Post on 14-Jan-2017
The Tragedy of MacbethWilliam Shakespeare
IntroductionBackgroundDiscussion Starters
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The Tragedy of MacbethWilliam Shakespeare
Be careful what you wish for.
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction
and then those predictions started coming true?
What would you do if you encountered three strange women who predicted your future
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction
Suppose the women predicted that you would become a powerful ruler someday.
Would you want to wait to see if this came true?
Or would you want to make it come true?
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction
As The Tragedy of Macbeth opens, the Scottish army is battling invading forces
Scotland
and King Duncan wants a victory.
Norwegian forces
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction
Macbeth fights ferociously
King Duncan is impressed.
killing the traitor Macdonwald and planting Macdonwald’s head on the castle battlements.
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction
While crossing the stormy countryside after the battle, Macbeth and Banquo encounter a trio of witches.
Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction
The weird sisters make these predictions:
Then, the witches vanish, and a messenger appears to tell Macbeth that King Duncan has just given him a noble title.
•Macbeth will earn noble titles.
•Banquo will produce a line of kings.
•Macbeth will be King of Scotland.
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction
All Macbeth can think about is the sisters’ final prophecy …
And the thought that he might become king.
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction
His wife, the ambitious Lady Macbeth longs for
She’ll do anything to make her husband king.
•power
•high position
•wealth
•prestige
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction
She just may get her chance. King Duncan decides to visit Macbeth’s castle.
Will the king live to rule another day?
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background
William Shakespeare wrote more than 36 plays and 150 poems in his lifetime. He is considered the most influential writer in English literature.
More than four hundred years later, his works still influence
•movies
•video games•TV shows•music
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background
In the tragedy Macbeth, Shakespeare explores the damaging nature of overwhelming ambition and greed.
It is the shortest of Shakespeare’s tragedies, and includes this simple message: “Thou shalt not kill.”
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background
Before Shakespeare’s time, troupes of actors traveled the countryside, to perform
courtshallsin parks
courtyardsand in other open spaces they could find.
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background
In 1576, the first playhouse, called The Theater, was built outside London’s city walls. Soon other famous London theaters followed.
•the Rose
•the Swan
•the Globe Theater
•the Fortune
•the Red Bull
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background
Now drama could be a permanent experience for theater crowds, rather than a traveling show.
main stage
actors
covered seats
cheap standing room
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Discussion Starters
Discuss (1)• Shakespeare’s works are just as popular today as
they were in his lifetime. Why do you think these stories are still so admired and imitated 400 years later?
• Shakespeare’s writing works as well on the stage as it does on the written page. Why? Do you think that acting out a story on stage adds to its emotional effect?
The Tragedy of Macbeth: Discussion Starters
Discuss (2)Macbeth and his wife are overwhelmed with
ambition, so they plot to steal the throne of Scotland.
• Which character is more willing to do evil? Why? Do you think they will suffer a price for their actions?
• Do you think Shakespeare means for this story to be a cautionary tale, or warning? How?