1. THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH William Shakespeare

2. The Tragic Hero The tragic hero is a person of noble stature, meaning that s/he is not a normal individual but one who is great in two respects:  Social importance (usually a prince or king)  The possession of an extraordinary quality (passion, aspiration, nobility of mind, etc.)

3. The hero’s misfortune is not wholly deserved. What most impresses us about the tragic hero is his/her greatness, not his/her weakness. The hero’s fall results in some increase in awareness, some gain in self-knowledge. There are two sides to this gain in knowledge: His/her responsibility for the fall A significant insight, not just an increase in knowledge but in wisdom.

4. The tragic hero is imperfect, his/her fall resulting from that imperfection, i.e., the tragic hero is responsible for his/her own fall. Aristotle: “an act of injustice” committed either 1) out of ignorance or 2) with the belief that some greater good will be served. His term for it: hamartia. Later critics: a defect of character, or “tragic flaw” Other critics: not a lack but an excess of virtue, a nobility of character that unfits him/her for life among mortals.

5. The Fall Tragic hero makes a mistake and compromises meaningful status in society Suffering As a result of a tragic mistake, loses his/her place in society Reconciliation Experiences insight Takes responsibility for his/her fall, which s/he realizes is his/her fault Essential Action

6. Terms  Aside- words spoken by a character intended to be heard by the audience while other characters are onstage; a character’s inner thoughts  Soliloquy- words spoken by a character alone onstage to the audience; reveals innermost thoughts  Blank Verse- unrhymed iambic pentameter  Comic Relief- a humorous episode in a tragedy intended to break the tension or heighten the emotional impact by means of contrast; also foreshadows trouble  Foil- two characters in the same situation/ status in society that contrast in order to highlight facets of the main character’s personality

7. Rhetorical Appeals  Ethos- appeals to codes of ethics  Pathos- appeals to emotions and passions/ “tugs on the heartstrings”  Logos- appeals to logic and reasoning

8. Macbeth  Shakespeare’s Source= Holinshed’s Chronicles  Shortest play- probably written in 1606  Written as a tribute to James I  Witches- demonology  Banquo- ancestors  Divine right of kings  Blank verse with prose (mad scene, drunken porter scene)  Setting: Anglo-Saxon period Scotland

9. Motifs  Blood/water  Supernatural  Light/dark  Appearance/ reality  Animals

10. Essential Themes  Appearances can be deceiving  Unchecked ambition leads to corruption.

11. Main Characters  Macbeth- noble soldier who learns that he is to be king from the witches/ acts on the witches’ prophecies  Banquo- Mac’s friend/ foil character/ does not act on the witches’ prophecies  Lady Macbeth- Mac.’s wife/ strong, resolute/ wants her hubby to be king more than he does  Duncan- King of Scotland, good king, poor judge of character  Macduff- noble soldier  Malcolm & Donalbain- Duncan’s two sons