Compare your reading of madness in the playscript of Macbeth with the presentation of madness in
Zeffirelli’s adaptation of the play. Use examples from the text.
(Act 2, Sc 4 = lime)
(Act 3, Sc 4 = lilac)
(Act 5, Sc 1 = lemon)
Introduction: An overview of implications of title question…
Para 1: Is it madness?
Explore the psychology…
Para 2: Illusions…
Para 3: Punctuation:
Para 4: From film?
End section, how M seems:
stress – ‘heat oppressed brain’ – lime
mood swings – ‘fit is momentary’ – lilac
sleepwalking – ‘eyes open but sense shut’ – lemon
dagger – lime
ghost – lilac
out damned spot – lemon
point of death – lime
semi-colon v colon – lilac
colon – Thane of Fife – lemon
M talking constantly – ignoring those around him
M throwing notes into fire – was it in text?
M’s reaction to news of LM’s suicide
30 marks / 2 hours / 1,000 word limit
Visuals: stage set / props / costumes / SFX / lighting /
character appearance / representation of illusions & the
impossible
Acting: facial expressions / movement / positioning /
delivery & emphasis of words / voice & tone / reactions
of other characters / quality of acting & believability
Atmosphere: sound effects & volume / pauses, space &
visual punctuation / timing / pace / use of space /
camera angles (only film) / editing (only film)
Remember to use
creative verbs in
each sentence…
Para 5: Progression of characters
how LM & M decline into madness in script & how this is shown in the film version
Shakespeare’s clues to the director to show deterioration of characters…
Para 6: Power & control!
personally explore influence LM has over M = madness?
(Para 7):
(Para 8):
Conclusion:

Check spellings are perfect – esp apostrophes!

Check ALL punctuation marks have been used

Check ALL sentences make sense

Check you’ve included hard to spell words

Check you’ve used sophisticated vocabulary
ANALYSE: HOW?
WHY? SO WHAT?
Aim to integrate quotes
into the structure of your
own sentences wherever
possible- keep quotes
short – 8 words is plenty!
COMPARATIVE PHRASES:
…while
…whereas
…however,
…in contrast to
…contrastingly
…in comparison,
…compared to
…when compared with
…on the other hand
…conversely,
...contrarily,
…rather than
…as with
…likewise,
…equally,
…similarly,
…are similar, in that
…in the same way,
Useful connectives: Initially / Furthermore / Despite / With regard to / Moreover / Interestingly / Additionally / Moving on to / When considering / Overall / To conclude / Finally
Tentative phrases: perhaps / possibly / it could be argued that / it would appear that / I would suggest that / evidence supports the idea that / one interpretation would be that
Useful words: tragedy & tragic / evocative& evokes / technique / device / method / alternatively / potentially / language feature / imagery / juxtapose / intensity / rhetoric