MacbethA Tragedy – by William

Shakespeare (A.K.A. Billy Shakes)

Day One Journal Agree or Disagree with this statement and

use examples to support your opinion: Our fate is predetermined

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 boy’s 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.

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.

Present Scenes

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.

Macbeth – If the crime fits Complete the following handout and be

ready to defend your choices.

Backgrounding Macbeth Macbeth was real Divine Right of Kings Great Chain of Being Tragedy Macbeth as a Royal Play

Reality of Macbeth (c.1005 - 1057) Shakespeare's Macbeth bears little resemblance to the real 11th century

Scottish king.

Mac Bethad mac Findláich, known in English as Macbeth, was born in around 1005. In August 1040, he killed the ruling king, Duncan I, in battle near Elgin, Morayshire. Macbeth became king. In 1045, Macbeth defeated and killed Duncan I's father Crinan at Dunkeld. For 14 years Macbeth seems to have ruled equably, imposing law and order and encouraging Christianity. He was also a brave leader and made successful forays over the border into Northumbria, England. In 1054, Macbeth was challenged by Siward, Earl of Northumbria, who was attempting to return Duncan's son Malcolm Canmore, who was his nephew, to the throne. In August 1057, Macbeth was killed at the Battle of Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire by Malcolm Canmore (later Malcolm III).

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”)

The Divine Right of Kings is a political and religious doctrine of royal

absolutism. It asserts that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving his right to rule directly from the will of God. The king is thus not subject to the will of his people, the aristocracy, or any other estate of the realm, including the church. The doctrine implies that any attempt to depose the king or to restrict his powers runs contrary to the will of God and may constitute heresy.

The Great Chain of Being: a powerful visual

metaphor for a divinely inspired universal hierarchy ranking all forms of higher and lower life; humans are represented by the male alone.  

From Didacus Valades, Rhetorica

Christiana (1579).  

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. Certainly, all of Shakespeare's tragic protagonists are capable of both good and evil. 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."

Study QuestionsAct I to Act V

That Scottish Play

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 textIndicate things that they do not understand in the textNote your favourite parts, or quotations, in the textGive 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

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

Journal Entry Act I Write a personal journal from Lady Macbeth’s

point of view – what are her thoughts, her feelings by the end of Act I?

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

Act I Scene ii1. Why, according to the Soldier’s 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.

Act I Scene iii1. Describe the prophecies given to Macbeth and to

Banquo.

2. What do Banquo’s 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?

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 Macbeth’s reaction to the naming of Malcolm as Duncan’s successor?

3. What does this reaction reveal to us about Macbeth?

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 Macbeth’s plans for Duncan and cite two lines which support this.

4. Do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth love one another? Reference the text.

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?

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.

Act II Journal In your opinion, what is the best form of

government? What is the worst? Explain your suggestions?

Or… Rewrite the events of the night as seen

from the point of view of the Porter.

Journal Assignment Act II This 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.

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.

Act II Scene ii1. 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 her husband?

4. What might Shakespeare’s reasons be for not showing us Duncan’s murder on stage?

Act II Scene iii1.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 Banquo’s 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.

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?

Journal Entry Act IIIFor each of the following quotations, identify the

speaker and explain the importance of the quotation to the play as a whole:

Fair is foul, and foul is fair / Hover through the fog and filthy air.

No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive / our bosom interest. Go pronounce his death / And with his former title greet Macbeth.

Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Make thick my blood.

Macbeth Act III Scene i1. A) As scene i opens, what doubts are

expressed by Banquo about Macbeth

B) Why does he tell no one else

2. As Macbeth talks to Banquo he asks several specific questions. What are they, and why does he ask them?

3. Identify 2 of the arguments used by Macbeth to persuade the murderers to kill Banquo.

Macbeth Act III Scene ii1. 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

Macbeth Act III Scene iii

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

Macbeth Act III Scene iv1. If you were a noble person in Macbeth’s court,

what would your reactions be to Macbeth’s behaviour during the banquet?

2. Describe the similarity between the two entrances of Banquo’s ghost.

3. 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.

Macbeth Act III Scene v

1. What are Hecate’s plans regarding Macbeth

Macbeth Act III Scene vi

1. What purposes are served by Scene six?

JournalFor each of the following quotations, identify the speaker and

explain the importance of the quotation to the play as a whole:

…The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step / On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap,/ For in my way it lies.

If it were done tis done, then twere done well / It were done quickly.

…Come let me clutch thee / I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.

…Where we are / There’s daggers in men’s smiles; the near in blood / The nearer bloody.

Macbeth Act IV Scene i1. What deeper insights are we given into the

nature of the witches in the opening of this scene?

2. Describe each apparition and prediction given to Macbeth, and explain how each prediction comes true.

3. What role does Lennox appear to play throughout this play

4. Define hubris and nemesis, and discuss how hubris might be applicable to Macbeth in this scene.

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.

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

Macbeth Act IV Scene iii1. What insights into the characters of Malcolm

and Macduff are provided by their long discussion in Scene iii?

2. 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.

Macbeth Act IV Scene iii cont’d3. Dramatic irony is used effectively in this scene.

Find an example and explain its effectiveness.4. The killing of Macduff’s family may be the

greatest error in judgement that Macbeth makes. Agree or Disagree.

5. a) What does Malcolm tell Macduff his reaction should be to the news of the death of his family?b) What does Macduff’s reaction tell us about Macduff himself?

JournalFor each of the following quotations, identify the

speaker and explain the importance of the quotation to the play as a whole:

…for none of women born / Shall harm Macbeth.

Then the liars and swearers are fools; for there are liars and swearers enow to bear the honest men and hang them up.

…this noble passion,/ Child of integrity, hath from my soul / Wiped the black scruples.

No, they were all at peace when I did leave em.

JournalFor each of the following quotations, identify the

speaker and explain the importance of the quotation to the play as a whole:

Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him?

I cannot fly, / But bear-like I must fight the course.

Turn, hellhound, turn. …To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, /

Creeps this petty pace…Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,/ Signifying nothing.

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”?

Macbeth Act V Scene ii

1. Caithness says of Macbeth “Some say he’s 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?

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.

Macbeth Act V Scene iv

1. What dramatic purpose is served by scene 4?

Macbeth Act V Scene v

1. What causes the “cry of woman”?

2. What is Macbeth’s reaction to the news that Birnam wood is advancing in his castle?

Macbeth Act V Scene vi

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

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?

Macbeth Act V Scene viii

1. Why has Macbeth avoided fighting Macduff?

2. When Macduff informs Macbeth that he was “not of woman born,” why does still decide to fight him?

Macbeth Act V Scene ix

1. In what way is Malcolm’s 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.