Name ___________________________________
Period ___________
The Curse of the Scottish Play:
a look into the mystery & misfortune surrounding productions of Macbeth
DUE TOMORROW – 15 points
DIRECTIONS
“Break a leg!” Even if you don’t consider yourself a member of the theater community, you probably
understand this expression. Performers are historically superstitious and would never come right out and wish
each other “good luck” because doing so is considered bad luck. So “break a leg” became a way to tell your
cast mates you are rooting for them without violating the superstition.
Theater is full of these types of superstitions, but none worse than the curse of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The
specific superstition regarding this play says that the play will be riddled with horrible luck if the name
“Macbeth” is spoken inside the theater.
Your task (work alone) is to research this curse on the internet by answering the following questions and
providing the source (website) you retrieved the information from. YOU MUST USE AT LEAST 3
DIFFERENT SOURCES, NONE OF WHICH MAY BE WIKIPEDIA, WIKIANSWERS, ETC. You
should always look for CREDIBLE sources. When citing the source, use the format in these examples:
Name of Site. Date of Posting/Revision. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sometimes
found in copyright statements). Date you accessed the site [electronic address].
The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. 26 Aug. 2005. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue
University. 23 April 2006 <http://owl.english.purdue.edu>.
1. If an actor accidentally mentions the name “Macbeth” or quotes from the play backstage, what does
superstition say that actor must do?
Source:
2. What are some names theater professionals will use to refer to “Macbeth” so that they don’t have to
say the name of the play (name at least two)? Why is each name appropriate and/or clever?
Source:
3. What first evidence of bad luck happened during the original performance of Macbeth? Who stepped
in to allow the production to continue?
Source:
4. What president considered Macbeth to be one of his favorite plays? How is the curse of Macbeth linked
to his death?
Source:
5. Explain at least two theories of the origin of the curse (reasons why the play is cursed).
Source:
6. Name at least three instances of bad luck associated with productions of Macbeth that were not
already discussed on this worksheet.
Source:
7. Some additional, non-curse related background (you do not have to site your sources for these).
a. Because the play was written to be performed in front of King James, it is one of
Shakespeare’s ____________________________ plays.
b. Is Macbeth a comedy, tragedy or history play?
c.Was Macbeth a fictional character or was he based on a real person? Explain in detail.
d. At what stage in his career was Shakespeare when he wrote the play?
e.What was the actual theater house like in Shakespeare’s time? Describe in detail.