Macbeth Essay information

Handout can be found HERE!

Macbeth Act 5: Day 2

Discussion

• Soliloquy #7 (5.3.19-29)
• What's the significance of the key metaphor? What does this reveal about Macbeth?
• What is the meaning of Macbeth's figurative language: mouth-honour, breath
• Soliloquy #8: (5.5.18-27)
• What general feeling about life is expressed in this soliloquy?
• Four metaphors
• Identify key words and meaning they express
• Are these thoughts Macbeth's alone or might they represent Shakespeare's? Is there some universal quality in these thoughts, a significance and relevance that go beyond Macbeth's situation and touch all people?
• Macbeth vows to die like a man and go down fighting. Does this affect your view of him? Does choosing death give a kind of nobility and dignity? When is death preferable to captivity? How does this relate to gender norms?
• Malcolm calls Macbeth "this dead butcher," (5.9.36) and most readers will agree that Macbeth's fate has been deserved. Did Shakespeare want the audience to view Macbeth exactly as Malcolm views him, or did he want the audience to have a different feeling about him?
• Where do you think Shakespeare wanted the audience to lay the primary responsibility for Macbeth's course of evil? on the witches, Lady Macbeth or on himself?
• Some audience members retain some measure of sympathy and respect for Macbeth. How does Shakespeare's presentation of his thoughts and actions in the last scenes serve to make the audience retain such a measure of sympathy and respect? Refer to specific lines.
• Major themes? symbols?
• Last thoughts, comments, ideas, insights?

Macbeth Act 5. They died?

To start with some laughter (WSJ)

And more laughter! (Sassy Gay Friend)

ACT-ivity

• Entire class: Let's look at Lady Macbeth! In the case of her sleepwalking scene, Shakespeare seems to have anticipated, centuries ago, some of the most important psychological findings and insights of our own time, which deal with the symbolic interpretation of dreams and the effects of suppression of deeply buried feelings. Modern psychology holds that mental breakdown is often due to long-suppressed or repressed feelings, and that clues to the causes of such breakdown can be found in dreams. What?! Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking can be viewed as such a dream — a dream in motion, a nightmare being acted out.
• How is Lady macbeth's language disjointed and unconnected?
• According to her utterances, what are the causes and origins of her present condition?
• What previous conversations does she repeat or paraphrase?
• What are the real causes of her breakdown? Why do you think she broke down first? Is this a larger commentary on women? Mental illness?
• Where can you find dramatic irony in her speech?

Macbeth: 4.3

1. Poor Lady Macduff is the only other female in the play. What? It's true. How does she compare to Lady Macbeth?
2. Ross's speech (4.2.14-26): What does Ross reveal about Scotland under Macbeth's rule? Look back at Lennox's speech (3.6.1-25) to see how things have changed/stayed the same.
3. What is up with Malcolm and Macduff?? Let's look at Scene 4!

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Main players:

1. Macbeth

2. Lady Macbeth

3. Duncan

4/5. Malcolm & Donaldbain

6. Macduff

7. Lady Macduff

8. Banquo

9. Fleance

10/11 Murderers (2)

12-14 Witches (3)

15. Porter

16/17 Ross & Lennox

18. Shakespeare while writing Macbeth

Maybe some video: Patrick Stewart Chpts. 14, 15, 16

Macbeth: 4.1&2

Let's look at some film!

Discussion

1. A look at Macbeth's speech (4.1.49-60): What is Macbeth saying? Notice the use of repetition (anaphora). What's the impact of the repetition?
2. The apparitions
1. Nature of each apparition
2. Statement it makes
3. Effect on Macbeth (look at the language of his reaction)
4. Does the apparition promise success or failure of Macbeth?
3. Soliloquy #6 (4.1.143-155): In what way has Macbeth become more fully committed to evil? Reference specific parts of the soliloquy to support your claims.
4. Poor Lady Macduff is the only other female in the play. What? It's true. How does she compare to Lady Macbeth?
5. Ross's speech (4.2.14-26): What does Ross reveal about Scotland under Macbeth's rule? Look back at Lennox's speech (3.6.1-25) to see how things have changed/stayed the same.

Gearing up for performing!

1. Welcome back. How was spring break? Three words.
2. Review of performance assignment.

• 5-7 lines
• Must be memorized and performed. Costumes optional. If you
• Along with your performance, you must hand in a translation of the lines. This can be typed or hand-written, but it must be completed BEFORE you perform. Think of it as your ticket to class. On this piece of paper, you must also note what lines you are performing.
• For example: Name at the top of the page. Write out the lines you are performing (include act, scene and line numbers). Write out your translation of the lines.

3. On index cards — list five emotions you experienced over spring break and then list five emotions (no repeats, please) we've seen in Macbeth thus far.
4. Volunteers: a little emotion charades and then with one of the following lines:

• I'd like extra sprinkles on my soft serve cone.
• The A's really are the best team in baseball.
• I am like the lorax; I speak for the trees.
• On Wednesdays I watch television.
• Writing English essays makes my heart pound.
• Sometimes when I get nervous I sweat.
• People who like cats often smell bad.
• Water polo doesn't involve horses.
• Reading is over-rated.
• Wearing glasses makes me feel smarter.

Handout to prep for performance
Rubric for performance