The Tragedy of Macbeth William Shakespeare Menu Introduction Background Tragedy

The Tragedy of Macbeth William Shakespeare Be careful what you wish for.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction What would you do if you encountered three strange women who predicted your future and then those predictions started coming true?

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction Suppose the women predicted that you would become a powerful ruler someday. Would you want to wait to see if this came true? Or would you want to make it come true?

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction As The Tragedy of Macbeth opens, the Scottish army is battling invading forces Norwegian forces Scotland and King Duncan wants a victory.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction Macbeth fights ferociously killing the traitor Macdonwald and planting Macdonwald’s head on the castle battlements. King Duncan is impressed.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction While crossing the stormy countryside after the battle, Macbeth and Banquo encounter a trio of witches. Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction The weird sisters make these predictions: Macbeth will earn noble titles. Banquo will produce a line of kings. Macbeth will be King of Scotland. Then, the witches vanish, and a messenger appears to tell Macbeth that King Duncan has just given him a noble title.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction All Macbeth can think about is the sisters’ final prophecy … And the thought that he might become king.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction His wife, the ambitious Lady Macbeth longs for high position wealth power prestige She’ll do anything to make her husband king.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction She just may get her chance. King Duncan decides to visit Macbeth’s castle. Will the king live to rule another day?

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background William Shakespeare wrote more than 36 plays and 150 poems in his lifetime. He is considered the most influential writer in English literature. More than four hundred years later, his works still influence movies music TV shows video games

What makes “The Bard” popular? Shakespeare’s works reflect basic human emotions, themes, and experiences (incest, insanity, love, greed, jealousy, murder, magic) Timeless Stories popular all over the world Interesting Characters that are relatable *bard means poet Shakespeare is often referred to as The Bard because he is considered to be one of the greatest poets.

Have you heard these phrases? A laughing stock. Dead as a doornail Mum’s the word Vanish into thin air A sorry sight Fair play In a pickle To be or not to be The green-eyed monster What’s in a name? name?

Taming of Shrew Twelfth Night

Iago is based on character in Othello Hamlet

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background In the tragedy Macbeth, Shakespeare explores the damaging nature of overwhelming ambition and greed. It is the shortest of Shakespeare’s tragedies, and includes this simple message: “Thou shalt not kill.”

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background Before Shakespeare’s time, troupes of actors traveled the countryside, to perform in parks halls courts courtyards and in other open spaces they could find.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background In 1576, the first playhouse, called The Theater, was built outside London’s city walls. Soon other famous London theaters followed. the Fortune the Rose the Swan the Red Bull the Globe Theater

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background Now drama could be a permanent experience for theater crowds, rather than a traveling show. main stage covered seats actors cheap standing room

Elements of Shakespeare’s Tragedies Begin in an ordered society but end with chaos. Change is reflected by changes in the environment (with storms or other happenings in the natural world). The protagonist is usually a person of good character who is destroyed by his own ego or desire for self-advancement.

Tragedy The fatal flaw - all of the heroes in Shakespeare's tragedies have a weakness in personality that eventually leads to their downfall. Fall of the nobleman - many of the men in Shakespeare's tragedies have extreme wealth and power, making their downfall more tragic. External pressure - Shakespeare's tragic heroes often fall victim to external pressure from others, such as evil spirits and manipulative characters who play a role in their downfall. Hero - The hero has opportunities for redemption but never takes advantage of these in time, which leads to death.

5 Act Play Act 1 – Exposition (Introduction). We meet the dramatis personae, and time and place are established. We learn about the antecedents of the story. Attention is directed toward the germ of conflict and dramatic tensions. Act 2 -- Complications. The course of action becomes more complicated, the "tying of knots" takes place. Interests clash, intrigues are spawned, events accelerate in a definite direction. Tension mounts, and momentum builds up. Act 3 -- The Climax of Action. The development of conflict reaches its high point, the Hero stands at the crossroads, leading to victory or defeat, crashing or soaring. Act 4 -- Falling Action. Reversals. The consequences of Act 3 play out, momentum slows, and tension is heightened by false hopes/fears. If it's a tragedy, it looks like the Hero can be saved. If not, then it looks like all may be lost. Act 5 -- Catastrophe. The conflict is resolved, whether through a catastrophe, the downfall of the hero, or through his victory and transfiguration.

Decoding Acts, Scenes, Lines What does this mean: 1.1.1-10 2.3.5-7 Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 1-10 Act 2 Scene 3 Lines 5 - 7

14.1.34-35