1. TRAGEDY Shakespeare’s tragedies: Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello.

2. Conventions of the tragedy The play begins in apparent order. Lurking beneath the surface is a potential for chaos. There is a tragic hero who has a fatal flaw As the hero meets his world, so the flaw comes to the surface and brings about a disruption and chaos.

3. The destiny of the tragic hero is to overcome his tragic flaw. In doing so, sacrifices have to be made. In the process of overcoming his tragic flaw, the hero comes to a form of self realisation. In the end the hero dies, and some from of order is re-established.

4. Macbeth as a tragedy Tragic hero: Macbeth Tragic flaw: Ambition Beginning of the play – Apparent order as Duncan rules. Order thrown into chaos by rebellion. The three sisters hint at impending chaos. Macbeth throws Scotland into extreme chaos with the killing of Duncan and subsequent killings. Civil war breaks out. End of the play: Restoration of order again with the establishment of the kingdom under Malcolm. Macbeth killed by Macduff. Does Macbeth come to any self realisation as the play proceeds?