To build background for better To build background for better understanding of the playunderstanding of the play

To relate to your own experiencesTo relate to your own experiences

To appreciate Shakespeare’s skillTo appreciate Shakespeare’s skill

To increase knowledge of other culturesTo increase knowledge of other cultures

To analyze Elizabethan dramaTo analyze Elizabethan drama

To plan, prepare, present literary To plan, prepare, present literary interpretationsinterpretations

To improve your reading, writing, and To improve your reading, writing, and analyzing skillsanalyzing skills

Purpose: IntroductionPurpose: Introduction

Who was Macbeth, Who was Macbeth, anyway?anyway?

Scottish king from AD 1040 to AD Scottish king from AD 1040 to AD 10571057

Scotland prospered under Scotland prospered under Macbeth’s ruleMacbeth’s rule

He appeared to be a good kingHe appeared to be a good king Shakespeare changed all of thatShakespeare changed all of that

Why Study Shakespeare?Why Study Shakespeare?Why Study Shakespeare?Why Study Shakespeare?

10. Theaters are built in his honor all over the world- even here in Montgomery, Alabama.

8. His characters live and breathe as 8. His characters live and breathe as actual human beings. They are believable.actual human beings. They are believable.

9. He dealt with universal issues. His 9. He dealt with universal issues. His topical issues were treated in such a way topical issues were treated in such a way that they go beyond the topic and become that they go beyond the topic and become universal. He wrote about fundamental universal. He wrote about fundamental matters that concern all of us.matters that concern all of us.

4. 4. Of all the writers in the world, Of all the writers in the world, Shakespeare has received the most Shakespeare has received the most attention and acceptance.attention and acceptance.

5.His plays are performed in almost all 5.His plays are performed in almost all languages throughout the world.languages throughout the world.

6. More criticism has been written about 6. More criticism has been written about his words than any other writer in history.his words than any other writer in history.

7. Shakespeare endures because of his 7. Shakespeare endures because of his knowledge of the characteristics of human knowledge of the characteristics of human beings, his close observations of the beings, his close observations of the world, and his ability to transmute words world, and his ability to transmute words into music.into music.

1.1. Shakespeare understood human Shakespeare understood human nature.nature.

2.2. Critics say that no one better Critics say that no one better understood human nature than understood human nature than Shakespeare. He saw humans Shakespeare. He saw humans clearly both within and without.clearly both within and without.

3.3. Shakespeare tells us who and Shakespeare tells us who and what we are and reminds us what we are and reminds us that man’s actions are capable that man’s actions are capable of integrity and grace.of integrity and grace.

Did you know that there is a Did you know that there is a horrible curse on the play?horrible curse on the play?

There are many strange accidents There are many strange accidents and incidents that have occurred and incidents that have occurred during productions.during productions.

““That Scottish Play” never say That Scottish Play” never say the name of the playthe name of the play

1272-1305 : Every man dies, not every 1272-1305 : Every man dies, not every man lives.man lives.

Rob Roy

William Wallace

Kilts and tartansKilts and tartans

What are Scottish clans?What are Scottish clans?

Christie TartanChristie Tartan

Map of Scotland and GlamisMap of Scotland and Glamis

Nessie the Loch Ness Monster- a neighbor of Macbeth.

Fair is foul, foul is fair,Fair is foul, foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy Hover through the fog and filthy

air.air.

Fate and Other Things Strange: “Something wicked this way comes.”

Can you define Fate? Can you define Fate? Is witchcraft still thriving today? Is witchcraft still thriving today?

Have you ever had your fortune Have you ever had your fortune told?told?

Have you ever seen a ghost? Have you ever seen a ghost?

