Post by mrsanderson on Jan 10, 2012 12:51:32 GMT
Just in case...
Critical Essay: Macbeth
With close reference to dramatic techniques used in the play, discuss who is most guilty of the murder of King Duncan.
Introduction
- Title of the play and playwright
- Very brief overview of what the play is about (themes, plot)
- Refer to the question (e.g. ‘many characters could be said to be responsible for…’)
- Explain what you will write about (e.g. ‘Shakespeare uses dramatic techniques such as…to show the guilt of the characters.’)
Paragraph 1: The Witches (1)
Topic sentence, e.g. ‘The three witches plan from the very beginning to meet with Macbeth. When they eventually do, they do not explain their prophecies properly.’
Also think about whether Macbeth would have considered becoming king had the witches not spoken to him.
- Quotation ‘Good sir, why do you start…’ (Banquo – shows that Macbeth doesn’t trust the witches from the beginning)
- ‘Upon the heath/ There to meet with Macbeth’ (Witches – shows their plans from the outset.)
- Shakespeare uses pathetic fallacy and rhyming couplets in the first scene. What does each technique do? What does this make the audience feel about the witches?
Paragraph 2: The Witches (2)
Topic sentence, e.g. ‘Witches are also traditionally evil in history and literature, and so the audience knows not to trust the witches from the very beginning.’
Also think about what they are doing at the beginning of the play. Is this traditional witch behaviour?
- Quotation ‘In a sieve I’ll thither sail/ And like a rat without a tail/ I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do.’ (Witch 1 – shows that for an insignificant reason, she will kill innocents.)
- Shakespeare again uses rhyming couplets to make the way the witches speak sound like a spell. Are the audience encouraged to trust the witches?
Paragraph 3: Macbeth (1)
Topic sentence, e.g. ‘Although the witches are perceived as evil, Macbeth himself actually commits the crime of murder.’
Also think about Macbeth’s mental state at the time of the murder. He has become ambitious and power-hungry. Does he seem like the courageous warrior we were presented with at first?
- Quotation ‘Is this a dagger I see before me?’ (Macbeth – dagger as a symbol of violence and murder. Macbeth is also hallucinating here- not a sign of a sound mind)
- Shakespeare uses symbolism here. Macbeth’s vision of the dagger shows that he is fixated on the task at hand, but also not completely in control of his mind as the dagger ‘leads’ him to Duncan’s chamber. Also use of soliloquy to portray his inner thoughts and desires.
Paragraph 4: Macbeth (2)
Topic sentence e.g. ‘Macbeth’s ambition leads him to try to control the future. The witches seemed to predict future happenings, and so Macbeth could easily have left everything to fate.’
Also think about Macbeth’s attitude to other people, particularly his wife and best friend. Does he respect them? Does he have the capacity to love?
- Quotation ‘The Prince of Cumberland, that is a step/Which I must o’erleap, or else fall down.’
- Shakespeare uses an aside here to reveal Macbeth’s true thoughts to the audience. Malcolm is only an obstacle to him, not a person. The fact he thinks of Malcolm as an obstacle shows his change from brave warrior to a power-hungry despot.
Paragraph 5: Lady Macbeth (1)
Topic sentence e.g. ‘Despite Macbeth’s obvious ambition, he is clearly manipulated by his wife, who…’
Briefly describe what Lady Macbeth does to try to convince him. We first meet her when she is reading Macbeth’s letter about his meeting with the witches. What impression do we get of her here?
- Quotation ‘I do fear thy nature/ It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness.’
Explain that Shakespeare has used soliloquy here to reveal Lady Macbeth’s true intentions from the beginning. Comment on the use of the word ‘fear’. Is it unusual for a character to feel afraid that someone is too kind? What does this reveal about her ambition and need for power?
Paragraph 6: Lady Macbeth (2)
Topic Sentence e.g. ‘Lady Macbeth also shows that she is deceitful and duplicitous on many occasions. One of these is on King Duncan’s arrival at her home.’
Describe briefly Lady Macbeth’s conversation with King Duncan when he arrives at the castle.
- Quotation ‘All our service/ In every point twice done, and then done double…’
Explain that while Lady Macbeth seems to be saying that she will take very good care of King Duncan, she actually has murderous intentions. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to make the murder seem even more cold-hearted.
- Quotation ‘This castle hath a pleasant seat…’ or ‘See, our honoured hostess’
Explain that while the audience knows that Duncan is to be murdered, he is obviously very happy to be at Dunsinane. This use of dramatic irony encourages the audience to feel sympathy with him because he is innocent. How does this make the audience feel about Lady Macbeth?
Paragraph 7: Conclusion
To conclude/In conclusion/To summarise etc
Shakespeare has used many dramatic techniques to encourage/make the audience question the guilt of various characters in his play Macbeth. In my opinion, ______________________________ is most guilty as _______________________________________________. His use of ___(dramatic technique)______________________ here is very effective, because_______________________________________________.
