1. Mr. Briggs’ Classes Thursday, October 18, 2012
English Four
Mr. Briggs’ Classes
Thursday, October 18, 2012

2. Objective
Through class discussions and individual assessments, students will show their understanding of Shakespearean drama and the history of Macbeth.

3. Homework From Macbeth: Read Act I scenes 1-3. - I : 1-3 or I : i - iii
Click Here to learn about and interpret Roman Numerals.
Remember, tomorrow you have a quiz on William Shakespeare and sonnets.

4. Review
Shakespeare
Sonnets
Get Macbeth books
Prepare to take notes

5. Shakespeare’s Language
His use of pronouns – different than ours . . .
thou = you
thee and ye = you
Thy and thine = your / yours
In your notes, create two sentences using two of these antiquated pronouns

6. Reviewing Strategies for Understanding Shakespeare’s Language - Pages 4-10
Do not pause at the end of a line unless there’s punctuation.
Read from punctuation to punctuation for meaning – define units of thought.
Inverted sentence – verb before subject.
Long speeches – who did what to whom?
Allusions – may require additional research
Archaic words – usually covered in notes

7. 5-part dramatic structure of a Shakespearean Drama
Exposition: tone, setting, characters
Rising Action: conflicts with protagonist / tries to resolve issues
Crisis: moment of choice for protagonist / does situation improve or deteriorate?
Act I
Exposition or
Introduction
Act II
Rising Action or
Complications
Act III
Crisis or
Turning
Point
Act IV
Falling Action
Act V
Resolution or
Denouncement
Falling Action: incidents resulting from protagonist’s decisions / moment of salvation possible / comic scenes sometimes included to break suspense
Resolution: conclusion-unraveling of the plot / catastrophe of hero's and others’ deaths / includes climax-emotional peak

8. Themes in Macbeth
Violence and bloodshed result when prescribed social order is tampered with.
The qualities of good and evil, strength and weakness, are often combined in a single individual.
Brave, honest, and noble persons can be seduced by power and ambition, and so turned into tyrants.
Internal desires and fears can be more influential than exterior reality.

9. What’s a tragedy? drama based on human suffering
five act play ending in the death of most of the major characters
protagonist is portrayed vividly as a believable human being
traits may include strength of character, intelligence and cleverness, foolish vanity, or treachery as in Macbeth
contains an element of hope that is disappointed - disappointment paradox
Paradox - A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking
Macbeth is the most straightforward example. Macbeth murders Duncan with the assurance of good reward. He then enters battle with what again seems to be positive assurance. Only when it is too late does he realize that he is being led to his destruction.

10. About Macbeth Shortest play
Tragedy – the rise and fall of Macbeth a nobleman of Scotland – military leader
Meets witches – they prophesize that he will one day be king: Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, King of Scotland
His fatal flaw: trying to influence his destiny by challenging natural progression

11. Acting out Act One: i-iii
I : i - First, second, third witches
I : ii Duncan, Malcolm, Sergeant, Ross,
Angus
I : iii First, second, third witches, Macbeth,
Banquo, Ross, Angus