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Macbeth. By William Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s Theater. First public playhouse in England – 1576 The Globe – built 1599 Home to many of Shakespeare’s plays Henry V – first play performed at the Globe Nobility and middle class sat in the tiered galleries
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Macbeth By William Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Theater • First public playhouse in England – 1576 • The Globe – built 1599 • Home to many of Shakespeare’s plays • Henry V – first play performed at the Globe • Nobility and middle class sat in the tiered galleries • Groundlings stood in courtyard for a penny
Theatrical Conventions • Characters speak in Blank Verse - unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter • Iambic pentameter - 10 syllables, unstressed / stressed( da Dum, da Dum, etc.) • Female roles were played by boys • Colorful and elaborate costumes • Barely any scenery • Most plays lasted only 2 hours
What happened to the Globe? • Globe destroyed in 1613 - cannon to mark the entrance of Henry VIII during a performance set the roof on fire • Rebuilt in 1614 • Torn down in 1644 for new housing • Replica now stands by the Thames River – opened in 1997
Source of “Macbeth” • Shakespeare researched Holinshead’s “Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland” • Real-life Macbeth was king of Scotland from 1040-1057 • Shakespeare drawn to story about King Duff • Murdered by a young couple • Story hit close to home • Gunpowder Plot of 1605 – supporters of Catholic Church planned to blow up King James and his Protestant Parliament • Shakespeare took both stories and twisted them to his liking • Macbeth became his tragic hero • Also included Banquo, one of King James’ ancestors
The Witches • Widespread belief in witches in 1500’s • King James wrote “Demonologie” about witchcraft being a threat to society • Some believe the play is cursed • Call it “The Scottish Play” • If you say “Macbeth” something bad may happen • Is it the witches?
The Tragic Hero • Main character in a tragedy • “A man of high standard who falls from that high because of a flaw that has affected many.” – Aristotle • Hero discovers he is a result of his own actions • Macbeth’s major flaw – too ambitious • Other tragic heroes you’ve met: • Brutus from “Julius Caesar” • Romeo from “Romeo and Juliet”
The Plot • an ambitious general with a strong-willed wife tries to cope with guilt about his actions to further his power • Plot elements: superstition, ghosts, witchcraft
Themes • Things are not what they seem • Blind ambition • Power corrupts • Superstition affects human behavior
Literary Devices • Allusions – an implied or indirect reference; in Macbeth they are mythological and Biblical in nature • Figurative language – • Similes: comparison using like or as • Ex. Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men May read strange matters - image of Disguise • Metaphor – word or phrase used in place of another to suggest likeness • Ex. I have begun to plant thee, and will labor To make thee full of growing – Planting Imagery
Literary Devices • Personification – giving human-like qualities to a non-human thing or idea • Identify the personification: If chance will have me King, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir • “Chance” is given the quality of making someone a King • Identify the personification: Was hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? • “Hope” is given the quality of being drunk and sleeping
Literary Devices • Alliteration: Repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words in a line. • Ex. But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in to saucy doubts and fears. • Symbol: • Birds – superstitions / omens
The Characters • Duncan – king of Scotland • Malcom – Duncan’s elder son • Donalbain – Duncan’s younger son • Macbeth – general in the army of King Duncan, Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis, and later King of Scotland • Lady Macbeth – Macbeth’s wife and later queen of Scotland • Seyton – Macbeth’s servant and attendant
More characters • Banquo – Macbeth’s friend and a general in the army of King Duncan • Fleance – Banquo’s son • Macduff – the Thane of Fife • Lady Macduff – Macduff’s wife • Macduff’s son • Ross, Lennox, Angus, Mentieth, Caithness – Scottish lords • Hecate – chief witch
And now……Act I, scene I – A barren, misty heath in Scotland. Thunder and lightening. Enter three witches
Quick Quiz!!! 1. How many syllables does a line of iambic pentameter contain?
3. Who wrote “Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland”?
7. Name the plot to blow up King James I and his Protestant Parliament:
9. Which of the following is not a plot element of “Macbeth”: a. superstition b. mystery c. witchcraft