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Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
Central question: How does a leader's character effect his (or her) use of power?
The purpose of this unit is to compare the themes of Macbeth to the conflict in modern-day Syria. Students will begin by creating a short mini-presentation based on a Wikipedia page for background information. They will create a powerpoint presentation and a multiple choice test of the material they have presented. After reading articles from the New York Times chronicling the Syrian conflict, students will write an essay, answering the question above and drawing from the sources (Macbeth, NYTimes articles.)
The purpose of this unit is to compare the themes of Macbeth to the conflict in modern-day Syria. Students will begin by creating a short mini-presentation based on a Wikipedia page for background information. They will create a powerpoint presentation and a multiple choice test of the material they have presented. After reading articles from the New York Times chronicling the Syrian conflict, students will write an essay, answering the question above and drawing from the sources (Macbeth, NYTimes articles.)
Shakespeare's Macbeth explores the theme of the right use of power. Through the main character, we witness the evolution of a tyrant. Sadly, the modern world provides many examples of tyrannical leadership. Although Shakespeare's play is based on the real Macbeth (whom you can read about here), the reign of the historical Macbeth was not as bloody as the play suggests. Syria today provides us with an example of a leader clinging desperately to power. The following lessons are designed to help you make connections between the major themes of the play and real world events. By doing the exercises in this unit, you will...
Shakespeare's Macbeth explores the theme of the right use of power. Through the main character, we witness the evolution of a tyrant. Sadly, the modern world provides many examples of tyrannical leadership. Although Shakespeare's play is based on the real Macbeth (whom you can read about here), the reign of the historical Macbeth was not as bloody as the play suggests. Syria today provides us with an example of a leader clinging desperately to power. The following lessons are designed to help you make connections between the major themes of the play and real world events. By doing the exercises in this unit, you will...
...have a clearer understanding of Macbeth and its themes
...have a clearer understanding of Macbeth and its themes
...learn about a major international conflict
...learn about a major international conflict
...augment your understanding of the Middle East
...augment your understanding of the Middle East
...improve your ability to read and understand difficult material
...improve your ability to read and understand difficult material
Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.8 Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.9 Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.10 Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
Note on range and content of student reading
To build a foundation for college and career readiness, students must read widely and deeply from among a broad range of high-quality, increasingly challenging literary and informational texts. Through extensive reading of stories, dramas, poems, and myths from diverse cultures and different time periods, students gain literary and cultural knowledge as well as familiarity with various text structures and elements. By reading texts in history/social studies, science, and other disciplines, students build a foundation of knowledge in these fields that will also give them the background to be better readers in all content areas. Students can only gain this foundation when the curriculum is intentionally and coherently structured to develop rich content knowledge within and across grades. Students also acquire the habits of reading independently and closely, which are essential to their future success.
The articles in the subpages each have an exercise at the bottom.
Put a map of the Middle East on the board and have the students identify the countries (cross-curricular)
Ask them what they know about the conflict in Syria (eliciting previous knowledge)
Read Syria Crisis and the first paragraph of the Wikipedia page together.
Explain project and review multiple choice website.
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