1. The Layer Cake of Literature:
Making complex connections with every bite.

2. a.k.a. Close Reading

3. Unlock your memories and associations

4. Find symbols in the text
Light = Goodness
Darkness = Evil

5. See Patterns in words and actions
Blood
Blood
Night
Foul
See Patterns in words and actions
Fair
Blood
Blood It
Night It
Nature

6. Memory Symbol + Pattern _________ Meaning

7. Pattern
Symbol
Memory + +
and
Meaning in Macbeth

8. Macbeth A Close Look at Banquo And “Good buddies...’till the end?”
“Wherever we go...it’s together”
Macbeth
Every complex character needs sidekick, foil, partner...an opposite...

9. Symbols and Banquo Where there is Banquo; there is Light.
Act 2 Scene 1
Enter Banquo, and Fleance bearing a torch (II.1.19)
Banquo: Hold, take my sword. There’s husbandry in heaven,/Their candles are all out. Take thee that too.
A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not sleep. (II.1.19)
After a brief exchange, Banquo, Fleance and servant—all torch-bearers exit—leaving Macbeth in the dark—to see a dagger.
Where there is Banquo; there is Light.
Where there is Light; there is goodness.
Banquo = Goodness

10. Patterns & Banquo The Pattern within Banquo’s words:
“Why do you start and seem to fear/Things that do sound so fair? (I.III.6)
“...have we eaten on the insane root...?” (I. III.8)
“The instruments of darkness tell us truths,/Win us with honest trifles...” (I.III.8)

11. Time to Frost... Your Layer Cake... Make new meaning
from complex connections
Your Layer Cake...

12. Memory: Mac & Banquo are good buds + Symbol:
Banquo is goodness through light + Pattern:
Banquo speaks of truth and is not afraid
Add it up...
Banquo represents Macbeth’s “good” side. The killing of Banquo by Macbeth leaves Macbeth alone and in total darkness...to be consumed by evil.

13. Works Cited
Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor. New York: Harper, 2003.

14. Do your equations 2x in your journal
Memory __________________________________
Symbol ___________________________________
Pattern_____________________________________
New Meaning from Complex Connections: