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In this course we are going to study Shakespeare's bloodiest tragedy - Macbeth. We are going to explore the psychological complexity and thematic richness of the play and examin the intricate dance of ambition, guilt, and fate that leads to the downfall of the eponymous character and his wife.
Through a combination of analysis, discussion, and performance, we will dissect the poetic language of the play, its historical context, and its lasting impact on literature and culture. We are going to see how moral ambiguity and supernatural elements are central to the play, and we will also consider the role of power and gender in the text.
The aim of the couse is to achieve an understanding of the motivations and consequences that drive the characters of Macbeth to their ultimate tragic ends.
Macbeth - summaries
Macbeth - summaries
Brief summary of Macbeth
Brief summary of Macbeth
The main plot of Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth revolves around the titular character's relentless ambition and subsequent downfall. Set in medieval Scotland, the play follows Macbeth, a respected and loyal general, as he encounters three mysterious witches who prophesize his rise to power. Consumed by a desire for kingship, Macbeth, urged on by his ambitious wife Lady Macbeth, sets out to fulfill the witches' prophecy, even resorting to murder to achieve his ambitions. As he ascends the throne, guilt and paranoia begin to plague Macbeth, causing him to spiral into a state of madness, leading to a series of bloody and tragic events. Ultimately, Macbeth's tragic flaw, his unchecked ambition, leads to his tragic demise, highlighting the destructive nature of an unchecked lust for power.
Plot in Macbeth.docxSummaries of the various acts
Summaries of the various acts
Shakespeares Macbeth - Summary - act 1.docxSummary - act 2.docxSummary - act 3.docxSummary - act 4.docxThe official trailer of the 2015 film adaptation of Macbeth
The official trailer of the 2015 film adaptation of Macbeth
Watch it here.
Historical background
Historical background
It is important to know about the time in which Shakespeare wrote in order to fully understand his plays. Below you can find some texts that will give you a lead-in to the cultural context, the literary codes of practice, and the conventions of the theatre at his time.
You may also read about the historic events that shaped the era and about the social conditions for the ordinary man in the 16th century.
Literary Background (2).pdfHistorical and Social Background.pdf'What is Drama' from Fields of Vision .pdfElizabethan Theatre.pdfThe Great Chain of Being
The Great Chain of Being
The Great Chain of Being
It is a prevalent idea in Elizabethan times that everything is arranged in a Divine Order, or Great Chain of Being. This means that everything in the universe has a specific place and rank according to their perceived importance and "spiritual" nature. The more "spirit" a person or object had, the more power he or she had.
Consequently, everything has a specific place in the chain, and if anybody tries to change his/her position, this will lead to chaos, which will reign until order is restored.
The Great Chain of Being in Shakespeare's work
Shakespeare sincerely believed in the Divine Order, and many of his plays revolve around this belief.
His tragedy Macbeth, for instance, is a play that reflects Shakespeare's belief in the Great Chain of Being and a desire to maintain God's Order.
Language
Language
A+Glossary+of+Literary+Terms+and+Theory (1) (1).docA glossary of Literary Terms
A glossary of Literary Terms
Here you can find all the literary terms you need for talking about Shakespeare's works in a concise manner.
The literary terms will help you in every other text as well, so that you can use literary terms in general.
The Elizabethan 'you'
The Elizabethan 'you'
It is a bit complicated to translate the modern pronouns you and your into Elizabethan English. You need to understand the use of thy, thine and thee in order to fully comprehend the Shakespearian works. See the examples below and see the attached document.
'Thy' from Macbeth
"I fear thy nature"
"Wake Duncan with thy knocking"
'Thine' from Much Ado about Nothing
"Is Claudio thine enemy"
"She shall be thine"
Thee from Romeo and Juliet
"I fear thee"
"I take thee at thy Word"
"I'll believe thee"
Course on Shakespeare - Eliazabethansk du.docPronouns and verb inflections
Pronouns and verb inflections
pronouns and verb inflections.docShakespearian pronouns.docxIambic pentametre
Iambic pentametre
Verse vs. prose
Verse vs. prose
SHAKESPEARE verse vs prose 1.pptxHere is a introduction to the difference between (blank-)verse and prose
Modern versions of various scenes
Modern versions of various scenes
Here you can find modern translations of scenes in Macbeth
Here you can find modern translations of scenes in Macbeth
Macbeth - Act 1, scene 3Act 1 scene 5 - Modern translation of Macbeth.docxAct 1 scene 7 - Modern translation of Macbeth.docxAct 2 scene 2 - Modern translation of Macbeth.docxAct 3 scene 4 - Modern translation of Macbeth.docxAct 4 scene 1 - Modern translation of Macbeth.docxAct 5 scene 1 - Modern translation of Macbeth.docxPage updated
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