Post on 30-Dec-2015
The Tragedy of Macbeth
By William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Born in Stratford upon Avon, England
Married Anne Hathaway (like the actress)
Lived through the Black Death (the plague)
Shakespeare
Wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets
Invented 1,700 (literally) words in the English language Aerial, critic, submerge, majestic, hurry, lonely,
road… Sayings like: break the ice, all that glitters is
not gold, hot-blooded, method in his madness
Plays
What are some plays you’ve already heard of that he has written?
Modern Films and TV
Based on Shakespeare’s plays
Sons of Anarchy:
The Lion King:
She’s the Man:
West Side Story:
10 Things I hate About You:
Macbeth
The last of Shakespeare’s “four great tragedies” – Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth
Shortest and bloodiest of all the tragedies
It’s about a brave Scottish general, Macbeth, who receives a prophecy from 3 witches saying he’ll be king. He lets this go to his head and is consumed by ambition and his new title as he and his wife continue on their journey of arrogance, madness and death.
Important Themes
Power
Ambition
Madness
Guilt
Appearance vs. reality
Gender differences Manipulation Violence
Fate
Macbooks
As we read Macbeth, you will be taking notes in a reading log that we’ll call “Macbooks”
One log for each scene
5 Acts and 29 scenes
29 scenes x 8 points = 232 points
Not only will these logs help you with your test and essay, but they are really easy points if you keep up.
No Fear
Google: “No Fear Shakespeare Macbeth”
It will help! Use it!!!
Assessments
Macbooks – 232 points
Other homework/daily assignments – points vary
Mid-play Quiz – appr. 20 points
Exam – Thursday, Dec. 13; 100 points
Essential Vocabulary
Dramatic irony: when the audience understands the situation but the characters don’t
Verbal irony: when a speaker says one thing but means another
Situational irony: when an incongruity exists between what is expected to happen and what actually happens
More…
Symbolism: the use of symbols to represent ideas
Foil: a person or thing that contrasts with and so emphasizes and enhances the qualities of another
Metaphor: direct comparison saying one thing is another
Soliloquy: an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, esp. other characters in the play