Comic Relief in Macbeth---please copy in your notes or on your Act II packet

def.---a humorous scene, incident, or speech that is included in serious drama to provide a break from emotional intensity. Because it breaks the tension, it allows the audience to think about the plot events before, and prepare for emotional events after. The sharp contrasts provided by comic relief intensify the themes of the work. The drunken porter in Act II, Scene 3 provides this comic relief.

Example from Rush Hour

Act II Scenes 1 and 2 Compare and Contrast-- 10 pts.

•Compare and contrast the attitudes of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth towards Duncan’s murder. In other words, how does it affect each of them?
•Have we learned anything new about the character of either at this point?

PLEASE WRITE YOUR ANSWERS IN PARAGRAPHS USING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE AS SUPPORT (SPECIFIC LINES FROM THE STORY)

Hw #2 Macbeth

"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps(overleaps) itself and falls on the other."--Macbeth (Act I, Scene 7, lines 25-28)

1)Put this sentence into your own words.(What is he trying to say?)
2)Why is it important for the audience to know this is a soliloquy? What if it were not?
3)Based on this quote, what can you predict MAY happen in Act II and WHY?

(Hint: look at vocabulary you do not know and interpret the sentence piece by piece)

Notes for Tuesday 11/27 and homework assign.

PG.44 IN Act I packet:
ADD NEXT TO SOLILOQUY/ASIDE: LEADS TO DRAMATIC IRONY---WHEN WE KNOW THINGS SOME CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY DO NOT!!
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Homework: Pages 47-48 in the Act I packet on MOOD—READ THE DIRECTIONS AND TRY YOUR BEST.

Characterization of Lady MacBeth--Due Today

In plays, characters are defined by their appearance, actions, and words. Examine Lady Macbeth:
1. How would you describe Lady Macbeth?
2. What seems to motivate her?
3. Does Shakespeare describe her with a traditional feminine role/ideas/behavior?
4. How would/or would the play be different if she did not exist or know about her husband's plans?
5. Do you think her way of pushing Macbeth to do something he may not have done otherwise is something that is common or uncommon of husbands and wives?

Write your answer IN PARAGRAPH FORM, NOT AS NUMBERED ANSWERS. YOU MUST USE AT LEAST 2 SPECIFIC LINES FROM THE TEXT IN YOUR ANSWER AS WELL AS A MINIMUM OF 3 ADJECTIVES.

Notes on Paradox

A statement that seems to contradict itself but, in fact, reveals some element of truth.

Ex:
You can save money by spending it.
"What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young."
I'm a compulsive liar- am I lying when I say that?
You shouldn't go in the water until you know how to swim.
The beginning of the end

"fair is foul, foul is fair"
"When the battle's lost and won" ---who says these lines and what do they mean?---write something in your notes here:

HW Questions: Informational Text--Witches, etc. --20 pts.

Please answer the questions using complete sentences and textual evidence whenever possible.
1. Why were people in this time period more likely to believe in magic to explain things than they are today?
2. Where did superstitions and beliefs stem from?
3. Give at least 2 examples of superstitions that were believed at this time.
4.What is "purgatory" and what purpose did it serve?
5. How did Shakespeare use the supernatural beliefs and superstitions of the time period in some of his plays?

Notes for MacBeth

tragedy--presents the downfall of a dignified character who is involved in historically or socially significant events. This fall is usually caused by a flaw in his character.

tragic hero--the main character, dignified who has a downfall based mainly on a poor character trait. He/she evokes both pity and fear in readers because the audience realizes the struggles faced by him are necessary parts of human life.

tragic flaw--whatever is wrong with his character that causes his destruction--usually leads to an error in judgment.

2 things due for today IN CLASS:

1. Look at the following sentences/paragraphs:Copy and leave blanks.
*top of pg. 90--irony of the sentence: "I am free."
*How do the ladies characterize Jean Valjean and why on pgs. 90-91?
*What is the symbolism of the use of the silver plates and candlesticks on pg. 94?
*What is the significance of the fact that the bishop calls Valjean "Monsieur"?
--On pg. 94 he says it is "like water to a dying man" --what is the literary device?
*What is the symbolism of the silver the second time it is seen on pg. 101?

2. Write a response on what you believe is the theme of the piece and why using a min. of 2 textual examples as support. Look at your definition from yesterday on theme if needed. Please take a minute and write a thoughtful response.

