Embedded Files
Pre -Reading Questions:
Pre -Reading Questions:
Describe a time in your life when someone told you that something improbable would happen and it did. Did the fact that the event was predicted cause you to behave differently than you would have otherwise and make it more likely for the event to occur? Or did the event simply seem to occur without any assistance from you?
Describe a time in your life when someone told you that something improbable would happen and it did. Did the fact that the event was predicted cause you to behave differently than you would have otherwise and make it more likely for the event to occur? Or did the event simply seem to occur without any assistance from you?
An ambitious man sees an illegal way to become head of his company or country, but his cautiousness and loyalty make him indecisive about pursuing his goal. His motto: “Maybe tomorrow.” He shares his ambition with his equally ambitious wife, who is refined and elegant on the outside, but a killer within. Her motto is “Just do it.” Brainstorm a list of possible outcomes for this scenario.
An ambitious man sees an illegal way to become head of his company or country, but his cautiousness and loyalty make him indecisive about pursuing his goal. His motto: “Maybe tomorrow.” He shares his ambition with his equally ambitious wife, who is refined and elegant on the outside, but a killer within. Her motto is “Just do it.” Brainstorm a list of possible outcomes for this scenario.
Terms to know:
Terms to know:
Soliloquy: The act of speaking alone on the stage. This technique allows the audience to see into the inner workings of a character’s mind
Soliloquy: The act of speaking alone on the stage. This technique allows the audience to see into the inner workings of a character’s mind
Monologue: A lengthy speech or passage spoken by an actor to other characters on the stage
Monologue: A lengthy speech or passage spoken by an actor to other characters on the stage
Subtext: What is not said- often more important than what is
Subtext: What is not said- often more important than what is
Dramatic Irony: When the audience knows more about the situation than a character on the stage
Dramatic Irony: When the audience knows more about the situation than a character on the stage
Paradox: A statement that contradicts itself
Paradox: A statement that contradicts itself
Regicide: The murder of one’s regent- King
Regicide: The murder of one’s regent- King
Climax: In Shakespearean tragedies, the climax occurs in Act 3, and is when the hero commits to an act that will inevitably bring about their downfall.
Climax: In Shakespearean tragedies, the climax occurs in Act 3, and is when the hero commits to an act that will inevitably bring about their downfall.
Hubris: excessive pride or ambition that leads to a character's downfall
Hubris: excessive pride or ambition that leads to a character's downfall
The Tragic Hero:
The Tragic Hero:
A tragic hero is a type of character in a tragedy, and is usually the protagonist. Tragic heroes typically have heroic traits that earn them the sympathy of the audience, but also have flaws or make mistakes that ultimately lead to their own downfall
A tragic hero is a type of character in a tragedy, and is usually the protagonist. Tragic heroes typically have heroic traits that earn them the sympathy of the audience, but also have flaws or make mistakes that ultimately lead to their own downfall
According to Aristotle, who defined the classic Greek literary tragic hero, they should be virtuous, capable and powerful (i.e. "heroic"), and also feel responsible to the rules of honor and morality (that guided Greek culture). These traits make the hero attractive and compelling, and gain the audience's sympathy. While being heroic, the character must also have a tragic flaw (also called hamartia) or more generally be subject to human error, and the flaw must lead to the character's downfall. On the one hand, these flaws make the character "relatable," someone with whom the audience can identify.
According to Aristotle, who defined the classic Greek literary tragic hero, they should be virtuous, capable and powerful (i.e. "heroic"), and also feel responsible to the rules of honor and morality (that guided Greek culture). These traits make the hero attractive and compelling, and gain the audience's sympathy. While being heroic, the character must also have a tragic flaw (also called hamartia) or more generally be subject to human error, and the flaw must lead to the character's downfall. On the one hand, these flaws make the character "relatable," someone with whom the audience can identify.
Just as important, the tragic flaw makes the tragedy more powerful because it means that the source of the tragedy is internal to the character, not merely some outside force. In the most successful tragedies, the tragic hero's flaw is not just a characteristic they have in addition to their heroic qualities, but one that emerges from their heroic qualities—in Macbeth’s case it is his hubris (the arrogance that often accompanies greatness). In such cases, it is as if the character is fated to destruction by his or her own nature.
Just as important, the tragic flaw makes the tragedy more powerful because it means that the source of the tragedy is internal to the character, not merely some outside force. In the most successful tragedies, the tragic hero's flaw is not just a characteristic they have in addition to their heroic qualities, but one that emerges from their heroic qualities—in Macbeth’s case it is his hubris (the arrogance that often accompanies greatness). In such cases, it is as if the character is fated to destruction by his or her own nature.
Suffer a reversal of fortune: The character should suffer a terrible reversal of fortune, from good to bad. Such a reversal does not merely mean a loss of money or status. It means that the work should end with the character dead or in immense suffering, and to a degree that outweighs what it seems like the character deserved.
Suffer a reversal of fortune: The character should suffer a terrible reversal of fortune, from good to bad. Such a reversal does not merely mean a loss of money or status. It means that the work should end with the character dead or in immense suffering, and to a degree that outweighs what it seems like the character deserved.
Pay close attention to the Stage directions; they are very important, and often overlooked
Pay close attention to the Stage directions; they are very important, and often overlooked
Pathetic Fallacy is when the weather mimics what is happening in the text, and is a common device used in texts. While reading Macbeth, write down any instances you see of Pathetic Fallacy.
Pathetic Fallacy is when the weather mimics what is happening in the text, and is a common device used in texts. While reading Macbeth, write down any instances you see of Pathetic Fallacy.
Elizabethan Beliefs
Elizabethan Beliefs
To truly understand the play, you also need to understand Elizabethan beliefs as some are quite different than today:
To truly understand the play, you also need to understand Elizabethan beliefs as some are quite different than today:
-Firm belief in the Supernatural
-Firm belief in the Supernatural
-Click on the link here for more information on The Great Chain of Being
-Click on the link here for more information on The Great Chain of Being
-Religious yet believed in Astrology (stars can predict our fate)
-Religious yet believed in Astrology (stars can predict our fate)
-Superstitious people
-Superstitious people
-Celtic mythology played a large role in beliefs
-Celtic mythology played a large role in beliefs
-Marriage and gender roles were quite traditional and vastly different than today
-Marriage and gender roles were quite traditional and vastly different than today
In the play, where do we see prime examples of Elizabethan beliefs?
In the play, where do we see prime examples of Elizabethan beliefs?
Watch the video below for a reading of a scene from "Macbeth"
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