Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Act One Summary
In the beginning, the three witches are plotting and agree to meet with Macbeth when the battle's over. In the start of the next scene, the King's (Duncan) son, Malcolm, reports the news of the battle to Duncan. He says that Macbeth and Banquo fought the hardest and smartest, and as a result, Macbeth is rewarded the title of Thane of Cawdor. The witches stop Macbeth and Banquo on their way back from the battle to tell them their prophecies. They say that Macbeth is the Thane of two places and will be king as well, and this plants the evil seed in Macbeth. They tell Banquo he will be happy and his sons will be kings. Macbeth is concerned when Malcolm is named as Duncan's successor because now Macbeth won't be crowned king right away after Duncan dies. Lady Macbeth is excited when she reads Macbeth's letter but is worried that he won't be able to go through with killing Duncan. When Macbeth gets home, they plan for when the king arrives for dinner. Lady Macbeth is plotting all through dinner, hiding it with her smile. Macbeth is worried he won't be able to kill him but Lady Macbeth calls him some names and gets him back into it.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Elements
Elements of Tragedy
1) Must have a tragic hero
2) Character must be fated to fall
3) Internal and external conflict
4) Dramatic foils
5) Audience learns something about human existence
Elements of Tragic Hero
1) Of noble birth
2) Loyal, virtuous, full of high morals
3) Has a tragic flaw
4) Tragic flaw causes downfall
5) Audience learns something from the character's downfall
Dramatic Foils (definition): Two characters that contrast each other to bring out traits
Example: Banquo and Macbeth -and- Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
List of Motifs
1) Must have a tragic hero
2) Character must be fated to fall
3) Internal and external conflict
4) Dramatic foils
5) Audience learns something about human existence
Elements of Tragic Hero
1) Of noble birth
2) Loyal, virtuous, full of high morals
3) Has a tragic flaw
4) Tragic flaw causes downfall
5) Audience learns something from the character's downfall
Dramatic Foils (definition): Two characters that contrast each other to bring out traits
Example: Banquo and Macbeth -and- Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
List of Motifs
- Birds - Eagles, sparrows, martlets, crows, owls, geese
- "Fair is foul, and foul is fair"
- Weather - storms, earthquakes, wind
- Idea of things being planted or grown
- Sleep or nightmares
- Washing hands
Themes :
- Appearance vs reality
- Good vs evil
- Corruption of power
Friday, January 23, 2015
Macbeth Act 1 Scenes 5-7 Questions
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?
Her plan to help him is to kill Duncan while he's asleep in their castle. Her opinion of Macbeth is he's a coward after wanting to back out of the plan.
2. What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is missing?
She invites the evil spirits into the castle and to take control of her body for the murder of Duncan. She also asks for them to take away everything that makes her a woman because she thinks it make get in the way of her being able to kill Duncan.
3. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?
To stay quiet and leave the rest to her he says they'll speak further later.
4. What are Macbeth’s arguments to himself against killing Duncan ?
He says that Duncan has given him a lot of honor lately with the new titles and he is seen as a hero.
5. What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to commit the murder?
She calls him a coward and tells him he is no man.
6. What is Lady Macbeth’s plan?
Her plan is to knock the guards out using wine and use their daggers to murder Duncan and smear his blood on their faces. This way the guards are accused and not Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Her plan to help him is to kill Duncan while he's asleep in their castle. Her opinion of Macbeth is he's a coward after wanting to back out of the plan.
2. What is Lady Macbeth’s “prayer” to the spirits after she learns Duncan is missing?
She invites the evil spirits into the castle and to take control of her body for the murder of Duncan. She also asks for them to take away everything that makes her a woman because she thinks it make get in the way of her being able to kill Duncan.
3. What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home?
To stay quiet and leave the rest to her he says they'll speak further later.
4. What are Macbeth’s arguments to himself against killing Duncan ?
He says that Duncan has given him a lot of honor lately with the new titles and he is seen as a hero.
5. What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to commit the murder?
She calls him a coward and tells him he is no man.
6. What is Lady Macbeth’s plan?
Her plan is to knock the guards out using wine and use their daggers to murder Duncan and smear his blood on their faces. This way the guards are accused and not Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth Vocab
1) Mirth - noun - amusement
2) Liege - noun - a feudal lord entitled to allegiance or service
3) Parricide - noun - act of killing one's father
4) Verity - noun - state of being true
5) Avarice - noun - insatiable greed for riches
6) Avaunt - adverb - go away
7) Posterity - noun - succeeding or future generations collectively
8) Homage - noun - respect or reverence paid or rendered
9) Cloistered - adj - kept away from the outside world
10) Equivocator - verb - use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth
11) Eminence - noun - fame or recognized superiority
12) Avouch - verb - state as a fact
13) Thralls - noun - the state of being in someone's power
14) Malevolence - noun - the state or condition of being malevolent
The mirth of the king was mainly brought on by the public executions that took place every other day.
