1. The Tragedy of Macbeth William Shakespeare
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Introduction
Background
Discussion Starters

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

3. 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?

4. 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?

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

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

10. 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.

11. 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?

12. 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

13. 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.”

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. The Tragedy of Macbeth: Discussion Starters
Shakespeare’s works are just as popular today as they were in his lifetime. Why do you think these stories are still so admired and imitated 400 years later?
Shakespeare’s writing works as well on the stage as it does on the written page. Why? Do you think that acting out a story on stage adds to its emotional effect?

18. The Tragedy of Macbeth: Discussion Starters
Macbeth and his wife are overwhelmed with ambition, so they plot to steal the throne of Scotland.
Which character is more willing to do evil? Why? Do you think they will suffer a price for their actions?
Do you think Shakespeare means for this story to be a cautionary tale, or warning? How?