02/04/2011
Macbeth Lesson 3 Act I, Scene 5, 6 &7
Objectives: Students will be able to analyze the character of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth through their soliloquays and Shakespeare's usage of images and symbolism.
Aim: What kind of man is Macbeth based on Lady Macbeth's comments on her husband? What character is Lady Macbeth?
Literary Concepts-Monologue, Aside, Soliloquy, Conflicts- hero vs himself/ hero vs others, characterization
Agenda-
Do Now: Journal Writing-
In your view, what is the wife's role in helping her husband fulfill his ambition?
Acquisition-
Characterization-
Read the letter Macbeth wrote to Lady Macbeth abd respond-
Meaning-Making-
A. Read lines 15-33 Scenen5, Lady Macbeth's monologue expressing her opinions on Macbeth, and try to select expressions that depict Macbeth. Then break them down and put in your dialectical journal to respond. For example,
| Quotations | Responses |
| 1. It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness/To catch the nearest way. | Macbeth is too soft a person, pure and infirm, which will not help him make shortcut in fulfilling his dreams. |
| 2. thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it: |
|
| 3.what thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win |
|
| 4.Thus thou must do, if thou have it; And that which rather thou dost fear to do Than wishest should be undone. |
B. What does Lady Macbeth decide to do based on the lines
"I may pour my spirits in thine ear;
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crown'd withal."?
C. What is the symbolic meaning of "raven"(line 45)?
D.Use the dialectical journal to respond-
| Quotations | Responses |
| 1.Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, |
|
| 2. unsex me here | |
| 3.fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty |
|
| 4. Make thick my blood | |
| 5. Stop up the access and passage to remorse, | |
| 6. That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between The effect and it! |
|
| 7.Come to my woman's breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers, |
E. What images do you see in the last few lines of Lady Macbeth's soliloquy? Do they resemble the one in Macbeth's lines," Stars, hide your fires;/Let not light see my black and deep desires"?
D. How did Lady Macbeth greet her husband? What solution is implied in this greeting?(lines61-65)
E. When Macbeth told Lady Macbeth that Duncan came to visit that same night, how did Lady Macbeth react tot he news?
F. What did she advise Macbeth to do?
10. Respond in your jounal the lines-
" look like the innocent flower,/But be the serpent under't. " How do the lines reflect the theme?
Transfer-. Conduct a brief group discussion on Lady Macbeth's character. What do you think of her? If such a woman existed in today's society, what would she be capable of doing and what would be your opinions on her? Report the result to the whole class.
Assignment:
Prepare for the "Who is the real Macbeth and Lady Macbeth" activity. Prepare questions that you will ask a group people that can help you identify the real Lady Macbeth and Macbeth.
Aim: 1. What is the scene a good example of irony-dramatic and verbal?
2. What is the conflict that Macbeth experiences before the murder of Duncan? How does Lady Macbeth persuade Macbeth to do what he wishes?
Agenda,
Do now: Journal Writing-
When a wife argues with her husband, what kind of argument she may use to win if she is determined enough?
Acqusition: Characterization of Banquo ( foil chracter), Macbeth & Lady Macbeth
Read lines 5-11 page 37, and decide how the monologue reveals Banquo's character in his observations about the nesting habits of birds?
Meaning Making-
In the dialectical journal, respond to Macbeth's soliloquy page 39-41, and try to determine what are his fears, worries; his opinions of Duncan; the reaction from heaven and people to Duncan's death.
| Quotations | Responses |
| 1.'t were done quickly: if the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With his surcease success; that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We'ld jump the life to come. |
|
| 2. But in these cases We still have judgment here; that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips. |
|
| 3.He's here in double trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off; |
|
| 4. And pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. |
|
| 5.I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on the other. |
3. What conclusion did he draw after the debate with himself?
4. But how did Lady Macbeth "prick the sides of his intent"? Identify the strategies she depoyed in groups.
Group 1: Identify the stragies in page 41 lines 40-49:
Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely? From this time
Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard
To be the same in thine own act and valour
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'
Like the poor cat i' the adage?
Group 2: Work on this speech-page 43 lines 54-67
What beast was't, then,
That made you break this enterprise to me?
When you durst do it, then you were a man;
And, to be more than what you were, you would
Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place
Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:
They have made themselves, and that their fitness now
Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.
Group 3: Work on the speech of - pages 43 lines 69-82
We fail!
But screw your courage to the sticking-place,
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep--
Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey
Soundly invite him--his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince
That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason
A limbeck only: when in swinish sleep
Their drenched natures lie as in a death,
What cannot you and I perform upon
The unguarded Duncan? what not put upon
His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell?
5. What do you think is the most efffective strategy among them all that really worked?
6. What is the murder plan?
7. How do the last few lines again refer the the theme?
8. Use modern English to enact the scene.
Transfer-Might a couple like the Macbeths be portrayed on a soap opera? What might the object of their ambition be?
Assignment:
Based on Act I , Scene 7: IMAGINE yourself to be Macbeth, and in your Word..( modern diary...), you write:
Dear Diary,
........
Review of Act I
1. Why is it so important that Macbeth should be first be presented to us as a brave and honored soldier?
2. The Elizabethan audience actually believed in witches; a modern audience does not. What difference could this make in the reactions of the two groups to the prophecies of witches.
3. What is the difference between Macbeth's and Banquo's reactions to the witches? How will this affect the whole play?
4. Can the weird sisters "make" anything happen, or do they merely foresee the future? How do you know?
5. What does Lady Macbeth read in the letter from her husband?
6. What does Lady Macbeth fear about her husband?
7. In scenes 5 to 7, how much evidence can we find that Macbeth is more frightened by the plan to kill Duncan than Lady Macbeth is? Is there evidence that there has been previous discussion of the plan? If so, refer to the line or lines.
8. Rewrite Macbeth's soliloquy in your own words while retaining the original meaning (Act I, Scene vii, lines 1-28: "If it were done when 'tis done,").
9. How does Lady Macbeth manage to stiffen Macbeth's courage and determination? What arguments does she use to force Macbeth to kill Duncan?