Your scene: Setting, Mood, Conflict, Characters and Summary

Act Five

1. You must post the details of your scene as discussed in class today. You must include setting, mood, conflict, characters and summary. Be sure to label your scene before your notes.

2. Describe and explain your character. Label your character before your notes.

• What are his/her feelings, motives, conflicts, actions, desires etc...?
• What is his/her purpose in your scene?
• If you could hire a famous actor to play your character, who would it be? Why?

Act V: The Battle between the Macbeths and the Warriors

Act V is the rising conflict and climax of the play. Shakespeare creates tension by writing alternating scenes between Macbeth and the Lady AND the Warriors who wish to dethrone Macbeth.

You must summarize what happens with Macbeth and his wife . You must also summarize what happens with all of the warriors who are plotting against Macbeth. Each summary must contain six to ten details of what happens (with citations) for both group of characters.

Example

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth

The two Macbeths try to maintain power but the lady loses her ambition (5.1.32). She contemplates ...... (5.3.45-54) while Macbeth becomes more......(5.3.59). He begins to plan....(5.4.32) because of the witches' prophesies but loses his...(5.5).

Warriors

Macduff hurries off to get help from (5.1.2) but his family is murdered (5.1.56)....

Act V: Questions and Answers

1. Please post questions you have about all of Act V. Be sure to label the scene and lines. Also label the type of question. Grammar counts!!! Due by June 8th.

2. You must also answer at least one question. Label the answer as well.

Example
Act V, sc i lines 3-7
plot

Who is speaking?

Answer
Ms. Karvunis's question on Act V, sc i lines 307

The person speaking is Ms. Karvunis.

Mandatory questions about Act III, scene iv storyboard

You must:

• Post questions you have about Act III, scene iv or the storyboard.
• Label the questions like you did before.
• If you have no questions, you must answer someone else's question.

Optional: Questions about Act IV

You can post any questions or concerns you have about Act IV. Be sure to label the posts again.

Students who answer the questions will receive extra credit ONLY if the response is not a repeat of someone else's answer.

Military Plans for Macbeth, Malcolm and MacDuff

This post is due by June 3rd, 2009.

While reading Act III, sc 6 and all of Act IV, you must post lines that explain what each leader plans to do and why. You must:

• Label the leader's section
• Identify, in sequence, the lines that explain his intentions for revenge or battle
• Cite the lines
• Under each line, explain what it means in your own words.
• You will have multiple lines from different scenes as the intentions change or are more clearly outlined as the Act progresses
• BRING A COPY OF YOUR POSTING FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3RD.

Example

Malcolm

"I will mark thy death with the help of the arms of England ( IV 1 2)"

This shows that Malcolm will try to kill Macbeth with the help of the British monarchy and his military.

"We will march to the castle and scorch the snake and his hole ( IV iii 5-6)."

Malcolm later explains that his army with the help of the Brits, will go to the king's castle and burn it down with Macbeth inside.

"Down with the lady of doom and up with my father's crown ( IV iii 23)."

Malcolm will also kill Lady Macbeth and return the crown to the heir, himself!

MacDuff

Optional Post: How to perform your scene

Feel free to communicate on this blog about your group's lines. You have to perform them on Monday June 1st.

Directing Your Monologue (or Scene): Acts 1-3

1. Read your lines to determine what your character is saying.
2. Determine how the lines are presented.

3. Post the directions and notes on how your lines should be presented.

• What is the mood?
• Who is on stage?
• What does the character look like? How does he/she stand?
• What does the stage look like? What props are needed?

• How should each word or group of words be said?
• What should the actor do when saying each word or group of words?
• How does the actor speak- loudly? softly? slowly? quickly? with pauses?
• Who is he/she looking at? Why?
• Which words are emphasized?
• Why are certain words more pronounced?

Think about the answers to these questions while you envision your lines performed. Post detailed notes. BE SURE TO PRINT OUT THESE NOTES FOR CLASS.

Example:

Act 2 sc ii, lines 3-11

MacBeth is standing alone on stage. The stage is dark with only one kig-looking chair. He is dressed in all black- robes or flowing garments. MacBeth has his back to the audience and is mumbling under his breath. He suddenly turns to the audience and stares out blankly. He yells "......................". Then he turns and slumps in the chair. He says "............" slowly, emphasizing the phrase "...........'" to show its importance. He pauses for 4-5 seconds, looks at his hands and runs his right hand over his brow. He says "......." while looking at his hand once he removes it from his brow. He stands up quickly and violently, with his robes shifting, and glares at the front row. He says ".....".............The lighting is dim but with a back glow of red.

Act III, scs. i, ii, iii: MacBeth and his murders

1. Summarize MacBeth's conversation with the murderers.
2. Explain how MacBeth has transformed since he became king citing three lines from these scenes. Be sure to analyze the lines.

Posts that have grammatical errors will receive a check minus.

Example:

In Act III, sc ii, MacBeth is having a conversation with the murderers. The murderers blackmail MacBeth because they pretended to be the witches that prophesized MacBeth's future. They know of his evildoings and tell him that they must become his long-lost sons. They will give MacBeth up to Malcolm and Donalbain if he does not comply.

MacBeth has changed since he became king. He has learned from his wicked ways (Act III, sc 1) when he sends his wife to prison for murder. He then asked for a priest (lines 67-68) to forgive him, and he becomes a priest (line 100).

The Four Most Important Lines in Act II, scs. i and ii

Please find what you believe are the FOUR most important lines in Act II, scs. i and ii. You must:

1. post each important line word for word with citation
2. explain your reasoning for chosing each line

Example:

Most Important Lines from Act II, scs. i and ii

#1: " Is this a dagger I see before me?" Act I, sc i line 1000

This line is the most important because it makes the reader understand that MacBeth sees things which means he is CRAZY. That shows the reader that he is capable of CRAZINESS.

Questions about Act II, scs i and ii

While reading Act II, scs i and ii, post any question you have. Please label your post with the type of question you have as well as the scene and the lines. Possible labels include vocabulary, plot, characterization, language, stage directions... . Here is a sample post:

Plot
Act II, sc i
Lines 5-11

Is Macbeth actually seeing a dagger or is he imagining it?
Is it the dagger his imagination or are the witches conjuering it?

Students who try to answer someone else's questions will receive extra credit points.