"My liege," Bob said to Joe, "the pirates are at the harbor and they threw their grappling hooks over the wall!"
The prince's parricide confused everyone in the city allowing him and the guards who remained loyal to him to easily take control of the kingdom.
Joe questioned the verity of the "fact" that the Earth is 2000 years old and the Jurassic Period never existed.
The dragon's avarice led him to conquer all of the kingdoms looking for the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch
Joe was ordered to avaunt by Bob because he spilled his drink on the command center, rendering the space ship useless.
2) Liege - noun - a feudal lord entitled to allegiance or service
3) Parricide - noun - act of killing one's father
4) Verity - noun - state of being true
5) Avarice - noun - insatiable greed for riches
6) Avaunt - adverb - go away
7) Posterity - noun - succeeding or future generations collectively
8) Homage - noun - respect or reverence paid or rendered
9) Cloistered - adj - kept away from the outside world
10) Equivocator - verb - use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth
11) Eminence - noun - fame or recognized superiority
12) Avouch - verb - state as a fact
13) Thralls - noun - the state of being in someone's power
14) Malevolence - noun - the state or condition of being malevolent
The mirth of the king was mainly brought on by the public executions that took place every other day.
"My liege," Bob said to Joe, "the pirates are at the harbor and they threw their grappling hooks over the wall!"
The prince's parricide confused everyone in the city allowing him and the guards who remained loyal to him to easily take control of the kingdom.
Joe questioned the verity of the "fact" that the Earth is 2000 years old and the Jurassic Period never existed.
The dragon's avarice led him to conquer all of the kingdoms looking for the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch
Joe was ordered to avaunt by Bob because he spilled his drink on the command center, rendering the space ship useless.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Headlines
Scene One - Thunder and lightning, oh my; witches plotting trickery!
Scene Two - Banquo and Macbeth valiantly win the battle; new thane of Cawdor!
Scene Three - Prophecies spoken, are the witches to be trusted?
Scene Two - Banquo and Macbeth valiantly win the battle; new thane of Cawdor!
Scene Three - Prophecies spoken, are the witches to be trusted?
Macbeth 1.4 Questions
1) What is Malcolm’s description of Cawdor’s execution?
Cawdor confessed his treasons and kept begging to be spared, also deeply repenting. He was killed after.
2) What is the King’s response to this description?
It was heavy on him because Duncan trusted him a lot, and they were cousins.
3) Who does the King name as his successor? How does Macbeth react to this information?
Duncan names Malcolm as his successor. Macbeth sees Malcolm as a problem, since he can't just kill Duncan now that he's named a successor. Now he has to get Malcolm too.
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?
Cawdor confessed his treasons and kept begging to be spared, also deeply repenting. He was killed after.
2) What is the King’s response to this description?
It was heavy on him because Duncan trusted him a lot, and they were cousins.
3) Who does the King name as his successor? How does Macbeth react to this information?
Duncan names Malcolm as his successor. Macbeth sees Malcolm as a problem, since he can't just kill Duncan now that he's named a successor. Now he has to get Malcolm too.
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?
Macbeth says the quote. What I think he means by it is he's telling the stars to go dark so his feelings are hidden and God can't see his intentions to kill Duncan.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Macbeth Act 1 Scenes 1-3 Questions
Scene One
1) The play opens with thunder and lightning as the three witches enter. What does this tell us about the mood of the play? It sets sets the mood as being dark, seeing that it opens to lightning over a battlefield. What do the witches symbolize beyond just superstition? Do you really believe that they are witches? The witches symbolize evil. They are witches.
2) What do 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? It means appearance vs reality. I think it means the witches are gonna pull some trickery.
3) How can a battle be “Lost and won”? What foreshadow might this set-up? What is the real battle in this play? You can win a battle but lose the war and vice versa. You could also win a battle but lose something important in it. This might foreshadow something to due with Macbeth like killing the king or something weird like that. The real battle is Macbeth's rise to power.
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?
They might symbolize demons. It suggests the action of the play is going to be about deceiving others.
Scene Two
1) What does the bloody man report?
He reports their first victory; as well as now Norway is attacking and Macdonald betrayed them.
2) Why is Macdonald a worthy rebel?
There's evils in his creation
3) What similes or metaphors does the captain (the bloody man) use to describe Macbeth and Banquo? What is significant about these descriptions?
He uses the sparrows and eagles, and mice to lions. This means that they are majestic and fearless of the ones smaller than them.
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.
The allusion is the Golgotha, which is the crucification of Christ. They're relating the battle with the crucification. It suggests they're trying to clear their sins.