Common Themes Common Themes

Corruption of powerCorruption of power Blind ambitionBlind ambition Appearance vs. realityAppearance vs. reality Superstition and its effect on human Superstition and its effect on human

behaviorbehavior What are the characteristics of an evil What are the characteristics of an evil

person?person? Are temptation, desire, ambition evil traits?Are temptation, desire, ambition evil traits? Effects of concealed guiltEffects of concealed guilt

Common Repeated Common Repeated ImagesImages

SleepSleepBloodBloodDiseaseDiseaseClothingClothingLight and DarknessLight and Darkness

Some familiar termsSome familiar terms

Tragic heroTragic hero Aristotle’s concept of tragedy Aristotle’s concept of tragedy HubrisHubris HamartiaHamartia AllusionAllusion SimileSimile MetaphorMetaphor PersonificationPersonification AlliterationAlliteration

Terms againTerms again

ForeshadowingForeshadowing Dramatic ironyDramatic irony AsideAside SoliloquySoliloquy Blank verseBlank verse Iambic pentameterIambic pentameter Rhymed coupletRhymed couplet TanistryTanistry

More stuffMore stuff

The Great Chain of BeingThe Great Chain of Being

G re at C ha in o f B e ing

R o cks

P la n ts

A n im a ls

M an

A n g e ls

G od

Framework of a TragedyFramework of a Tragedy

E xp os it ionA c t I

In it ia l In cid e n tA c t I

R is in g A c tionA c t II

D e no ue m e nta n d R eso lu tion

A c t VC a s ta stro p e (2 n d C lim a x)

F a llin g A c tionA c t IV

C lim a xA c t III

C ris is -P ivo t-C o u n te rs tro ke

ShakespeareShakespeareand his own curseand his own curse

Holy Trinity ChurchHoly Trinity Church

These lines are written on Shakespeare’s These lines are written on Shakespeare’s tomb in the Holy Trinity Churchtomb in the Holy Trinity Church. .

Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forbearGood friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear

To dig the dust enclosed here.To dig the dust enclosed here.

Blessed be the man that spares these Blessed be the man that spares these stones,stones,

And cursed be he that moves my bonesAnd cursed be he that moves my bones..

Holy Trinity Church in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford upon Avon, Stratford upon Avon, EnglandEngland

Shakespeare: The Shakespeare: The Greatest of the GreatsGreatest of the Greats

Shakespeare: The Shakespeare: The Greatest of the Greats: Greatest of the Greats: Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

A Final ThoughtA Final Thought

What’s on for Today?What’s on for Today?

DenotationDenotation ConnotationConnotation StressStress InflectionInflection

So foul and fair a day I have not So foul and fair a day I have not seen.seen.

List synonyms for the words “foul” List synonyms for the words “foul” and “fair.”and “fair.”

This statement is called a This statement is called a paradox.paradox. What others have you noticed?What others have you noticed?

StressStress He was a gentleman on whom I He was a gentleman on whom I

built an absolute trust.built an absolute trust.

Stress a different word each time Stress a different word each time you read the line.you read the line.

How does the meaning change?How does the meaning change?

InflectionInflection Is execution done on Is execution done on

Cawdor?Cawdor? Rise and fall of your voice…Rise and fall of your voice… How does the meaning change?How does the meaning change?

Nonverbal communicationNonverbal communication

What meaning is implied without What meaning is implied without words?words?

How does Banquo feel about the witches’ How does Banquo feel about the witches’ predictions?predictions?

How does Macbeth feel?How does Macbeth feel? Who is the topic of conversation at the start Who is the topic of conversation at the start

of scene 4? of scene 4? How might Duncan’s words to Macbeth, as How might Duncan’s words to Macbeth, as

Macbeth enters, seem ironic?Macbeth enters, seem ironic? How does Macbeth feel now that Malcolm has How does Macbeth feel now that Malcolm has

been named Price of Cumberland?been named Price of Cumberland? Do we have any clues about how he will Do we have any clues about how he will

behave in the future?behave in the future?

Sonnet- Elizabethan or Sonnet- Elizabethan or Shakespearean Shakespearean

14 line poem14 line poem Contains 3 quatrains and a rhymed Contains 3 quatrains and a rhymed

coupletcouplet 10 syllable line of unstressed / 10 syllable line of unstressed /

stressed syllables.stressed syllables. Divided into five feetDivided into five feet Rhyme pattern: abab cdcd efef Rhyme pattern: abab cdcd efef

gggg

http://www.rhymezone.com/