Shakespeare: Tragedy
“The poem, the song, the picture is only water drawn from the well of people
and it should be given back to them in a cup of beauty so that they may drink—
and in drinking, understand themselves.”
--Lorca
This
unit will give students a chance to look at Shakespeare from a personal
and cultural perspective. The class will break of the structure of the
play Macbeth and discuss how metaphor and symbol, plot and theme work
in conjunction with the development of characters and ideas.
Macbeth
is a play about the corruption of power, about the moralistic failings
of blind ambition, about the difference between appearance and reality
(things are not as they seem), about superstition and how it affects
human behavior, about the individual vs. society (or how an individual
revolts against society for personal gain). Ultimately students will be
asked to relate Macbeth to contemporary times and to write an essay.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this unit students will be able to
Knowledge:
1) List the five elements of tragedy
2) List the five elements of a tragic hero
3)
Define theme, plot, setting, foreshadow, oxymoron, soliloquy,
personification, dramatic foil, metaphor (three types), symbol, simile
Comprehension:
4) Identify a metaphor (direct, implied, extended), simile, pun or symbol within the play
5) Give a brief description of all the characters and their roles in the play
6) Given a line of dialogue identify the speaker
7)
Outline the plot and break in up into exposition, inciting event,
rising action, climax, falling action and catastrophe (or resolution)
8) Summarize each scene into a headline
9) Identify the tragic hero and his/her tragic flaw
10) Discuss the motivations of all major characters (why they do the things they do)
Application
11) Demonstrate an understanding of a scene in a drawing
12) Demonstrate a relation of characters to contemporary times through a simulation
13)
Demonstrate an understanding of characters and acting techniques by
writing out a script (including the lines, subtext, emotion or tone, and
blocking) and acting out the scene from memory
14) Demonstrate an
understanding of the play by writing journal entries and in-class
writing assignments including a Dear Abbey Letter, interviews, diary
entries from characters’ perspective, personal responses, and in-class
presentations on characters.
15) Demonstrate an understanding of parts of the play by translation Shakespeare’s lines into contemporary English
16) Write a poem or a rap about Macbeth
17) Research a character: the different critical views and present findings to class
Analysis
18) Write a analysis paper on some element or question of Macbeth
VOCABULARY (from Macbeth)
1) Mirth
2) Liege
3) Parricide
4) Verity
5) Avarice
6) Avaunt
7) Posterity
8) Homage
9) Cloistered
10) Equivocator
11) Eminence
12) Avouch
13) Thralls
14) Malevolence
Macbeth
Unit Learning goal: At the end of this Unit students will be able to analysis a motif found in Macbeth, create a thesis, and connect the motif to the meaning of the play as a whole by writing a short 2-3 page essay.
Scale/Rubric relating to learning goal:
4 – The student is able to combine more than one motif into a thesis statement, and answer it by evaluating the text and using specifics to back up his/her position.
3 – The student can choose a motif, develop it into a thesis statement, and analyze the text using specific evidence to back up their position.
2 – With some direction/help from the teacher the student can choose a motif, develop it into a thesis statement, and analyze the text using specific evidence to back up their position.
1 – Even with help from the teacher the student is unable to choose a motif, or develop it into a thesis statement, and analyze the text using specific evidence to back up their position.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this unit students will be able to
• List the five elements of tragedy
• List the five elements of a tragic hero
• Discuss Macbeth’s tragic flaw
• Discuss who wins in Macbeth and why? Who is the hero?
