Macbeth William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Regarded as the greatest writer in the English language Believed to be born April 23, 1564 Died April 23, 1616 From Stratford-on-Avon in England northwest of London Made a career as an actor and playwright During the late16th century Elizabethan Drama came into full bloom.

(p. 271) Playwrights wrote less about religious subjects and leaned more toward Greek influences and reintroduced tragedies- plays in which disaster befalls a hero or heroine. Began writing more carefully using unrhymed verse, rich language, and vivid imagery.

Macbeth Background Shakespeare wrote the play Macbeth based of Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland (p. 270) Wrote the play in the 17th century but the play takes place in 11th century Scotland Written mainly in blank verse

The Globe Theater

The Globe Theater was first built in 1598 The Globe Theater was first built in 1598. Prior to this there were theaters and playhouses but most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed at the Globe. Plays were performed in daylight and there were no sets or lighting. Most of the audience stood as there were not enough seats. Could hold 2,500 -3,000 people Circular, open to the sky, and lined with galleries

Iambic Pentameter Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in blank verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter iamb (n): metrical foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable pentameter (n): five such metrical foots to a line

Vocab ambitious (adj): Having strong desire to achieve a particular goal destiny (n): a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency conscience (n): the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives soliloquy (n): the act of speaking alone or to oneself symbolism (n): the act of representing things by symbols

Vocab protaganist (n): the main character in a drama or other literary work antagonist (n): an opponent or adversary, as in a contest, drama, sporting event, etc. metaphor (n): a comparison made by referring to one thing as another. motif (n): a recurring pattern or repeated action, element, or idea in a work of literature dramatic monologue (n): a speech in which a character speaks his thoughts out loud for another character

aside (n): a brief comment made by a character that is unheard by the other characters on stage dramatic irony (n): when the audience knows something that one or more of the characters don’t

Dramatic Structure Climax Rising Action Falling Action Conflict Resolution Exposition

Exposition: Where the story is introduced (Background, characters, setting) Conflict: Can be internal or external Rising Action: Action begins to escalate (dramatic & suspenseful) Climax: point in a play in which the internal and external conflicts are at it’s greatest; highest tension Falling Action: Action starts to slow down Resolution: The conclusion, the end; story is wrapped up (story may answer all readers questions, might not answer all questions leaving them intrigued and wondering, or sometimes story may leave reader hints of a sequel)

External vs. Internal Conflict Conflict (n): struggle between two forces that causes drama Two Types of Conflict External Conflict: Conflict between two characters or groups Types of external conflict Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society

External vs. Internal Conflict Internal Conflict: Conflict within a character Types of internal conflict Man vs. Himself