Macbeth
Shakespeare Background Notes
*Born in Stratford-on-Avon, England. April 23, 1564.
*Married Anne Hathaway. He was 18 and she was 26. 1582.
*They had three children. Susanna and twins, Hamnet and Judith.
*Began acting in 1592
*Partner in the Globe Theater
*Considered the greatest playwright in the English language.
*Wrote 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and several longer poems.
*Famous works: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Twelfth
Night, Othello, The Taming of the Shrew
*Died April 23, 1616.
Macbeth Background
• Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in the early 1600’s,
probably around 1605-1606.
• This time period was known as the English
Renaissance.
• Written in blank verse, or unrhymed iambic
pentameter.
• To some extent, the main character in this play is
based on an 11th century Scottish king named
Macbeth who kills his predecessor, Duncan I.
Macbeth Background
• Shakespeare wrote Macbeth to please King
James.
• Shakespeare may have included the witches
in the play to please King James who was
quite interested in the subject.
• Often, members of the nobility accused
political enemies of witchcraft as a way to
get rid of them.
English Theatre
• Shakespeare and his acting company
performed plays at The Globe Theatre, a
structure known for being round.
• This structure could hold 3,000 people.
There were no public restrooms and running
water.
The Globe Theatre
Renaissance Drama
• Shakespeare wrote two main types of
plays—comedies and tragedies.
• Comedies contained humor and generally
had a happy ending.
• Tragedies generally had tragic heroes with
an unhappy ending, aroused fear and pity –
fear for humanity and pity for the hero;
Romeo and Juliet.
Characteristics of a Tragedy
• Tragic hero
–
–
–
–
Main character
Comes to an unhappy or miserable end
Generally a person of importance
Exhibits extraordinary abilities but also a
tragic flaw (a fatal error in judgment or
weakness of character that leads directly to
downfall)
– Outside force also contribute to downfall, such
as antagonist
Characteristics of a Tragedy
– Hero usually recognizes own tragic flaw by the
end of the play and so gains the audience’s
sympathy
– Meets doom with courage and dignity,
reaffirming the grandeur of human spirit
Characteristics of a Tragedy
• Catastrophe
– Is inevitably lead up to by a series of related
events
– Also called tragic resolution
– Usually involves death of hero, but others may
be affected
Characteristics of a Tragedy
• Comic relief
– Eases the intensity of the action
– Following of a serious scene with a lighter,
mildly humorous one
Plot Structure
the Shakespearean Tragedy
*Exposition
*Exciting (or
Inciting) Force
*Rising Action
*Climax or
Turning Point
*Falling Action
*Moment of Final
Suspense
Literary Terms
• Mood – the feeling a writer creates for the
reader; shapes reader’s response
• Tone – expression of a writer’s attitude
toward a subject; reflects writer’s feelings
• Soliloquy – speech in dramatic work;
character speaks thoughts aloud; on stage
alone; reveals inner thoughts, feelings &
plans
Literary Terms
• Aside – in dramatic work; remark spoken
in an undertone by character to audience or
another character
• Paradox – statement that seems to
contradict itself but reveals some element of
truth
• Tragedy – dramatic work; tragic hero;
tragic flaw; catastrophe; comic relief
Literary Terms
• Irony – a contrast between appearance or
expectation and reality
– Dramatic irony –audience knows something
the character(s) do not
• Foreshadowing – writer’s use of hints to
suggest what events will occur later
• Theme – central ideal; general perception
about life or human nature; moral
Anticipation Guide
What things can I expect to read about
in this play?
Let’s explore this further.
Have you ever given in to temptation?
Do you believe in prophecies?
If you are unsure of the
meaning look it up in the
dictionary.
How do you decide what is
good and what is evil?
Do you believe in witches?
What is the difference between
greed and ambition?
You probably would not break
your moral code for a
stranger but what about for a
loved one?
If someone prophesied you
would become someone of
importance (i.e.-President,
Homecoming King/Queen, etc)
would you wait for it to
happen or would you try to
make it happen? Explain.
Have you ever experienced true
guilty feelings about
something?
Do you listen to your conscience?
Why or why not?
Quote Circles
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Inner/outer circles will be chosen.
Draw a quote from a bucket.
Read your quote to the class.
Read your quote again– louder & faster.
Take 30 seconds to memorize your quote.
Quote Circles
6. Say your quote from memory as loud and fast as
you can.
7. Repeat step six.
8. Now, take a couple of minutes and jot down what
you think your quote means. Think about the
tone/mood it might possess.
9. Read your reflection. Pick someone to comment
on your quote and then read their own.
Quote Circles
**What was the purpose of this activity?
**What did you learn about Macbeth?
--What do you think this play will be about?
What are your predictions?
**Do you think you could do Shakespearean
play?