• Define soliloquy and monologue and point to examples from Macbeth
• Outline the plot according to the six elements of plot: exposition, inciting event, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution (give at least three events for the rising and falling action)
• Identify the following characters and discuss they roles in the play (Who they are, What they do, Why the do what they do)
Macbeth Macduff The Porter
Lady Macbeth Lady Macduff The Witches
Duncan Lennox The Doctor
Malcolm Ross The Bloody Captain
Donalbain Seyton Fleance
Banquo Menteith Siward
• Discuss and give examples of the following THEMES:
--Blind Ambition
--The Corruption of Power
--Appearance vs. Reality
--Superstition and how it affects human behavior
--Good vs. Evil
• Discuss the following symbols/motifs (what people and/or ideas the represent and connect them to a theme)
--washing of hands --blood
--planting of seeds, things growing
--the atmosphere of Macbeth’s castle
--spells or chants and supernatural beings
--weather --daggers
--spirits, scorpions, snakes and things in the mind
--birds and flying:
Eagles Crows
Sparrows Geese
Owl Wren
Martlet
Falcon
• Identify the speaker and the significant of important and famous quotes from the following characters:
Witches, Apparitions, Banquo, Duncan, Macduff, Malcolm, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, The Bloody Captain, Lady Macduff, Ross
• Know and review your study questions for each Act (you should have done these for homework). Some of these questions will be on the test.
• Act out from memory a scene of at least sixteen lines Macbeth Study Questions
ACT I
Scene 1:
1) The play opens with thunder and lightning as the three witches enter. What does this tell us about the mood of the play? What do the witches symbolize beyond just superstition? Do you really believe that they are witches?
2) What doe the witches mean when they say, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”? What does this tell you about what is likely to go on during the play?
3) How can a battle be “Lost and won”? What foreshadow might this set-up? What is the real battle in this play?
4) Graymalkin and Paddock are familiars (a cat and a toad). What does this suggest about the action of the play? What might they symbolize?
Scene ii
1) What does the bloody man report?
2) Why is Macdonwald a worthy rebel?
3) What similes or metaphors does the captain (the bloody man) use to describe Macbeth and Banquo? What is significant about these descriptions?
4) “Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds, or memorize another Golgotha.” What is the allusion? What is significant about the statement? What does it suggest? Please keep in mind the religious/superstitious images/symbols already presented.
5) Who was Scotland fighting?
Scene iii
1) Why do the witches talk in poetry?
2) What do the witches predict for Macbeth? What is the dramatic irony involved?
3) What do they witches predict for Banquo? What irony is involved in this promise?
4) What is your first impression of Macbeth in scenes ii-iii? What is your first impression of Banquo?
5) How do Macbeth and Banquo differ in their reactions to the witches predictions? What does this tell us about their characters?
6) What message does Ross bring?
7) “But ‘tis strange! And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray us in deepest consequence.” Who speaks the above quote? What is the significance or meaning of the quote?
Scene iv
1) What is Malcolm’s description of Cawdor’s execution?
2) What is the King’s response to this description?
3) Who does the King name as his successor? How does Macbeth react to this information?
4) “Stars hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” Who speaks this quote and what is the significance of it?
Questions for scenes 5
1. After Lady Macbeth reads the letter, what does she tell us is her opinion of Macbeth, and how does she plan to help him?
2. What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is missing?
3. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?
MACBETH: ACT II Questions
Scene i
1) Who says the following: “Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, and yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers, restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives away in repose.” What is significant about the quote? How has the atmosphere of the castle been changed?
2) Why does Banquo mention his dream of the Weird Sisters? Hint: Ironically this is his last dream.
3) What does Macbeth say he and Banquo will talk about later in private?
4) Reread lines 42-70. Briefly summarize what Macbeth is saying in this soliloquy.
5) How does the illusion of the dagger play into the mindset of either witchcraft or Macbeth losing it.
Scene ii
1) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold”?
2) Symbolically what does the fatal bellman toll? More than one thing here. And who is the fatal bellmen—the one Lady Macbeth hears?
3) How do you read the lines, “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done ‘t.” What does this say about Lady Macbeth?
4) Sleep is an important symbol in this play. Please keep a list of all the times (with line numbers) that sleep is mentioned in Act II. Attach and turn this list in with these questions.
5) What is meant when Macbeth says, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”?
6) Why is Lady Macbeth upset with Macbeth towards the end of scene ii?
7) What is symbolic about the knocking that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hear?
8) What does Lady Macbeth say about washing of hands at the end of the scene? Do you believe her?
