Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Today, we watched the rest of Act II of the Macbeth feature film. We then read part of Act III. We stopped after reading Act III, Scene 1. We will start tomorrow on page 125.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Today, we finished reading Act II of Macbeth. We then watched most of Act I of the feature film. As an assignment, you have to jot down the differences you perceived between the movie and the script. These were handed in and marked.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Today, we finished reading Act II of Macbeth. We then watched most of Act I of the feature film. As an assignment, you have to jot down the differences you perceived between the movie and the script. These were handed in and marked.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Today, we read most of Act I of Macbeth. We ended on page 59. Make sure you read it it you were not here.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Today, I introduced the play Macbeth. I have inserted some notes below but we talked a bit about the plague, religious issues and the structure of the theatre. If you were not here, research these areas for your own benefit.
Macbeth
Tragedy: The central characters die
From families of high standing
Hero is dominated by a tragic flaw in
their character (think vices, like greed, pride, seven deadly sins….)
Because of high standing, the downfall of the hero affects many…
Good is wasted in the process of driving out evil
This play is the only one that takes place in Scotland. It is LOOSELY based on a true story that took place in the 1100’s (the royal family line existed….).
Performed in about 1603.
Elizabeth is queen (church of England)
She is replaced by James the First (also Church of England)
Shakespeare was a true believer in the Devine Right of Kings… King has the ear of God. He is the closest thing to God on earth so he must be obeyed and honoured.
Introduces three nasty, evil witches.
Five Acts involved
The events go from Macbeth being a war hero to being the most evil guy on the planet.
Introduction to the Main Characters in Macbeth
Macbeth
As a general, he is a man of honour and well-respected, but he is also a man who desires to become king. While he performs some pretty nasty crimes to achieve this, he is not simply an evil character. He constantly examines his acts attempting to come to terms with them. Since he does wrong but constantly struggles for good, he is seen as a tragic hero, not a villain. He is real in the sense that we can all see ourselves in some part of his personality.
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is Shakespeare's most evil feminine creation. Her satanic prayer to the forces of Darkness in Act 1 is chilling to modern readers and it would have been absolutely terrifying to those who watched it when it was first acted out. She is a catalyst for the first evil act that Macbeth does.
Duncan
Duncan, the King of Scotland, is portrayed as a kind and beloved ruler; the real King Duncan, who this play is loosely based on, wasn’t. At this time in history, there was the “Devine rule of kings” meaning that the king was next to God and had the ear of God. To kill him was a great sin.
Banquo
Shakespeare's Banquo is the antithesis (direct opposite) of Macbeth – he is pure, moral, loyal and good in all ways. He does not get sucked into things easily. He is also a father of Fleance (called “boy” in this play).
Macduff
Macduff, the thane of Fife (an Anglo-Saxon nobleman of low rank who held lands in return for military service to a lord). He is married and has a son. He is also an honourable man who questions what he sees.
The Three Witches
Nasty, ugly women, Shakespeare's Three Witches, or the Three Weird Sisters, are prophecy spreaders who appear to tell things for fun or for evil-doing. You will notice they speak differently than other characters as well. When the play was performed, they were meant to seem superhuman and horrific, not to appear as old ladies but something much more blood curdling.
Macbeth
Tragedy: The central characters die
From families of high standing
Hero is dominated by a tragic flaw in
their character (think vices, like greed, pride, seven deadly sins….)
Because of high standing, the downfall of the hero affects many…
Good is wasted in the process of driving out evil
This play is the only one that takes place in Scotland. It is LOOSELY based on a true story that took place in the 1100’s (the royal family line existed….).
Performed in about 1603.
Elizabeth is queen (church of England)
She is replaced by James the First (also Church of England)
Shakespeare was a true believer in the Devine Right of Kings… King has the ear of God. He is the closest thing to God on earth so he must be obeyed and honoured.
Introduces three nasty, evil witches.
Five Acts involved
The events go from Macbeth being a war hero to being the most evil guy on the planet.
Introduction to the Main Characters in Macbeth
Macbeth
As a general, he is a man of honour and well-respected, but he is also a man who desires to become king. While he performs some pretty nasty crimes to achieve this, he is not simply an evil character. He constantly examines his acts attempting to come to terms with them. Since he does wrong but constantly struggles for good, he is seen as a tragic hero, not a villain. He is real in the sense that we can all see ourselves in some part of his personality.
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is Shakespeare's most evil feminine creation. Her satanic prayer to the forces of Darkness in Act 1 is chilling to modern readers and it would have been absolutely terrifying to those who watched it when it was first acted out. She is a catalyst for the first evil act that Macbeth does.
Duncan
Duncan, the King of Scotland, is portrayed as a kind and beloved ruler; the real King Duncan, who this play is loosely based on, wasn’t. At this time in history, there was the “Devine rule of kings” meaning that the king was next to God and had the ear of God. To kill him was a great sin.
Banquo
Shakespeare's Banquo is the antithesis (direct opposite) of Macbeth – he is pure, moral, loyal and good in all ways. He does not get sucked into things easily. He is also a father of Fleance (called “boy” in this play).
Macduff
Macduff, the thane of Fife (an Anglo-Saxon nobleman of low rank who held lands in return for military service to a lord). He is married and has a son. He is also an honourable man who questions what he sees.
The Three Witches
Nasty, ugly women, Shakespeare's Three Witches, or the Three Weird Sisters, are prophecy spreaders who appear to tell things for fun or for evil-doing. You will notice they speak differently than other characters as well. When the play was performed, they were meant to seem superhuman and horrific, not to appear as old ladies but something much more blood curdling.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Today, you wrote an in-class book review on the independent novel you read this term.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Today, you took out the play Macbeth from the library. We then marked the Shakespeare A&E questions. After this, you wrote your Macbeth glossary terms quiz. Remember that tomorrow you will write your book review and hand in your major book review assignment.
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