Critical Essay: Macbeth
With close reference to dramatic techniques used in the play, discuss who is most guilty of the murder of King Duncan.
Introduction
- Title of the play and playwright
- Very brief overview of what the play is about (themes, plot)
- Refer to the question (e.g. ‘many characters could be said to be responsible for…’)
- Explain what you will write about (e.g. ‘Shakespeare uses dramatic techniques such as…to show the guilt of the characters.’)
Paragraph 1: The Witches (1)
Topic sentence, e.g. ‘The three witches plan from the very beginning to meet with Macbeth. When they eventually do, they do not explain their prophecies properly.’
Also think about whether Macbeth would have considered becoming king had the witches not spoken to him.
- Quotation ‘Good sir, why do you start…’ (Banquo – shows that Macbeth doesn’t trust the witches from the beginning)
- ‘Upon the heath/ There to meet with Macbeth’ (Witches – shows their plans from the outset.)
- Shakespeare uses pathetic fallacy and rhyming couplets in the first scene. What does each technique do? What does this make the audience feel about the witches?
Paragraph 2: The Witches (2)
Topic sentence, e.g. ‘Witches are also traditionally evil in history and literature, and so the audience knows not to trust the witches from the very beginning.’
Also think about what they are doing at the beginning of the play. Is this traditional witch behaviour?
- Quotation ‘In a sieve I’ll thither sail/ And like a rat without a tail/ I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do.’ (Witch 1 – shows that for an insignificant reason, she will kill innocents.)
- Shakespeare again uses rhyming couplets to make the way the witches speak sound like a spell. Are the audience encouraged to trust the witches?
Paragraph 3: Macbeth (1)
Topic sentence, e.g. ‘Although the witches are perceived as evil, Macbeth himself actually commits the crime of murder.’
Also think about Macbeth’s mental state at the time of the murder. He has become ambitious and power-hungry. Does he seem like the courageous warrior we were presented with at first?
- Quotation ‘Is this a dagger I see before me?’ (Macbeth – dagger as a symbol of violence and murder. Macbeth is also hallucinating here- not a sign of a sound mind)
- Shakespeare uses symbolism here. Macbeth’s vision of the dagger shows that he is fixated on the task at hand, but also not completely in control of his mind as the dagger ‘leads’ him to Duncan’s chamber. Also use of soliloquy to portray his inner thoughts and desires.
Paragraph 4: Macbeth (2)
Topic sentence e.g. ‘Macbeth’s ambition leads him to try to control the future. The witches seemed to predict future happenings, and so Macbeth could easily have left everything to fate.’
Also think about Macbeth’s attitude to other people, particularly his wife and best friend. Does he respect them? Does he have the capacity to love?
- Quotation ‘The Prince of Cumberland, that is a step/Which I must o’erleap, or else fall down.’
- Shakespeare uses an aside here to reveal Macbeth’s true thoughts to the audience. Malcolm is only an obstacle to him, not a person. The fact he thinks of Malcolm as an obstacle shows his change from brave warrior to a power-hungry despot.
Paragraph 5: Lady Macbeth (1)
Topic sentence e.g. ‘Despite Macbeth’s obvious ambition, he is clearly manipulated by his wife, who…’
Briefly describe what Lady Macbeth does to try to convince him. We first meet her when she is reading Macbeth’s letter about his meeting with the witches. What impression do we get of her here?
- Quotation ‘I do fear thy nature/ It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness.’
Explain that Shakespeare has used soliloquy here to reveal Lady Macbeth’s true intentions from the beginning. Comment on the use of the word ‘fear’. Is it unusual for a character to feel afraid that someone is too kind? What does this reveal about her ambition and need for power?
Paragraph 6: Lady Macbeth (2)
Topic Sentence e.g. ‘Lady Macbeth also shows that she is deceitful and duplicitous on many occasions. One of these is on King Duncan’s arrival at her home.’
Describe briefly Lady Macbeth’s conversation with King Duncan when he arrives at the castle.
- Quotation ‘All our service/ In every point twice done, and then done double…’
Explain that while Lady Macbeth seems to be saying that she will take very good care of King Duncan, she actually has murderous intentions. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to make the murder seem even more cold-hearted.
- Quotation ‘This castle hath a pleasant seat…’ or ‘See, our honoured hostess’
Explain that while the audience knows that Duncan is to be murdered, he is obviously very happy to be at Dunsinane. This use of dramatic irony encourages the audience to feel sympathy with him because he is innocent. How does this make the audience feel about Lady Macbeth?
Paragraph 7: Conclusion
To conclude/In conclusion/To summarise etc
Shakespeare has used many dramatic techniques to encourage/make the audience question the guilt of various characters in his play Macbeth. In my opinion, ______________________________ is most guilty as _______________________________________________. His use of ___(dramatic technique)______________________ here is very effective, because_______________________________________________.