5) Who was Scotland fighting?
Scene Three
1) Why do the witches talk in poetry?
It's how their spells are cast.
2) What do the witches predict for Macbeth? What is the dramatic irony involved?
They predict he'll be king and thane of Cawdor.The dramatic irony is we know he's already the thane and he doesn't.
3) What do they witches predict for Banquo? What irony is involved in this promise?
They predict he'll be happy but not the happiest, and that his children will be become kings. The irony is that Macbeth will be king, but Banquo's children will be after him.
4) What is your first impression of Macbeth in scenes ii-iii? What is your first impression of Banquo?
Macbeth seems really gullible, and Banquo seems really paranoid and doesn't trust easy.
5) How do Macbeth and Banquo differ in their reactions to the witches predictions? What does this tell us about their characters?
Macbeth openly accepted what the witches said, while Banquo didn't trust them and tried to get Macbeth not to too.
6) What message does Ross bring?
That Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor
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?
Banquo says it, and he's trying to get Macbeth not to trust them also.
1) The play opens with thunder and lightning as the three witches enter. What does this tell us about the mood of the play? It sets sets the mood as being dark, seeing that it opens to lightning over a battlefield. What do the witches symbolize beyond just superstition? Do you really believe that they are witches? The witches symbolize evil. They are witches.
2) What do 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? It means appearance vs reality. I think it means the witches are gonna pull some trickery.
3) How can a battle be “Lost and won”? What foreshadow might this set-up? What is the real battle in this play? You can win a battle but lose the war and vice versa. You could also win a battle but lose something important in it. This might foreshadow something to due with Macbeth like killing the king or something weird like that. The real battle is Macbeth's rise to power.
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?
They might symbolize demons. It suggests the action of the play is going to be about deceiving others.
Scene Two
1) What does the bloody man report?
He reports their first victory; as well as now Norway is attacking and Macdonald betrayed them.
2) Why is Macdonald a worthy rebel?
There's evils in his creation
3) What similes or metaphors does the captain (the bloody man) use to describe Macbeth and Banquo? What is significant about these descriptions?
He uses the sparrows and eagles, and mice to lions. This means that they are majestic and fearless of the ones smaller than them.
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.
The allusion is the Golgotha, which is the crucification of Christ. They're relating the battle with the crucification. It suggests they're trying to clear their sins.
5) Who was Scotland fighting?
Norway
Scene Three
1) Why do the witches talk in poetry?
It's how their spells are cast.
2) What do the witches predict for Macbeth? What is the dramatic irony involved?
They predict he'll be king and thane of Cawdor.The dramatic irony is we know he's already the thane and he doesn't.
3) What do they witches predict for Banquo? What irony is involved in this promise?
They predict he'll be happy but not the happiest, and that his children will be become kings. The irony is that Macbeth will be king, but Banquo's children will be after him.
4) What is your first impression of Macbeth in scenes ii-iii? What is your first impression of Banquo?
Macbeth seems really gullible, and Banquo seems really paranoid and doesn't trust easy.
5) How do Macbeth and Banquo differ in their reactions to the witches predictions? What does this tell us about their characters?
Macbeth openly accepted what the witches said, while Banquo didn't trust them and tried to get Macbeth not to too.
6) What message does Ross bring?
That Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor
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?
Banquo says it, and he's trying to get Macbeth not to trust them also.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Poem
Determine the basic design of the poem by considering the who, what, when, where, and why of the dramatic situation.
What is being dramatized? What conflicts or themes does the poem present, address, or question?
*
Who is the speaker? Define and describe the speaker and his/her voice. What does the speaker say? Who is the audience? Are other characters involved?
* The speakers are original settlers in different points of history / Other characters aren't involved /
When does the action occur? What is the date and/or time of day?
* It happens when it was necessary to settle near water
Where is the speaker? Describe the physical location of the dramatic moment.
* It happens at the Congo River, Euphrates River, Mississippi, and Egypt / In each location, it talks about a river that has a huge city/settlement nearby
Why does the speaker feel compelled to speak at this moment? What is his/her motivation?
*
What is being dramatized? What conflicts or themes does the poem present, address, or question?
*
Who is the speaker? Define and describe the speaker and his/her voice. What does the speaker say? Who is the audience? Are other characters involved?
* The speakers are original settlers in different points of history / Other characters aren't involved /
When does the action occur? What is the date and/or time of day?
* It happens when it was necessary to settle near water
Where is the speaker? Describe the physical location of the dramatic moment.
* It happens at the Congo River, Euphrates River, Mississippi, and Egypt / In each location, it talks about a river that has a huge city/settlement nearby
Why does the speaker feel compelled to speak at this moment? What is his/her motivation?
*
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