Silent reading

L.O. To revise the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth 15 May 2017 Macbeth - Characters L.O. To revise the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth 15 May 2017

Using the wordle, create 5 sentences introducing the character 'Macbeth’ to the class.

Macbeth Image Starter Task: Stick this image into your book and around it, record as many facts and adjectives as you can that relate to Macbeth. You have 5 minutes Title: Thane of Glamis /Thane of Cawdor

A tragedian character The play Macbeth is a tragedy. In many tragedies, the key protagonist has a fatal flaw and Macbeth is no exception. Macbeth’s flaw is ‘ambition’ and it drives him to an early grave. Key term for your glossary! Hamartia is a personal error in a protagonist's personality that brings about his tragic downfall in a tragedy. This defect in a hero's personality is also known as a “tragic flaw. Aristotle used the word in his “Poetics”, where it is taken as a mistake or error in judgment

Act 1, Scene 1: Prophecy and Macbeth Key Quotation Alert! The Witches set the scene: ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’. This tells us that not all is we as might first believe it to be, therefore, this is an unnerving start to the play and an indication of what might be to come. This is the first time we hear Macbeth’s name and it appears as part of the prophecy, leading us to view him in conjunction with the supernatural. Key Quote Alert! ‘Where the place upon the heath, there to meet with Macbeth’.

Act 1, Scene 2: Macbeth the good guy? Before we meet Macbeth, in Act 1, Scene 2, we are encouraged to view him in a positive light by the conversation that we hear between other characters. At the start of the play, Macbeth is a highly respected figure. He has effectively saved Duncan’s kingship, putting down a rebellion within Scotland and repelled an attack by the King of Norway who attempted to take advantage of the confusion in Scotland. Macbeth is portrayed as a fierce warrior and is held in high regard by King Duncan, who plans to reward his loyal subject with the title of Thane of Cawdor, following the treachery of the previous Thane.

Act 1, Scene 2: Macbeth the good guy? foreshadows Act 1, Scene 2: Macbeth the good guy? Key Quote Alert! ‘Cut (McDonald) from the nave to the chaps’ This quotation describes the gruesome death of the traitor of the King McDonald, who eventually has his head cut off by Macbeth. Hypocrisy is evident here, as we are drawn to view blood shed through war fare as celebrated and desired. In contrast, murder is considered vile and dishonourable. The violent nature of Macbeth is condoned in some situations and reviled in others. The death of this traitor foreshadows the later death in the play of Macbeth.

Act 1, Scene 3: Macbeth – Friend of the Supernatural Key Quotation Alert! Act 1, Scene 3 – ‘So foul and fair a day I have not seen’. These are the first words that Macbeth utters, and we have heard them before. They link him directly to the Witches’ prophecy. Act 1, Scene 3 – Macbeth is comfortable to talk to the Witches. He seems less concerned with their appearance and supernatural powers, than finding out about his fate.

Act 1, Scene 3: Macbeth – Friend of the Supernatural Key Quotation Alert! Act 1, Scene 3 – Witches sailor story Use of metaphor is evident here where the sailor represents the fate of Macbeth and the ship is symbolic of Scotland.

Act 1, Scene 3: Macbeth and Banquo Key Quotation Alert! Act 1, Scene 3 – Macbeth is left ‘rapt withal’ at the end of the predictions. Macbeth and Banquo are both informed of the Witches' predictions, but they react very differently to these predictions. He is frightened by the predictions, but also interested about what they might mean and also, that his ambitious streak is far stronger than the need to indulge the prophecy.

Act 1, Scene 4: Thane of Cawdor Key Quotation Alert! Act 1, Scene 4 – Duncan relates reward to deservedness ‘signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine on all deservers ’ ‘black and deep desires’ – Macbeth is keeping his real interests concealed, and describes these as black. In this scene, the first of the Witches prophecies come true . Macbeth is given the title the ‘Thane of Cawdor’.

Dear Diary: Writing in Character Task: You are writing from the view point of Macbeth over the course of scenes 1-4, Act 1. You must chart the following events: Meeting the Witches Gaining the title Thane of Cawdor You must describe your feelings about both of these events and use some of your knowledge of the play to project what you might do next.