Scene iii
1) How is the Porter a humorous character? What does he say about drink? How does he metaphorical set the atmosphere of the scene?
2) Who is at the gates? (more than 1 person)
3) What does Macduff mean when he says, “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!”?
4) How does Macbeth react to the news of the king’s murder? How does Lady Macbeth react?
5) Where do Donalbain and Malcolm decide to go? Why?
Scene iv
1) What is meant by the old man when he says, “On Tuesday last, a falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place, was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed”? What is symbolically suggested here? Hint: Relate the birds to scene ii.
2) What does Macduff say about Malcolm and Donalbain?
3) What does Macduff say about Macbeth?
4) What is meant by the line, “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new”?
5) Why doesn’t Macduff go to the coronation?
Scene i
1) Who says the following: “Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, and yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers, restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives away in repose.” What is significant about the quote? How has the atmosphere of the castle been changed?
2) Why does Banquo mention his dream of the Weird Sisters? Hint: Ironically this is his last dream.
3) What does Macbeth say he and Banquo will talk about later in private?
4) Reread lines 42-70. Briefly summarize what Macbeth is saying in this soliloquy.
5) How does the illusion of the dagger play into the mindset of either witchcraft or Macbeth losing it.
Scene ii
1) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold”?
2) Symbolically what does the fatal bellman toll? More than one thing here. And who is the fatal bellmen—the one Lady Macbeth hears?
3) How do you read the lines, “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done ‘t.” What does this say about Lady Macbeth?
4) Sleep is an important symbol in this play. Please keep a list of all the times (with line numbers) that sleep is mentioned in Act II. Attach and turn this list in with these questions.
5) What is meant when Macbeth says, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”?
6) Why is Lady Macbeth upset with Macbeth towards the end of scene ii?
7) What is symbolic about the knocking that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth hear?
8) What does Lady Macbeth say about washing of hands at the end of the scene? Do you believe her?
Scene iii
1) How is the Porter a humorous character? What does he say about drink? How does he metaphorical set the atmosphere of the scene?
2) Who is at the gates? (more than 1 person)
3) What does Macduff mean when he says, “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!”?
4) How does Macbeth react to the news of the king’s murder? How does Lady Macbeth react?
5) Where do Donalbain and Malcolm decide to go? Why?
Scene iv
1) What is meant by the old man when he says, “On Tuesday last, a falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place, was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed”? What is symbolically suggested here? Hint: Relate the birds to scene ii.
2) What does Macduff say about Malcolm and Donalbain?
3) What does Macduff say about Macbeth?
4) What is meant by the line, “Lest our old robes sit easier than our new”?
5) Why doesn’t Macduff go to the coronation?
ACT 3 Study Questions
Scene 1
1) What is Banquo’s opening soliloquy about? Please translate it line by line.
2) Why does Macbeth wish Banquo dead (name at least 2 reasons)—look at his speech in lines 50-76?
3) What is significant about the following quote, “For them the gracious Duncan I have murder;/ Put rancors in the vessel of my peace/ only for them,”
4) How does Macbeth convince the murders?
Scene 2
1) What is significant about the quote, “We have scotched the snake not killed it./ She’ll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice/ remains in danger of the former tooth.” What does Macbeth mean?
2) Why does Macbeth tell his wife, “Be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck,/ till thou applaud the deed.”?
3) What is significant in the quote, “Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day,/ and with bloody and invisible hand/ cancel and tear to pieces that great bond/ which keeps me pale.” What is Macbeth saying and what is the great bond?
4) Explain the symbolism of crows, night and sleep in this scene. What does it suggest?
Scene 3
1) What happens in this scene? What is botched?
Scene 4
1) What event is most important in this scene?
2) Why does Macbeth say, “There the grown serpent lies; the worm that’s fled/ hath nature that in time will venom breed,/ no teeth for the present.” What is he talking about? Who is he talking about?
