1. Journal
What have been your experiences reading Shakespeare, good or bad? What did you like or not like about it? Be specific.
Agenda
Journal
Shakespeare notes
Practice reading Shakespeare

2. Shakespeare and His Times
Macbeth Pre-Reading
Shakespeare and His Times

3. Iambic Pentameter A rhythm pattern based on syllables: daDUM
Unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable
One daDUM is called an iam
If you put 5 iams on one line,
daDUM daDUM daDUM daDUM daDUM, you have iambic pentameter!
All of Shakespeare’s plays are written this way

4. Iambic Pentameter “I think | that Bob | is full | of crap | today”
“CiEN | eGA | will BEAT | saHUA | ro NEXT”
Now you try. Write one now!

5. Shakespearean Iambic Pentameter
“I’ll fight ‘til my flesh is hacked from my bones” is a line from Macbeth
Rearrange the words so they fall in iambic pentameter
“I’ll fight ‘til from my bones my flesh be hacked”

6. Important Cultural Knowledge
Women had a lower social status
Great Chain of Being
There is a proper order of things, based on complexity, from the smallest grains of sand to heaven and God
Harmony vs. Disorder
Divine right and its disruption
You vs. Thou

7. Macbeth Background
Historical King Macbeth existed, although without much of the murder and intrigue that characterizes the play
Shakespeare wrote Macbeth as a tribute to James I
Interested in witchcraft
Claimed to be descended from original Duncan and Banquo, both characters from the play that are treated quite favorably

8. Shakespeare’s Goals
Shakespeare wanted to explore (from a safe distance) the events and attitudes of his own time.
Gunpowder Plot of 1605
The threat to an anointed king
Shakespeare also altered his text to pay homage to his own king and country.
Shakespeare more interested in psychological truth than in historical fact.

9. Write
From what we know so far, what themes would you expect to be present in Macbeth?

10. Why Shakespeare?
Widely regarded as the greatest writer of English literature
Most quoted author, only second to the bible
Understanding Shakespeare’s language gives you a greater understanding of the English language in general.

11. Biographical Facts about Shakespeare
Well-to-do, affluent
Mary (mother) – Daughter of a weathly landowner
John (father) – Glovemaker, local politician
Probably didn’t attend college

12. Personal Facts
Teen father: married pregnant 26 year old Anne Hathaway when he was 18
Left wife and children for London stage/acting career
Died at age 53

13. The Plays 38 plays are attributed to Shakespeare 14 comedies
10 histories
10 tragedies
4 romances

14. Theater in London Courtyard surrounded by three levels of galleries
Daytime/open air
No Artificial lighting
Relied on music, sound, and description in dialogue to convey time/weather

16. Theatrical Conventions
No lighting
Women forbidden to act on stage (Wait, who plays Juliet?!)
Elaborate costumes
Few props
Minimal scenery

17. The Audience Wealthy got benches
Poor audience members stood in “the pit” (closest to the stage)
Women not allowed (they had to dress up as men to attend)