The Tragedy of Macbeth

By William Shakespeare

Shakespeare

Shakespeare: Brief and Naughty

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