3) What is significant about Banquo’s ghost? What does it suggest? How does Macbeth react to it? Is it real or in Macbeth’s mind?
4) Discuss how blood is used in this scene? What does it symbolize?
5) How does Lady Macbeth react to Macbeth’s visions?
Scene 5
1) Most critics think this scene was placed into Macbeth by a different/later author (someone other Shakespeare). Do you agree or not? Why?
Scene 6
1) What does Lennox say in this scene about Fleance and Banquo?
2) What would have happened to Duncan's sons if Macbeth had them under lock and key?
3) Where did MacDuff go?
Scene 1
1) What is Banquo’s opening soliloquy about? Please translate it line by line.
2) Why does Macbeth wish Banquo dead (name at least 2 reasons)—look at his speech in lines 50-76?
3) What is significant about the following quote, “For them the gracious Duncan I have murder;/ Put rancors in the vessel of my peace/ only for them,”
4) How does Macbeth convince the murders?
Scene 2
1) What is significant about the quote, “We have scotched the snake not killed it./ She’ll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice/ remains in danger of the former tooth.” What does Macbeth mean?
2) Why does Macbeth tell his wife, “Be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck,/ till thou applaud the deed.”?
3) What is significant in the quote, “Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day,/ and with bloody and invisible hand/ cancel and tear to pieces that great bond/ which keeps me pale.” What is Macbeth saying and what is the great bond?
4) Explain the symbolism of crows, night and sleep in this scene. What does it suggest?
Scene 3
1) What happens in this scene? What is botched?
Scene 4
1) What event is most important in this scene?
2) Why does Macbeth say, “There the grown serpent lies; the worm that’s fled/ hath nature that in time will venom breed,/ no teeth for the present.” What is he talking about? Who is he talking about?
3) What is significant about Banquo’s ghost? What does it suggest? How does Macbeth react to it? Is it real or in Macbeth’s mind?
4) Discuss how blood is used in this scene? What does it symbolize?
5) How does Lady Macbeth react to Macbeth’s visions?
Scene 5
1) Most critics think this scene was placed into Macbeth by a different/later author (someone other Shakespeare). Do you agree or not? Why?
Scene 6
1) What does Lennox say in this scene about Fleance and Banquo?
2) What would have happened to Duncan's sons if Macbeth had them under lock and key?
3) Where did MacDuff go?
Macbeth - Study Questions Act 4 and Act 5
Act 4
4.1
1) What are the four visions that Macbeth sees?
2) Which visions does he misread or misunderstand and why?
3) What news does Lennox bring Macbeth?
4) What does Macbeth decide from Lennox’s news?
5) How might this scene be a possible climax for the play?
4.2
1) Why does Shakespeare include a scene with Lady Macduff and her son?
2) What is important about this scene?
3) List one motif or symbol from this scene?
4.3
1) Why has Macduff come to England?
2) What is Malcolm’s fear in lines 10-19?
3) Who does the lamb represent in these lines?
4) What is significant in the lines “Angles are bright still, though the brightest fell./Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,/ yet grace must still look so.”
5) What is significant in the line, “Bleed, bleed, pour country!”
6) What does Malcolm call Macbeth? What list of adjectives does he use?
7) How has Malcolm changed since Act II?
8) What is the atmosphere of this scene? Why is this important?
9) What news does the doctor bring? How is this symbolic to the scene, especially to Malcolm?
10) How many men did England lend Macduff?
11) What does Macduff mean when he says, “But I must also feel it as a man.”
4.1
1) What are the four visions that Macbeth sees?
2) Which visions does he misread or misunderstand and why?
3) What news does Lennox bring Macbeth?
4) What does Macbeth decide from Lennox’s news?
5) How might this scene be a possible climax for the play?
4.2
1) Why does Shakespeare include a scene with Lady Macduff and her son?
2) What is important about this scene?
3) List one motif or symbol from this scene?
4.3
1) Why has Macduff come to England?
2) What is Malcolm’s fear in lines 10-19?
3) Who does the lamb represent in these lines?
