Molly Coleman
February 27, 2012
Questioning Outline for “Out Damn Spot” Character Analysis Lesson
Welcome:
Good morning! For your drill today we will be doing a quickwrite. Please take out
a sheet of paper, and put down any chairs that are still up. We are 4/5 of the way through
with “Macbeth” and you all have been doing a really excellent job not only analyzing the
plot of the play, but also with the characterization. Analyzing character development
throughout a text is going to be our objective for today. We are going to focus on Lady
Macbeth in particular.
The first thing that you’re going to do is write a paragraph explaining what you
already know about Lady Macbeth
Directions:
I.
Drill: On a separate sheet of paper, respond to the following questions in
3-5 sentences. Be sure to use proper grammar and your best spelling.
- What type of a person is Lady Macbeth?
- What modifiers best describe her personality?
Discussion:
- “Who would like to share their answer?
- What type of character did you say Lady Macbeth is?
- Why did you say that?
- Did anyone put anything similar?
- Did anyone put anything different?
- How would you describe Lady Macbeth?
Transition: You all came up with excellent descriptions for Lady Macbeth. One thing
that we’ve been practicing in class is back up our claims. We’ve done this in our
discussions and in our writing.
Directions: What I’d like you to do next is brainstorm the parts of the plot that made you
describe Lady Macbeth in the way that you did in your quickwrites. I’d like you to work
with the person sitting next to you, and jot down the events or parts of the plot that made
you describe Lady Macbeth in that way.”
II.
Talk to your partner about your response for part I. Discuss different parts
of the play that made you think that Lady Macbeth is that type of person.
Jot down a few below.




Discussion: What were some of the events your groups wrote down? (Write on Elmo)
Transition: These are excellent examples! Everyone did a really nice job using the
events in the plot to evaluate Lady Macbeth’s character. One thing that we have to keep
practicing is using examples like these to back up claims in our writing.
Directions:
III.
Go back to your quickwrite. Begin a new paragraph in which you use
evidence from the story to back up your claims about what type of person
Lady Macbeth is. Add 3-5 sentences.”
Transition/Discussion:
-Do you think that Lady Macbeth will stay the same throughout the rest of the
play? Why or why not?
- Why might Shakespeare have her character change?
- Why might any author choose to have characters change throughout a text?
- What does change add to the character?
- Are you a static or dynamic character?
- What makes you dynamic?
- Are you static in any situations?
- How does change make characters more realistic?
Dynamic/Static Character Introduction: Excellent responses! There are two terms that
you all have gotten very close to defining: dynamic and static characters.
Directions: On your worksheet, copy these two definitions.
IV. Dynamic character:_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Static Character: _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Transition:
V.
One of the things that made Shakespeare famous is his ability to create
dynamic characters instead of static characters. Almost all of his
characters change in some way throughout his plays. As we read today,
keep in mind all of your preconceived notions about Lady Macbeth. Let’s
see if she changes in any way or if she stays the same.
Directions: Open your books to V.i. Today, we are going to be doing a little acting to
get this scene to really come to life and let us really see the changes in Lady Macbeth.
I need three volunteers to come up and act for us. I need a Lady Macbeth, a
gentlewoman, and a doctor. (Select volunteers and distribute props.) As our
classmates act, you are to follow along in your text and jot down some emotions on
your worksheet about how Lady Macbeth is feeling in this scene.
As we read, jot down some notes about how Lady Macbeth is feeling in
this scene.
(Reader’s Theater.)
Reader’s Theater Discussion:
 What was Lady Macbeth doing in this scene?
 What emotions was she exhibiting?
 How can you tell?
 How did the doctor and gentlewoman react to Lady Macbeth’s actions?
 Was this the first time Lady Macbeth has done this?
 What impact does it have on her character to know that she has done this
twice before?
 Does the doctor think he can help Lady Macbeth?
 Who does he say Lady Macbeth needs help from?
 On your worksheet, copy these two definitions.
 In II.ii. line 86, Lady Macbeth said, “A little water clears us of this deed” after
she returns from framing the guards. How does this scene compare with that
statement? Do you think she still feels the same way she did in that scene?
Transition: Look back at the notes you wrote down during the scene. Do they match the
description of Lady Macbeth in your quickwrite? Does this prove that Lady Macbeth is a
static or dynamic character?
Directions:
IV.
Go back to your quickwrite. Add another paragraph answering the following
questions. Did you notice any changes in Lady Macbeth’s character in V.i.?
What do you think are the causes of the change?
Discussion: What did you say were the causes of the change in Lady Macbeth’s
character?
Transition: What is the significance of Lady Macbeth sleepwalking throughout this
scene?
Discussion:
- Who is taking or has taken psychology with Pags?
- Think back to when we did the Oedipus Complex and we learned a little bit
about psychology. Would Freud say that Lady Macbeth feels guilty
consciously or consciously? Why?
- Does Lady Macbeth know that she feels this guilt or remorse?
- Would she act this way if she were awake why or why not?
- What would keep her from acting like this or even exhibiting these emotions?
- How might it impact Macbeth if she acted this way, or said that she felt this
way?
Directions: Go back to your quickwrite and add another paragraph answering the
following questions: Why do you think this scene takes place while Lady Macbeth is
sleepwalking instead of being awake? Would she do these things or say these things
when she was awake? Why or why not? Explain.
Discussion: Would she be a dynamic character if she were conscious?
Transition: Just like the Oedipus Complex was not just relevant for Oedipus, this scene
is not just relevant to Lady Macbeth. There is a psychological phenomena called the
Macbeth Effect that shows how these themes of guilt and handwashing are relevant
throughout time and culture and show the complexity of mankind.
Directions: Pass out reading. We are going to read a brief passage on The Macbeth
Effect. I actually got this reading out of the twelfth grade textbook because I knew that
you are ready for it, and that you would enjoy it. As we popcorn read this, you may mark
up your text. (Read.)
Discussion:
- What are some examples of The Macbeth you all are familiar with?
- holy water
- baptism
- showering
- Pontius Pilate washed his hands after condemning Jesus
- Macbeth: “What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.” (II.ii. 77-81)
- South Pacific- “I’ve got to wash that man right out of my hair”- video on
class website
Directions: Tonight for homework, you are to pick one example of The Macbeth Effect
in another time or capacity and explain how it depicts a person’s battle with guilt. You
may use an example that we haven’t discussed if it applies.
Conclusion: Be sure that the example that you choose shows a change in character,
making someone dynamic. For example, the use of holy water or Baptism shows that a
person was guilty of sin before and wants a moral cleansing. This cleansing with holy
water shows the change in character, and makes the person dynamic instead of a static
sinner.