Use of asides in the play and characterisation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
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Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolvwoLeerjaar 5,6
This lesson contains 38 slides, with text slides and 4 videos.
Items in this lesson
Lesson objectives
HLE feedback
Act 1
Opening scene of Macbeth staging
scansion and rhythm in Macbeth
Use of asides in the play and characterisation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
Slide 1 - Slide
Act 1 scene i
How do we see the topics of deceit and equivocation in this opening scene?
Slide 2 - Slide
Shakespeare always opens his plays with a commoner/commoners who give the audience background information. He sets up the audience's understanding of Macbeth and Banquo's characters and informs us of the position of Duncan as king and the dangers that threaten Scotland.
Act 1 scene ii
The Captain
Slide 3 - Slide
Answer these questions in your exercise book. Think about the imagery used in the Captain's description that show that
a) the battle was in the balance;
b) Macdonwald was wicked;
c) luck, or fortune is always changing;
The Captain
Slide 4 - Slide
The Captain
Slide 5 - Slide
Witch 1
Witch 2
Witch 3
Macbeth
Banquo
Ross
Angus
Reading Act 1 scene iii
Slide 6 - Slide
Scansion - the action of scanning a line of verse to determine its rhythm.
Blank verse - iambic pentameter unrhymed
iamb = a foot which is one unstressed and one stressed syllable
Pentameter = 5 feet in one line.
Slide 7 - Slide
Slide 8 - Video
Act 1 scene iii
I myself have all the other-
And the very ports they blow,
All the quarters that they know
I' the shipman's card.
I'll drain him dry as hay!
Sleep shall neither night nor day
Hang upon his penthouse lid;
He shall live a man forbid.
Weary sev'n-nights nine times nine,
Shall he dwindle, peak and pine.
Though his bark cannot be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest -tossed!
Look what I have.
1. What does the Witches' proposed spell against the sailor tell us abut how they might treat Macbeth? Why would you think that?
2. How would you describe the rhythm and rhyme scheme of the Witch's curse.
3. Make your own curse in the same rhythm and rhyme scheme. Curse a person or thing that you felt had worked against you.
Rhyming couplets
not blank verse
Slide 9 - Slide
Lesson objectives
See me in this lesson if your HLE feedback asks you to do so
Exploration of the witches and their representations
Insight into King Duncan's opinions Act 1 s iv
Exploration of Lady Macbeth and her relationship to Macbeth in Act 1 s v
Slide 10 - Slide
Equivocation -
Equivocation: way of speaking that is intentionally not clear and is confusing to other people, especially to hide the truth, or something said in this way
Cambridge online dictionary
Find four quotes that highlight this topic in Act 1 scene iii
Slide 11 - Slide
Equivocation and asides
"Lesser than Macbeth, and greater"
"Not so happy, yet much happier"
"Thou shalt het kings, though thou be none"
" imperfect speakers!"
" that shalt be King hereafter!"
"so foul and fair a day I have not seen"
"cannot be ill - cannot be good"
"and nothing is
But what is not"
Highlight Macbeth's asides from the moment he is given the news of his new title "Thane of Cawdor"
Performance:
Banquo
Public Macbeth
Private Macbeth
Slide 12 - Slide
Witches? Why witches
James 1st was considered to be a descendent of Banquo's line.
James was not particularly popular (Catholic upbringing)
He was obsessed with witches and had written a book called Daemonologie published in 1597
Slide 13 - Slide
He described witches as having beards.
What did James 1st say about witches in his book Daemonologie ?
He believed they could control the weather and affect crops and livestock, but could not directly kill people.
He believed they could fly.
He believed they had supernatural power because they had traded their soul with the devil and got in exchange a familiar spirit or demon. This was usually in the form of an animal such as a cat, bird or reptile.
He thought that water rejected witches. Therefore, witches were ducked on a ducking stool. If they sunk they were not witches, but would drown and if they floated, they would be hung.
Slide 14 - Slide
From the UK Parliament website
Slide 15 - Slide
Act 1 scene iii
Watch the three interpretations of the witches. Take notes.
Notice how they are portrayed. Are they comedic, horrific, worrisome, sinister or another adjective?
How would you design a staged interpretation of the witches so that it had relevance for a modern audience?
timer
3:00
Slide 16 - Slide
Act 1 scene iv
1. Why was the former Thane of Cawdor executed?
2. What effect does Shakespeare create by having Macbeth and Banquo enter just as the King and Thanes are discussing the execution of the former Thane of Cawdor?
3. What announcement does the King make to everyone present and what is Macbeth’s reaction?
4. In his last speech in this scene, what does Macbeth reveal?
Performing and watching. Answer the questions in your exercise book. Always add quotes to support your answers
Duncan
Malcolm
Macbeth
Banquo
Slide 17 - Slide
Act 1 scene iv
Suggested answers
1. The former Thane of Cawdor betrayed his King and country by assisting the attempted invasion. He was executed for treason; ' Franky he confessed his treasons.'
2. The well-timed entrance of Macbeth and Banquo creates dramatic and visual irony. Macbeth-having already contemplated murdering Duncan—enters just as Duncan is lamenting the inability to read a man’s inner thoughts and see disloyalty before it is too late; There's no art/To find the mind's construction in the face.'
3. King Duncan announces that his son Malcolm is Prince of Cumberland, which means that he is heir to the Scottish throne. Macbeth feels cheated. He thought, given the witches’ prediction, the promise of ‘something greater’ that he would be named heir to the throne. Now he must somehow ‘o’erleap’ being the legitimately named heir-or give up his ambition to be king.