4) What is significant in the lines “Angles are bright still, though the brightest fell./Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,/ yet grace must still look so.”
5) What is significant in the line, “Bleed, bleed, pour country!”
6) What does Malcolm call Macbeth? What list of adjectives does he use?
7) How has Malcolm changed since Act II?
8) What is the atmosphere of this scene? Why is this important?
9) What news does the doctor bring? How is this symbolic to the scene, especially to Malcolm?
10) How many men did England lend Macduff?
11) What does Macduff mean when he says, “But I must also feel it as a man.”
MACBETH: Study Questions—ACT 5
Scene 1
1) What do the nurse (gentlewoman) and the doctor see?
2) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!...will these hands never be clean.”
3) What is wrong with Lady Macbeth at this point of the play?
Scene 2
1) What happens in this scene? What new characters are introduced? Why?
2) What is the significance of the scene?
3) What is meant when Caithness says, “Some say he’d mad; others that lesser hate him do call it valiant fury”?
Scene 3
1) How would you describe Macbeth’s attitude and mood in this scene?
2) Why isn’t Macbeth afraid? Do his soldier’s seem afraid? Why or why not?
Scene 4
1) What does Malcolm order the soldiers to do?
Scene 5
1) What is meant when Macbeth says, “She should have died here-after”?
2) What is the significant of the following quote, “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is told no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.”
Scene 6
1) What is important about this scene?
Scene 7
1) Who does Macbeth kill in this scene? What is significant about this death?
Scene 8
1) What happens in this scene?
2) Why does Macbeth lose heart in the fight against Macduff?
3) Who is named king at the end of the play?
Remember - if you have trouble with Shakespeare's lines you can always go to NO FEAR SHAKESPEARE
NOTES:
Dramatic Foil – A foil is a secondary character who contrasts with a major character as a way to bring out personality traits.
In Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse, the Frair, Benvolio, Mercutio are all dramatic foils.
Act A major division in the action of a play. The ends of acts are typically indicated by lowering the curtain or turning up the houselights. Playwrights frequently employ acts to accommodate changes in time, setting, characters onstage, or mood. In many full-length plays, acts are further divided into scenes, which often mark a point in the action when the location changes or when a new character enters.
Scene In drama, a scene is a subdivision of an act. In modern plays, scenes usually consist of units of action in which there are no changes in the setting or breaks in the continuity of time. According to traditional conventions, a scene changes when the location of the action shifts or when a new character enters.
Drama Derived from the Greek word dram, meaning "to do" or "to perform," the term drama may refer to a single play, a group of plays ("Jacobean drama"), or to all plays ("world drama"). Drama is designed for performance in a theater; actors take on the roles of characters, perform indicated actions, and speak the dialogue written in the script. Play is a general term for a work of dramatic literature, and a playwright is a writer who makes plays
FIVE ELEMENTS OF TRAGEDY:
1) Play must have a tragic hero
2) The hero must be fated to fall
3) The hero must have dramatic foils
4) The hero must have internal and external conflicts
5) The play raised some question about the nature of existence
ELEMENTS OF A TRAGIC HERO:
1) The tragic hero is a man of noble stature. Usually he is of noble birth
2) The tragic hero is good, though not perfect, and his fall results from his committing what Aristoltle calls “an act of injustice” either through ignorance or from a conviction that some greater good will be served. This act is, never-the-less, a criminal one ad the good hero is responsible for it even if he is totally unaware. Translated: the hero is usually virtuous in many ways, loyal to friends and family, has high moral standards, but some flaw in personality and it is this flaw that causes his downfall.
3) The hero’s misfortunate is not wholly deserved and the punishment far exceeds the crime. The audience leaves saddened by the sense of waste of human potential.
4) Though the hero may be defeated, he has dared greatly, and he gains understanding from his defeat and must become an example for others.
(Simplified: 1) Noble birth and of noble character; 2) Virtuous and loyal; 3) Has a tragic flaw; 4) Tragic flaw causes downfall; 5) The audience learns something through the characters failing).