Silent reading

L.O. To revise the character of Lady Macbeth 11 May 2017

Act 1, Scene 5: Meeting Lady Macbeth Task Write down as many words, phrases or ideas that spring to mind that might describe Lady Macbeth.

Act 1, Scene 5: Lady Macbeth Now let’s look at the Shakespearean version performed in 1979 by Dame Judi Dench: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xHlngY6Bgk

Put yourself in the shoes of Lady Macbeth

Act 1, Scene 5: A relationship of power Introduction of Lady Macbeth The first thing to note is that Lady Macbeth is presented through the voice of Macbeth, via his letter. This raises questions about her role within the play; we can perhaps decide at this point that she will always only be an accomplice to her husband. Note the title of the play is ‘Macbeth’ and not ‘The Macbeths’ etc. The letter outlines the prophecies of the Witches and Macbeth is keen to share them with his wife. Key Quotation Alert! ‘My dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightest not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee’. This quote tells us that at this point Macbeth is respectful of his wife evident in the words ‘greatness’ and also, wishes to share his future successes with her. He seems to feel that this is owed to both he and Lady Macbeth, reflected in the word ‘dues’. Characterisation of Women

Act 1, Scene 5: Meeting Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth’s Soliloquy After the recital of the letter, Lady Macbeth begins to state her own feelings and we learn more about her relationship with Macbeth. Key Quotation Alert! ‘I fear thy nature; It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness. To catch the nearest way’ This links to the theme of ambition and highlights her concerns about Macbeth’s ability to follow through on the murder of Duncan. She implies that he is child like, indicating vulnerability and also, a lack of faith in his strength of character. We can read this as her fear of what is ‘natural’ Human kindness is linked to milk, which has connotations of innocence

Act 1, Scene 5: Meeting Lady Macbeth 1. Lady Macbeth’s Soliloquy Lady Macbeth believes that she can give Macbeth the courage that he needs to commit the murder of the King. Key Quotation Alert! ‘Pour my spirits in thine ear. And chastise with the valour of my tongue’ Use of the words ‘spirits’ could also be interpreted as the supernatural Use of the verb ‘pour’ is an imperative and sets a precedent for the relationship Use of the verb ‘chastise’ – this means to reprimand someone. The tone of her comments reflects her view of her husband.

Act 1, Scene 5: Meeting Lady Macbeth 2. Lady Macbeth’s Soliloquy Lady Macbeth is told that the messenger that has come to the castle was out of breath as he tried to deliver his message. She describes him using the quotation below. Key Quotation Alert! ‘That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan’ The impact of this quotation is that we are reminded that many of the events of the play are told to us before they happen. Also, the image of the raven foreshadows the future events of the play – messenger of death. Fatal – this adjective foreshadows the fate of Duncan Croaks – this links to the way we speak when out of breath / reminds us of a toad (supernatural ) and is another word for death.

Act 1, Scene 5: Meeting Lady Macbeth 2. Lady Macbeth’s Soliloquy Lady Macbeth calls out to the spirits/higher power to give her strength to go through with the murder. Key Quotation Alert! ‘Come you, spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here And fill me from the crown to the toe top full Of direst cruelty’ Imperatives – increases the sense of urgency The language of spells leads us to link Lady Macbeth directly with the Witches. All female characters are linked to the Supernatural. The use of this noun links to her aspirations for the crown. Masculinity is equated to violence and power. Lady Macbeth desires this trait ‘unsex me’. Direst – the worst kind / it seems a strange reaction to this request

Act 1, Scene 5: Meeting Lady Macbeth 2. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth Lady Macbeth tries to give Macbeth courage to commit the deed and advises Macbeth to appear as one thing, when he is really another so that no one will suspect his intentions. Key Quotation Alert! ‘Look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under ‘t’ This simile leads us to link Nature with positivity, yet the only Nature in the play is the weather, which always precedes negativity. The serpent links Lady Macbeth directly to Satan – the serpent tempts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Structure: Meeting Lady Macbeth Half Line Breaks When Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are talking, there are many short, half line breaks. This is because Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are involved in a highly confidential conversation that they can’t afford others to hear. They are speaking in short sharp bursts, for fear that they might be heard. Tension This scene adds tension to the wider plot, particularly with the introduction of Lady Macbeth and her role in accelerating the murder of Duncan.