Caldron Macbeth Poem

8/4/2019 Caldron Macbeth Poem

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Round about the caldron goBefore Y ou R ead the Poem

Build BackgroundRemind students that the poems in this unit are about mirth and magic. Tell studentsthat the next selection is an excerpt from William Shakespeare's famous play, Macbeth,which is written in verse. Let students know that the play revolves around the intrigueand murder that Macbeth uses to ascend to the throne of Scotland. This excerpt is setin a dark cave where three witches are gathered around a boiling caldron, awaitingMacbeth's arrival. They cast a spell to conjure up a vision of the future to showMacbeth. Many students will probably recognize the now-classic formula used byShakespeare for the witches' chant.Build VocabularyRemind students that the English language has changed quite a bit since Shakespeare'stime. Review the meaning of any unfamiliar words.

adder: a very poisonous snake fillet: a strip of meat without bonesbroth: a thin soup made by boiling howlet: a baby owlmeat, fish, or vegetables newt: a small amphibian with a tailcaldron: a kettle or pot sweltered: (an archaic definition)charmed: enchanted exuded; oozed out; gave offentrails: internal organs; intestines venom: poison, usually injected infenny: from the fens, which are marshy a bitelowlands

While You Read the PoemAfter reviewing the poem yourself, read it aloud for the class in order to help bringmeaning to the unfamiliar language. (Note: You need not read the words identifyingthe speakers.) Invite groups of three students to practice reading the poem together,each taking one witch's part. Encourage groups to take turns presenting their readingsto the class.

A fter You R ead the PoemElements of PoetryForm: List Poem This poem is a list of the ingredients that the three wicked old sistersuse to mix a magical potion in their caldron. Invite students to name each of the items,restating them in more familiar language as appropriate.Poet's Toolbox: Alliteration Remind students that when poets place words with thesame beginning consonant sound in close proximity in a poem, they are creatingalliteration. In this poem, alliteration helps strengthen the singsong quality of thewitches' chant. Encourage students to point out examples of alliteration in the text.Follow-up ActivitiesStudents may work independently to complete the activities on pages 116 and 117.

114 Mirth &Magic Read and Understand Poetry > EMC 3326 2005 by Evan-Moor Corp.


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Roundaboutthe caldron goFirst WitchRound about the caldron go;In the poison'd entrails throw.-Toad, that under cold stone,Days and nights has thirty-one;Swelter'd venom sleeping got,Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!AllDouble, double, toil and trouble;Fire, burn; and caldron, bubble.Second WitchFillet of a fenny snake,In the caldron boil and bake;Eye of newt, and toe of frog,Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,Adder's fork, and blind-warm's sting,Lizard's leg, and how let's wing,-For a charm of powerful trouble,Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.AllDouble, double, toil and trouble;Fire, burn; and caldron, bubble.

-William 5hakespearean excerpt from Macbethfrom Act IV, Scene 1

Mirth &Magic2005 by Evan-Moor Corp . EMC 3326 Read and Understand Poetry


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Understanding the PoemRead each question and choose the best answer. You may wish to rereadthe excerpt from Macbeth as you work.

Round about thecaldron goName __

1. Which of these is not mentioned in the poem? lizard's leg claw of cat adder's fork tongue of dog

2. Which of these is mentioned first in the poem? a bat a toad a lizard a snake

3. What is the Iiadder's fork"? an intersection of two roads an implement for eating a snake's tongue a poisonous plant

4. This poem is mainly about _ how to kill a king creating a powerful charm a toad that has slept under a stone the eye of a newt and the toe of a frog

s . In this poem, charm probably means _ a spell delight a silver heart attractiveness

6. You can not tell from the poem whether the came from an animal. toe wing tongue entrails

116 Mirth &Magic Read and Understand Poetry > EMC 3326 2005 by Evan-Moor Corp.


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Understanding the PoemRound about thecaldron go

Name __

1. Match each of these words used by Shakespeare to its synonym:caldron baby owlentrails oozehowlet intestinesswelter potvenom poison

2. Circle the meaning of each word as it is used in the poem.swelter'd: pale green oozed out smellycharmed: enchanted golden burnedfenny: skinny from the hills from the marshesfillet: forked fangs scaly skin strip of meat

3. Read each phrase. If it includes alliteration, circle the letters that create theeffect. If it doesn't include alliteration, cross it out.

Like a hell-broth boil and bubbleDays and nights has thirty-oneDouble, double, toil and troubleFillet of a fenny snakeLizard's leg, and howlet's wing

4. Number the ingredients in the order they were added to the caldron.___ lizard's leg howlet's wing

eye of newt tongue of dogtoe of frogwool of bat

___ blind-worm's sting___ toad___ fillet of a fenny snake adder's fork

Mirth &Magic 1172005 by Evan-Moor Corp . EMC 3326 Read and Understand Poetry


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Page 1131. Any four of the following:

Two old crows sat on a fence rail.One crow asked the other crow a riddle.Why does a bee have a sword to his fiddle?BB BBB BBB BBB BBB B-cause ORBuzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzz ZZZZZZZZ

2. cause and effect and nature's laws3. its stinger4. They sit around. They think more than they talk.

They think about cause and effect. They mutter andstutter. They are afraid of bees.

5. BuzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZ

zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzz

6. Answers will vary.Round about the caldron goPage 1161. B-claw of cat2. B-a toad3. C-a snake's tongue4. B-creating a powerful charm5. A-a spell6. D-entrailsPage 1171. caldron-pot

entrails-in testineshowlet-baby owlswelter-oozevenom-poison

2. swelter'd: oozed outcharmed: enchantedfenny: from the marshesfillet: strip of meat

3. Like a hell%oth & il and &bbleDays and n~as thirty-oneouble, ~{;"ble,~il and@:ouble0llet of aQlnny snake@izard'sQ)g, and howlet's wing

2005 by Evan-Moor Corp . EMC 3326 Read and Understand Poetry

4. I-toad2-fillet of a fenny snake3-eye of newt4-toe of frog5-wool of bat6-tongue of dog7-adder's fork8-blind-worm's sting9-lizard's leg

10-howlet's wingJabberwockyPage 1201. B-a horrible monster2. A-Jubjub3. C-Tumtum tree4. C-Hip, hip, hooray!5. B-knights and dragons6. C-were also made upPage 121Answers may vary. If not as shown here, ask students toreplace nonsense words with familiar words to supporttheir answers.1. Bandersnatch .ll.. mome jj,

borogove .ll.. outgrabe _y _burbled .z, rath .z,frabjous _g _ slithy _g _galumphing _y _ toves .ll..gimble _y _ tulgey _g _Jabberwock .ll.. uffish _g _[ubjub jj, vorpal .a,manxome _g _ wabe .ll..mimsy _g _ whiffling _y _

2. Answers will vary.

Answer Key 143

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Caldron Macbeth Poem