1. Shakespearean Tragedy

2. A serious drama in which a protagonist suffers a series of unhappy events culminating in a catastrophe such as death or mental breakdown A serious drama in which a protagonist suffers a series of unhappy events culminating in a catastrophe such as death or mental breakdown

3. Tragic Hero Main character Main character Mistake/Character flaw → Demise Mistake/Character flaw → Demise Famous Tragic Heroes: Famous Tragic Heroes: Oedipus Oedipus Macbeth Macbeth Hamlet Hamlet John Proctor (The Crucible) John Proctor (The Crucible) Michael Corleone (The Godfather) Michael Corleone (The Godfather)

4. Tragic Flaw May be an intellectual mistake, an error in judgment, or a moral weakness May be an intellectual mistake, an error in judgment, or a moral weakness Ultimately leads to the downfall of the Tragic Hero Ultimately leads to the downfall of the Tragic Hero

5. The Tragic Pattern High ranking hero possesses a Tragic Flaw → High ranking hero possesses a Tragic Flaw → Sense of Urgency → Sense of Urgency → Misunderstandings → Misunderstandings → MURDER! → MURDER! → Isolation of hero → Isolation of hero → Mvmt. of Opposition → Mvmt. of Opposition → Recognition of Tragic Flaw → Recognition of Tragic Flaw → Final attempt to restore honor → Final attempt to restore honor → Realization of loss of greatness → Realization of loss of greatness → Death/Defeat of hero → Death/Defeat of hero → Restoration of Order Restoration of Order

6. Plot Structure Exposition: setting, character background info. Exposition: setting, character background info. Rising Action: conflicts begin Rising Action: conflicts begin Falling Action: tragic hero’s initial decline Falling Action: tragic hero’s initial decline Resolution: tragic hero’s defeat Resolution: tragic hero’s defeat

7. Shakespeare’s Tragedies Include:

8. Background Information

9. Tribute to King James I King James I King James I Previously King James IV of Scotland Previously King James IV of Scotland King’s Men King’s Men New interest in all things Scottish in England New interest in all things Scottish in England Macbeth – Scottish Macbeth – Scottish Setting - Scotland Setting - Scotland

10. Thane Macbeth – Thane of Glamis Macbeth – Thane of Glamis Thanehood – Knighthood Thanehood – Knighthood Freemen (not serfs/servants) Freemen (not serfs/servants) Fulfill one of the following: Fulfill one of the following: Gain control of land Gain control of land Make 3 sea voyages Make 3 sea voyages Military service Military service

11. Themes/Topics Addressed Ambition Ambition Obsession Obsession Appearance vs. Reality Appearance vs. Reality Guilt Guilt Fate Fate Evil Evil

12. Motifs Blood/Milk/Water Blood/Milk/Water Nature/Natural/Unnatural Nature/Natural/Unnatural Disease/Sickness Disease/Sickness Male/Female Male/Female Sleep Sleep Supernatural Supernatural

13. The Curse of Macbeth DON’T SAY the M-Word!!! DON’T SAY the M-Word!!! Death! Death! Illness! Illness! Stormy weather! Stormy weather! Car accidents! Car accidents! Stab wounds! Stab wounds! Fires! Fires! Suicide! Suicide! Presidential Assassinations! Presidential Assassinations!

14. The Curse of Macbeth If you do say the M-Word while in production, do the following! 1. Leave the room 2. Turn around 3 times 3. Spit on the ground (or over each shoulder) 4. Knock on the door and ask permission to reenter