Slide 18 - Slide
Act 1 scene iv
Suggested answers
4. In his last speech, which is an aside, Macbeth is again entertaining some evil thought; ‘my black and deep desires. Presumably this is murdering Duncan. Yet he again decides against it; ‘let that be, which the eye fears, when it is done, to see’.
Slide 19 - Slide
Lesson objectives
See me in this lesson if your HLE feedback asks you to do so
Insight into King Duncan's opinions Act 1 s iv
Exploration of Lady Macbeth and her relationship to Macbeth in Act 1 s v
Slide 20 - Slide
Act 1 scene v
1.What is the purpose of the letter?
2. What do we learn about Macbeth from Lady Macbeth’s reaction to the letter?
3. What do we learn about Lady Macbeth from her reaction to the letter?
4. Does Lady Macbeth fear Macbeth will not be king if he does not murder Duncan?
5. How does the news about King Duncan’s expected arrival affect her? What is she planning?
6. Why does Lady Macbeth pray to be unsexed?
7. What does Shakespeare establish in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s first exchange when Macbeth arrives home?
Performing and watching. Answer the questions in your exercise book. Always add quotes to support your answers
Duncan
Malcolm
Macbeth
Banquo
Slide 21 - Slide
Act 1 scene v
Watch two examples of Lady Macbeth's soliloquies in
1. Which do you prefer and why?
2. Describe the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth use quotes to support your ideas.
Performing and watching. Answer the questions in your exercise book. Always add quotes to support your answers
Slide 22 - Slide
Slide 23 - Video
Slide 24 - Video
Act 1 scene v
"My dearest partner of greatness"
" greatness is promised thee"
Macbeth: " My dearest love"
1. What does Lady Macbeth fear about her husband's character? Do you think that this fear is justified, from what you have seen so far?
Performing and watching. Answer the questions in your exercise book. Always add quotes to support your answers
Slide 25 - Slide
Dramatic Irony
What is dramatic irony? What does it mean?
Reading Act 1 scene 6
King Duncan
Banquo
Lady Macbeth
Slide 26 - Slide
Dramatic Irony
1. How does Lady Macbeth greet King Duncan? Is she sincere?
2. What does King Duncan say of Macbeth?
Slide 27 - Slide
Dramatic Irony
At the beginning of scene 6 King Duncan says:
" The castle hath a pleasant seat. The air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses"
How is this an example of dramatic irony? Explain
Slide 28 - Slide
Lesson objectives
HLE support, structure and example
Macbeth homework check Macbeth's considerations
Lady Macbeth's power of persuasion, words, delivery and actions
Slide 29 - Slide
Macbeth's soliloquy
Make a T-table in your exercise book.
Read Macbeth's soliloquy in scene 7 and watch it.
List all the reasons that Macbeth gives for killing the King and those he gives against killing the King.
It seems that he is not 100% behind the idea of killing the King.
What will change his mind?
Slide 30 - Slide
Check your homework
Slide 31 - Slide
Slide 32 - Video
Lady Macbeth's persuasion
Groups of three read together Act 1 scene 7
discuss these questions:
1. What is Lady Macbeth saying?
2. Why is she saying it? What effect does she think her words will have on Macbeth?
3. If Lady Macbeth was speaking in modern English, what would she be saying?
4. What is she trying to make Macbeth feel?
5. Why would her words have an impact on Macbeth?
6. What actions might go with the words?
7. What are the most important words?
timer
1:00
Slide 33 - Slide
Lady Macbeth's persuasion
Write your answers in your exercise book during the music :
1. What is Lady Macbeth saying?
2. Why is she saying it? What effect does she think her words will have on Macbeth?
3. If Lady Macbeth was speaking in modern English, what would she be saying?
4. What is she trying to make Macbeth feel?
5. Why would her words have an impact on Macbeth?
6. What actions might go with the words?
7. What are the most important words?
Music: bensound.com
License code: XT4DNAQWMFGMYGWX
Slide 34 - Slide
Lady Macbeth's persuasion
In your groups of 3 one is Macbeth. The person playing Macbeth sits on a chair the other two stand. Those standing label themselves A and B. Their job is to persuade Macbeth to do the deed. A will speak Shakespeare's words and B will speak the modern equivalent. They may persuade with their actions, but cannot touch Macbeth. Macbeth can only answer " I dare to do all the may become a man." He can say this whenever he feels the need to. If Macbeth is fully persuaded, he will stand up. His response is influenced by Lady Macbeth's attitude, he may feel angry, nervous, sulky, frightened or something else in response to her behaviour.
Slide 35 - Slide
Persuasion
Did any Macbeths stand up?
What persuaded you?
How would you recommend Lady Macbeth to deliver these lines in order to get maximum compliance?
Slide 36 - Slide
Lady Macbeth's persuasion
Tactic
Example
Effectiveness
Flattery
Accusing Macbeth of cowardice
"And live like a coward in thine own esteem,/ Letting I dare not wait upon 'I would,'/ Like the poor cat i'the adage?"
Here Lady Macbeth is referring to a proverb in which a cat wanted to catch fish but didn't want to get its paw wet. It is effective because Lady Macbeth is suggesting Macbeth won't be able to have self-respect if he doesn't commit the murder.
Questioning Macbeth's Manhood
Reassurance
Emphasising her own determination
Complete this table in your exercise book.
Slide 37 - Slide
Homework for Thursday
Watch and read Act 2
Watch in digital theatre plus a production of Macbeth act 2. Read the text.