UNIT 3: Drama and Fate
Macbeth and the Shakespearean Tragedy
Macbeth and the Shakespearean Tragedy
UNIT OVERVIEW
This unit uses two classic tragedies to address the literary form of the drama. Students review key principles of Aristotle's Poetics and his definition of tragedy to deepen their understanding of this ancient dramatic genre. They read William Shakespeare's play Macbeth and view Akira Kurosawa's film Throne of Blood, and compare and contrast the ways in which these works treat the related theme of fate versus free will. Students will also consider Shakespeare's use of rhythm, punctuation, and imagery and the ways in which they help convey the motives, thoughts, and feelings of the characters. This unit will confirm students' shared understanding of the elements of drama, preparing them for the study of other dramatic works throughout high school.
This unit uses two classic tragedies to address the literary form of the drama. Students review key principles of Aristotle's Poetics and his definition of tragedy to deepen their understanding of this ancient dramatic genre. They read William Shakespeare's play Macbeth and view Akira Kurosawa's film Throne of Blood, and compare and contrast the ways in which these works treat the related theme of fate versus free will. Students will also consider Shakespeare's use of rhythm, punctuation, and imagery and the ways in which they help convey the motives, thoughts, and feelings of the characters. This unit will confirm students' shared understanding of the elements of drama, preparing them for the study of other dramatic works throughout high school.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Explain the structure of the plot(s) and describe the dramatic techniques the playwright and filmmaker use to advance their respective narratives.
- Trace the development of major and minor characters and explain how characterization advances the plot or theme.
- Analyze the playwright's use of irony.
- Identify the poetic devices used in Macbeth and explain their effect.
INFORMATIONAL TEXTS
- Shakespearean Tragedy and the Great Chain of Being
- Sigmund Freud on the Macbeths (from Some Character-types Met With In Psycho-analytical Work, 1916)
ONLINE RESOURCES (Shakespeare)
- Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
- Frequently Encountered Words (FEW) in Shakespeare's literature
- Words and Phrases Coined by Shakespeare
- The Historical Macbeth (BBC biography)
- Index of Excerpts from Holinshed's Chronicles, Vol. 5: Scotland (Shakespeare's source material for Macbeth)
- Folger Collection of Artwork of Macbeth
- Shakespeare's Use of Language (educational video)
TERMINOLOGY
Allusion
Anagnorisis Apostrophe Aside Catastrophe Catharsis Climax Conflict Dialogue Divine Right of Kings Doctrine of Correspondences Double Entendre Exposition |
Falling Action
Great Chain of Being Hamartia Hubris Hyperbole Iambic Pentameter Inciting Incident Irony: dramatic, situational, verbal Jacobean Metaphor Monologue Paradox Peripeteia |
Personification
Pun Resolution Rising Action Simile Soliloquy Tragedy Tragic flaw Tragic hero Tragic impulse |
IMAGE GALLERY 1: Tragedy and Art
Click images to enlarge and view captions.
Click images to enlarge and view captions.
IMAGE GALLERY 2: Macbeth in Art
Click images to enlarge and view captions.
Click images to enlarge and view captions.
AUDIOBOOK GALLERY.
Macbeth Act 1 Audiobook (30m 22s)
Scene 1: 0:00 - 1:17 Scene 2: 1:18 - 4:53 Scene 3: 4:54 - 13:46 Scene 4: 13:47 - 17:21 Scene 5: 17:22 - 23:14 Scene 6: 23:15 - 25:35 Scene 7: 25:35 - 30:22 |
Macbeth Act 2 Audiobook (20m 25s)
Scene 1: 0:00 - 5:00 Scene 2: 5:01 - 9:33 Scene 3: 9:34 - 17:44 Scene 4: 17:45 - 20:25 |
Macbeth Act 3 Audiobook (28m 16s)
Scene 1: 0:00 - 8:13 Scene 2: 8:14 - 12:34 Scene 3: 12:35 - 13:55 Scene 4: 13:56 - 22:56 Scene 5: 22:57 - 25:10 Scene 6: 25:11 - 28:16 |
Macbeth Act 4 Audiobook (26m 42s)
Scene 1: 0:00 - 9:36 Scene 2: 9:37 - 13:40 Scene 3: 13:41 - 26:42 |
Macbeth Act 5 Audiobook (25m 04s)
Scene 1: 0:00 - 6:10
Scene 2: 6:11 - 7:53
Scene 3: 7:54 - 11:59
Scene 4: 12:00 - 13:10
Scene 5: 13:11 - 17:12
Scene 6: 17:13 - 17:41
Scene 7: 17:42 - 19:33
Scene 8: 19:34 - 25:04
Scene 1: 0:00 - 6:10
Scene 2: 6:11 - 7:53
Scene 3: 7:54 - 11:59
Scene 4: 12:00 - 13:10
Scene 5: 13:11 - 17:12
Scene 6: 17:13 - 17:41
Scene 7: 17:42 - 19:33
Scene 8: 19:34 - 25:04
VIDEO GALLERY
"Why Should You Read Macbeth?" (a TEDEd film)
Lesson by Brendan Pelsue, directed by Silvia Prietov |
Who Was King James I & VI?
from Scotland's Trailblazers, Legends, Creators, and Innovators series by the National Galleries Scotland |
Macbeth Act 1, Scene 1
Orson Welles, 1948 The Weird Sisters |
Macbeth Act 1, Scene 5
Kate Fleetwood, BBC, 2010 Lady Macbeth Soliloquy |
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Macbeth Act 2, Scene 2
Roman Polanski, 1971 "Dagger of the Mind" Soliloquy |
Macbeth Act 3, Scene 4
Roman Polanski, 1971 The Ghost of Banquo |
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Macbeth Act 5, Scene 5
Patrick Stewart, BBC, 2010 "Tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow" Soliloquy |
Macbeth Act 5, Scene 5
Roman Polanski, 1971 Birnam Wood Comes to Dunsinane |
Macbeth TransMIT Projects (2017)