Bell RingerThe word cloud below is a compilation of commonly occurring words from Macbeth. The larger the word is, the more often it

appears in the text. Make a prediction about Macbeth based on the word cloud. Consider the plot, potentially important characters,

and driving conflicts for the tragedy.

Macbeth Day 1

William ShakespeareBorn:1564 at Stratford-upon-Avon

Married: Anne Hathaway in 1582, had three children

Plays: wrote 37 (About 1.5 per year)

Sonnets: wrote 154

Died: 1616

Shakespeare’s New Words

Solidified the English language

Over 2000 new wordscritical, aggravate, assassination,

monumental, forefathers, hurry, homicide

Coined Phrases

I couldn’t sleep a wink.

He was dead as a doornail.

She’s a tower of strength.

We’d better lie low for awhile.

The Theater Plays produced for

the general public

Attracted both rich and poor viewers

Roofless / open air

No artificial lighting

Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries

Flags indicated show times

Spectators

Wealthy =

Benches

Poor = “Groundlings” (They had to stand in the “pit”)

The Globe• Built in 1599

• “Wrong side of town”

• Penny admission– Higher price for gallery

seating– Private boxes for the nobility

• Held about 3000 people

• Sold refreshments

• No restroom, no intermission

• No curtain – issue with characters who died

Actors• Before theaters were built, performances

were put on by traveling troupes

• Only men and boys– Young boys whose voices had not changed

play women’s roles– Indecent for a woman to appear on stage

• Actors were expected to be able to:– sing– clown– fence– perform acrobatic feats– dance

• King’s Men – Shakespeare’s company

Macbeth• written in 1606, published in 1623

• Most likely written for performance before King of Demark (in London visiting James I, his brother-in-law)

• Tragedy• Sometimes called last of Shakespeare’s

“four great tragedies” • Dark look at human nature• Cause and effects of evil

• Almost all written in poetry, urgent quality comes from sound and performance

Macbeth

• True history: • Real Macbeth reigned 1040-1057• Macbeth killed Duncan I (ruled 1034-1040)• Duncan’s son, Malcolm, avenged his

father’s murder by killing Macbeth in 1057• Malcolm died a natural death in 1093

Macbeth

• Shakespeare’s inspiration:• Shakespeare inspired by Ralph

Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland• Inspired many of his History plays• Duncan I – weak king• Real Macbeth had met three women

who made prophecies (predictions)• Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth,

Banquo, and other friends killed Duncan

Macbeth

• Shakespeare’s inspiration :• Shakespeare inspired by Ralph

Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland• Macbeth ruled honorably for many

years, but began to fear for his safety• Macbeth first killed Banquo and tried to

kill his son, Fleance, but he escaped and founded the House of Stuart

Macbeth

• Shakespeare’s inspiration :• Shakespeare inspired by Ralph Holinshed’s

Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland• Separate story of old warrior chief

named King Duff who was killed by a man named Donwald and his wife when king was staying in their house as guest

• Shakespeare combined two stories into Macbeth

• Condenses Macbeth’s reign into 10 wks.

Macbeth

• Shakespeare’s inspiration :• Scholars suggest Macbeth written to

please James I (ruled England 1602-1625)• Defeat of Macbeth’s rule linked to rise of

James family line• James I interested in witchcraft and

supernatural • Gunpowder Plot – 1605 plan to

assassinate James I and members of his government

Macbeth

• Notes about the text:• Play revised and altered in 17 yrs. Between

first performance and publication• Thomas Middleton (author, playwright The

Witch) seems to have had a role in editing• Short play – abridged?

Macbeth

• Introduction:• Dark and gloomy settings• Describes chaotic, predatory natural world• Macbeth

• Scottish king• Usurps the throne

• Major themes: power & ambition

The Renaissance Period

Time: 1485-1660

Macbeth Day 2

• stress on human life on earth• many aspects of love explored as popular theme (unrequited, constant, timeless, courtly)• shift from religion individualism• popular styles: sonnet, drama (tragedies)• Black Death – people thought God was punishing them indulge in life b/c it’s short (emphasis on arts, literature, drama)• Elizabethan Era – Protestant, peak of literature• printing press – helped stabilize Engl. language, increase availability of literature

Macbeth – Day 2The time:11th century

The place:Scotland & England

The essential background:- Shakespeare combined two historical accounts by Holinshed (see notes from Day 1)- Macbeth really was Scottish king in 11th century (1040-1057) and did kill Duncan (1034-1040)-One of most famous tragedies-Written mostly in verse

Drama Literary TermsLiterary Term Definition

Verbal Irony

Situational Irony

Dramatic Irony

Comic relief

One thing is said, but another is meant.

A character or reader expects one thing to happen, but something else occurs.

What appears to be true to the character is known to be false to the audience.

Following a serious scene with a lighter, mildly humorous scene

Foreshadowing - writer’s use of hints or clues that suggest what events will occur later in a narrative

Drama Literary TermsLiterary Term Definition

Soliloquy

Monologue

Apostrophe

Aside

A speech a character makes while alone on stage—reveals thoughts to audience

A speech delivered to a group of listeners who do not speak for the duration

Someone (usually, but not always absent) or an abstract quality is addressed

directly by a character

A remark spoken to the audience or another character on stage that can’t be

heard by other characters

Drama Literary TermsLiterary Term Definition

Fate

Tragedy

Tragic Hero

Tragic Flaw

Controls birth, life, and death

Dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character involved in

historically/socially significant events

The main character who comes to a miserable end

A fatal error in judgment or character weakness that leads directly to his/her fall

Drama Literary TermsLiterary Term Definition

Foil

Motif

Theme

Catharsis

A character who underscores characteristics of the main one through contradictions

A recurring word, phrase, image, object, idea, or action in a work of literature (functions as a unifying device & often relates directly to one

or more themes)

Purging of emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through

art, tragedy/music

Central idea conveyed by a work of literature; general perception about life

or human nature

Macbeth: Act I

Macbeth: Act I

Macbeth: Act II

Macbeth: Act II