
• 3. Outline the detail of their plan.

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Act II Journal Assignment (Due Friday)

• During this period and tomorrows period you will
  be asked to write a character analysis from what
  you have seen/heard from them thus far on each of
  the following characters
• Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Duncan, Banquo, Macduff,
  Malcolm, Donaldbain.
• In your analysis comment on the following prompt
  in a short essay (150-200 words) for each
  character and use at least two textual references
  to support your opinion.
• Each character reveals themselves and their true
  character in some way in the first two acts.
  Write an essay describing what your think each
  character reveals at this point in the play.
  Additionally, what are they hiding? MLA/Works
  Cited is not needed for this activity.

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Act II Scene i

• Define the term pathetic fallacy.
• 1. Explain its use in this scene.
• 2. Suggest two or three purposes served by the
  Is this a dagger soliloquy.
• 3. In what way does the tone of this speech
  change from beginning to end?
• 4. Does our view of Banquo change in this scene?
  Reference the text for support.

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Act II Scene ii

• 1. Using direct references to the play, compare
  the reactions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to the
  murder of Duncan
• 2. In your opinion, which characters reaction is
  more realistic? Support your answer.
• 3. Why, according to Lady Macbeth, did she not
  kill Duncan?
• 4. What might Shakespeares reasons be for not
  showing us Duncans murder on stage?

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Act II Scene iii

• 1.Why has Macduff arrived at the Castle?
• 2. On whom does Lennox immediately blame the
  murder?
•     What are his reasons?
• 3. What action does Macbeth take and why?
• 4. Why does Lady Macbeth faint when she does?
• 5. In what way do Banquos words during this
  scene support our view of his character?
• 6. Why do Malcolm and Donalbain run?
•     Is this a good or bad decision? Support your
  answer.

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Act II Scene iv

• 1. Give two examples of incidents described in
  this scene which an Elizabethan audience would
  quickly recognize as harbingers of a much dreaded
  descent from order into chaos.
• 2. What is the official verdict on the murder of
  Duncan?

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Journal Activity Act III

• Close Reading
• Choose one soliloquy (or aside) and one
  interaction between characters from any scene in
  Act III and deconstruct what is being said, the
  importance of what is being said, and most
  importantly, what significance it has to the
  audience and the progression of the plot overall.
• Each close reading should be no less than ¾ of a
  page in length. Im looking for how well you are
  able to break down what characters say and why it
  is important. Be sure to pick ones worth
  discussing

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Macbeth Act III Scene i

• A) As scene i opens, what doubts are expressed by
  Banquo about Macbeth
• B) Why does he tell no one else
• As Macbeth talks to Banquo he asks several
  specific questions. What are they, and why does
  he ask them?
• Identify 2 of the arguments used by Macbeth to
  persuade the murderers to kill Banquo.

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Macbeth Act III Scene ii

1. Describe the change in relationship between
   Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and indicate why the
   change may have happened. Reference the text.
2. In this scene we sense that neither Macbeth or
   Lady Macbeth has found the joys of kingship that
   each expected. Quote lines that indicate this and
   suggest why you think this has occurred

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Macbeth Act III Scene iii

1. Cite two or three reasons that the events of
   scene iii are crucial to the play

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Macbeth Act III Scene iv

• If you were a noble person in Macbeths court,
  what would your reactions be to Macbeths
  behaviour during the banquet?
• Describe the similarity between the two entrances
  of Banquos ghost.
• A) In what ways does lady Macbeth try to save her
  husband from embarrassing himself?
• B) In your opinion, does she succeed? Support
  your answer.