"Justice" ---Notes and Homework

Add the following definition to your notes:
Theme--the central idea or message in a work of literature. Theme is not subject or what the work is about. Rather, theme is a perception about life or human nature shared with the reader. One way to discover the theme of a work is to think about what happens to the central characters.The importance of those events, stated in term that apply to all human beings, is the theme.

Homework:
Please try to be specific and thoughtful in your answers--aim to not only answer the question FULLY, but also bring up poignant examples and points to ponder.
1. What is your definition of "justice"?
2. In your opinion, is justice best served in a court of law? Can it be served elsewhere?
3. In your experience, is the justice system "fair"? Why or why not?
4. Do you believe people of a lower socioeconomic status, race, gender, etc. are assumed to be criminals more than others? Why or why not?
5. Once you have been accused or convicted of a crime, do you think it is difficult to get your reputation as an honorable person back--is it impossible?

New Questions for "The Pardoner's Tale" --- Due Today

Begin on pg. 144

1. How is "Death" characterized in lines 72-98?
2. The fact that death is described as a person, is an example of what literary technique?
3. How are the 3 men characterized on pages 144-145? Give min.3 specific lines/words as support.
4. What is the old man's answer as to why he is still alive(2 things)in lines 118-137?
5. In lines 138-148--why should the young treat the old well?
6. In lines 159-166, (the old man's directions), he tells them if they are looking for Death, they will find it under the oak tree--is he telling him the character "Death" will be there? How do you know? What do they think?
7. How does the image in lines 167-182 call to mind the Pardoner's motto-Radix malorum est cupiditas? (look at notes if you need to)
8. In lines 194, the rioter calls the one who will go to town the "lucky man." How is this ironic?
9. In lines 205-214, why does the first conspirator keep referring to the others as his "friends" and "brothers"?
10.What other sins does the Pardoner throw in to scare the pilgrims in lines 231-235?
11. In lines 243-250, who is speaking? Who does he blame for this horrible greed?
12. How are lines 252-259 ironic?
13. What does he mean in line 277 when he calls the rioter "the devil's clay"? What literary device is this?
14-15. Paraphrase lines 299-340. What is the Pardoner's purpose here? How might this story help his cause?

Extra Credit for: The Canterbury Tales

Please watch each of the following videos and complete the questions/responses that follow.

Directions on turning it in:
1.Post this assignment below as a comment (click on comments and you will see the blank).
2.I would recommend either typing in Word and doing a spell/grammar check or proofreading your work first before you post, as you cannot change your answers after it is sent.
3. Identify yourself in the post by writing your initials and the class period you are in.

Video #1: "The Pardoner's Tale Rap"

1.Give me a line from the rap that you found particularly interesting or memorable.
2. What is your reaction to this video? What did you think of it compared to the reading in class?
3. Describe the faces of the characters in the video.
4. What is your favorite part of this video and why?

Video #2:"The Pardoner's Tale" Animation
1. At the end of the video the narrator tells you that the moral of the story is--if you are looking for Death, you will find it. Do you believe that this is the moral of the story? Why or why not?
2. This video is very short, what vital parts of the story do you believe were left out?
3. What was the pardoner's true purpose in telling this tale? Do you think this video would convince anyone to do this? Why or why not?


Video #3: "The Tale of the Three Brothers"

This is NOT a retelling of "the Pardoner's Tale" but a different story.
1. What do you believe the theme of this piece is?
2. Why was the 3rd brother's fate different from the other two?
3. What do you think this story is telling you about the character Death--his actions and true intentions?
4. Compare/contrast this story with "The Pardoner's Tale".

Notes on Literary Terms/Making Predictions Vs. Guessing

Please put in your notes IF NEEDED:
foreshadowing--when the author gives you hints about what is going to happen.
personification--human qualities are attributed to an object, animal, or idea.

Stop and reflect: Copy these two sentences down on a sheet of paper that can be turned in--We are going to be looking at foreshadowing--therefore we will make some predictions and then evaluate our decisions at the end:

Remember: A PREDICTION IS NOT A GUESS. A prediction uses EVIDENCE as support.

-------------------------BEGIN COPYING HERE---------------LEAVE BLANKS FOR ANSWERS----
Look at lines 72-107: What is your prediction of what will happen after reading these and why? USE A SPECIFIC LINE FROM THE TEXT IN YOUR ANSWER.

Do the same for lines 159-182: USE A SPECIFIC LINE FROM THE TEXT IN YOUR ANSWER.


Now that the story is over: Were you right or wrong? Explain.