One of the most memorable aspects of Macbeth is...
If I had to explain the main idea / moral of the Macbeth in seven sentences I would say ...
Wouldn't it be cool if instead of _________ in Macbeth _______....
Students were reminded that there would be short test on Macbeth next class.
Students were given the following assignment. Bringing a completed outline for the essay is the main part of their final exam. Students will conference with Mr. Zartler on exam day on the outline:
Macbeth Essay Outline Due
_____________________
You are to turn in an
outline for a three (3) page essay for your final exam. Your essay should not
summarize Macbeth, but explain the answer to an interesting questions. Several
such questions are listed below.
We have frequently
discussed “The Chain of Being” as it relates to Macbeth so your paper should address this issue as part of it’s
analysis. You must properly embed at least two in your essay.
The best essays will
explain (in the conclusion) how James I (VI)’s patronage of Shakespeare might
be one reason for these ideas to be in the play.
It would make good
sense to follow one key idea in your essay. For example you could write about
hallucinations, night, sleep, or blood; all of which are ideas we have spent
time discussing and researching in class.
Here are some typical
essay prompts; do any of them help you think about what to write?
A) The
fantastical and grotesque witches are among the most memorable figures in the
play. How does Shakespeare characterize the witches? What is their thematic
significance?
B)
Discuss the role that blood plays in Macbeth, particularly immediately
following Duncan’s murder and late in the play. What does it symbolize for
Macbeth and his wife?
C)
Choose a word or phrase whose meaning is repeated throughout the play, explain
the significance of it’s literal, implied, and metaphorical meanings to the
overall theme or message of the play.
D)
Discuss Macbeth’s visions and hallucinations. What role do they play in the
development of his character?
E) Is
Lady Macbeth more responsible than Macbeth for the murder of the King? Is Lady
Macbeth a more evil character than her husband and, if so, why?
F)
Examine Macbeth's mental deterioration throughout the play.
When
writing a literature paper it is important to quote from the book. When using quotes it is important to follow
the pattern of 1) introducing a quote 2) quoting the quote (with citation) 3)
explaining the significance of the quote.
All quotes are followed by a parenthetical citation in the abbreviated
format (Act. Scene. Line). Examples are
as follow:
The weired
sisters immediately set the mood of the play intoning, “Fair is foul, foul is
fair,/ Hover through the fog and filthy air” (I. i. 12). Throughout Macbeth
things that ought to be good are not, and things that should be evil are
embraced.
Note how
a / is used to indicate a line break within an “in-line” quote. For a longer quote use block indent.
When Macbeth
begins his final soliloquy the reader is meant to understand the futility of
Macbeth’s life based on ambition, greed, and selfishness. Macbeth says:
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time, (V. v. 22-25)
The reader is
mean to understand that the petty pace is a reference to the unimportance of
all worldly actions.
Macbeth’s Fatal Flaw is:
The evidence I’m going to
use to prove my thesis is:
I. Introduction
(Thesis Statement)
A. Macbeth
B. Tragedy
C. Fatal Flaw
D. Thesis
II. Topic
Sentence 1 (Chain of Being?)
A. What is the chain
B. How does it relate to this play
III. Topic
Sentence 2
A, Introduction
to quote
B. Quote
C. Explication
of quote
D. Connection of
topic sentence to thesis
IV. Second piece
of evidence
A. Introduction
to quote
B. Quote
C. Explication
of quote
D. Connection of
topic sentence to thesis
V. Third piece
of evidence
A. Introduction
to quote
B. Quote
C. Explication
of quote
D. Connection of
topic sentence to thesis
VI. You may have
additional quotes
VII. You may
explain actions without quotes
VIII. Conclusion
I.
A.
B.
C.
D.
II.
A.
B.
III.
A.
B.
C.
D.
IV.
A.
B.
C.
D.
V.
A.
B.
C.
D.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