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Macbeth Act III Scene v

• What are Hecates plans regarding Macbeth

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Macbeth Act III Scene vi

1. What purposes are served by Scene six?

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Journal Activity

• Scene Analysis
• The three scenes in Act IV are pivotal to the
  final outcome of the play. In addition to your
  journal on the entire act, choose one scene that
  you believe to be the most important between the
  three and discuss / analyze
• what occurs in the scene (brief summary)
• why it (actions, what they say) is important
• what implications it will on the rest of the play
• any important or symbolic pieces of dialogue
  between characters or individual responses that
  bear any significance on the action and
  progression of the play
• (you may want to read the summaries for Act V
  before completing these journals)
• 1 page minimum

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Macbeth Act IV Scene i

• What deeper insights are we given into the nature
  of the witches in the opening of this scene?
• Describe each apparition and prediction given to
  Macbeth, and explain how each prediction comes
  true.
• What role does Lennox appear to play throughout
  this play
• Define hubris and nemesis, and discuss how hubris
  might be applicable to Macbeth in this scene.
• Hubris Excessive pride or arrogance
• Nemesis Spirit of divine retribution against
  those who succumb to hubris, vengeful fate
  personified as a remorseless goddess.

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Macbeth Act IV Scene ii

1. What dramatic purpose is served by the humourous
   conversation between Lady Macduff and her son?
2. Describe the effect this scene has on our view of
   Macbeth.

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Activity

• Reduce and translate Act IV, Sc iii without
  losing the integrity of the dialogue or context
  of the scene.
• Line 1 37
• Line 38 76
• Line 77 114
• Line 115 145
• Line 146 188
• Line 189 240

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Macbeth Act IV Scene iii

• What insights into the characters of Malcolm and
  Macduff are provided by their long discussion in
  Scene iii?
• a) Initially Malcolm distrusts Macduff, thinking
  he is a spy. Suggest what evidence Malcolm may
  have of this.
• b) Why does Malcolm tell Macduff that he is a
  man of many vices?
• c) What finally convinces Malcolm that Macduff
  is an honourable man? Indicate the lines where
  this occurs.

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Macbeth Act IV Scene iii contd

• Dramatic irony is used effectively in this scene.
  Find an example and explain its effectiveness.
• The killing of Macduffs family may be the
  greatest error in judgement that Macbeth makes.
  Agree or Disagree.
• a) What does Malcolm tell Macduff his reaction
  should be to the news of the death of his family?
• b) What does Macduffs reaction tell us about
  Macduff himself?

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Journal

• Close Reading
• Choose one soliloquy/aside and one interaction
  between characters from any scene in Act V and
  deconstruct what is being said, the importance of
  what is being said, and most importantly, what
  significance it has to the audience and the
  progression of the plot overall.
• Each close reading should be no less than ¾ of a
  page in length. Im looking for how well you are
  able to break down what characters say and why it
  is important.

45
Macbeth Act V Scene i

1. Why has the Gentlewoman summoned the doctor?
2. In her madness in scene i, to what specific
   incidents in her past does Lady Macbeth refer?
3. Why does the doctor say More needs she the
   divine than the physician?

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Macbeth Act V Scene ii

1. Caithness says of Macbeth Some say hes mad.
   Do you think Macbeth is mad? Support your answer.
2. What doe we learn about Macbeth in this scene
   from his comments made by Menteith, Angus, and
   Caithness?

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Macbeth Act V Scene iii

1. Macbeth says of the witches earlier, Damned be
   all those who trust them (IV, i) Has Macbeth
   followed his own belief? Support your answer.
2. Describe the doctors attitude towards Macbeth.

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Macbeth Act V Scene iv

1. What dramatic purpose is served by scene 4?

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Macbeth Act V Scene v

1. What causes the cry of woman?
2. What is Macbeths reaction to the news that
   Birnam wood is advancing in his castle?

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Macbeth Act V Scene vi

• Fair is foul and foul is fair. Suggest how this
  scene reinforces the theme of appearance and
  reality in the play?

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Macbeth Act V Scene vii

1. Identify the metaphor Macbeth uses to describe
   himself in his opening speech and suggest why
   this is, or is not, appropriate.
2. Why does Shakespeare include the fight and the
   death of young Siward in the play, and on stage?

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Macbeth Act V Scene viii

• Why has Macbeth avoided fighting Macduff?
• When Macduff informs Macbeth that he was not of
  woman born, why does still decide to fight him?

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Macbeth Act V Scene ix

1. In what way is Malcolms final speech a fitting
   conclusion to the play?
2. The play ends with several significant issues
   left unresolved. Identify two or three of these
   issues and suggest why their resolution might be
   important if peace is to be lasting in Scotland.