TASK: to What Extent Is Macbeth a Tyrant Or a Tragic Hero Discuss

TASK: to What Extent Is Macbeth a Tyrant Or a Tragic Hero Discuss

TASK: To what extent is Macbeth a tyrant or a tragic hero – discuss

Words and expressions you may find useful to describe feelings: admiration for ... ambivalence towards … sympathy for … revulsion towards … disgust towards … horrified by … moved by … disturbed by … etc.

Useful words and expressions for explaining techniques used by writers: demonstrates, explains, suggests, depicts, portrays, illustrates, highlights, reflects, has connotations of, emphasises, stresses, contrasts with, reminds us of, looks back to, looks forward to, is reinforced by, is amplified by …etc.

Introduction.

  • Start with a striking opening sentence e.g. ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare is a dark tale of powerlust and paranoia set in Scotland in the Middle Ages.
  • Give a brief summary of the plot (one or two sentences only)
  • Make sure you mention the theme and setting somewhere in your introduction. What is the theme?
  • Finish your introduction by giving your reader a flavour of the task, e.g. Over the course of the play, Macbeth rouses mixed feelings in the audience.

Paragraph 1 – Macbeth’s reputation at the start

  • Start with a topic sentence that makes clear what this paragraph will be about, e.g. We are given a good impression ofMacbeth by other characters even before he makes his first appearance on stage.
  • Explain in your own words what kind of impression we get and what Macbeth is reported to have done
  • Put in an appropriate quotation (e.g. 1.2.22-23)
  • Comment on the language of the quotation and what it suggests about Macbeth
  • Comment on how you feel towards Macbeth at this stage and why you feel this way about him.

Paragraph 2 – Macbeth’s response to his first meeting with three witches on the heath

  • Start with an opening sentence that, again, makes clear what this paragraph will be about, e.g. Macbeth’s response to a surprisemeeting with three witches intrigues us.
  • Explain in your own words where, when and how he meets them. What are they doing there? What do they tell him and how does he respond?
  • Put in an appropriate quotation to illustrate his response (e.g. 1.3.134-136)
  • What does his response suggest about him?
  • Comment on the kinds of feelings you have towards Macbeth at this stage and why.

Paragraph 3 – The impression of Macbeth from his wife’s initial reaction to a letter

  • Start with an opening sentence that, once again, makes clear what this paragraph will be about, e.g. A more complex picture of theman begins to emerge when his wife responds to a letter he sends her about the witches.
  • Explain what the letter says and how Lady Macbeth responds
  • Put in an appropriate quotation (e.g. 1.5.15-16)
  • What does the quotation mean?
  • Comment on what kind of feelings we begin to have of Macbeth at this point

Paragraph 4 – The Murder of Duncan.

  • Start with a suitable opening sentence, e.g. Despite hismisgivings, Macbeth goes ahead with the murder
  • Explain how we feel about him now
  • How does he feel about what he has done?
  • Put in an appropriate quotation (e.g. 2.2.39-40)
  • Comment on why he feels this way and how we feel about him

Paragraph 5 – The Murder of Banquo

  • Start with a suitable opening sentence e.g. Even thoughhe feels secure as king, Macbeth orders the murder of his close friend Banquo
  • Explain how you feel about this. Can it be justified?
  • Put in a quotation to explain why he has Banquo killed (e.g. 3.4.123)
  • Comment on how he feels in this quotation and how you feel about his thoughts and actions at this point
  • Comment also on how he sees the ghost of Banquo at the banquet. Is the ghost real or not? What are we to think of him here?

Paragraph 6 – The Murder of Macduff’s wife and family

  • Start with a suitable sentence, e.g. Macbeth now murderspeople without thinking of the consequences
  • Explain why he kills the Macduffs
  • Put in a quotation to show how determined he is that he will kill anyone he sees as a challenge to the throne (4.1.145-7)
  • Is this murder more shocking than the others? How?
  • Comment on how you feel about his whole manner of thinking and reasoning at this point. Is he mad? Is he sane? What is happening to him?

Paragraph 7 – The part towards the end of the play when almost everyone has turned against him.

  • Start with a suitable sentence, e.g. Towards the end ofthe play, everyone has turned against Macbeth
  • Explain why they do and how Macbeth feels about life now
  • Put in a quotation to show how he feels (e.g. 5.5.19-20)
  • What does he mean in this quotation?
  • How do you feel about him? Does he deserve to feel like this? Do you have any sympathy for him?

Paragraph 8 – The end of the play and how Macbeth behaves

  • Start with a suitable topic sentence, e.g. Even though henow knows he has been tricked by the witches and faces certain death, Macbeth decides to fight to the end
  • Put in a quotation to illustrate this (e.g. 5.8.32)
  • Explain why he takes this attitude
  • Comment on your own feelings towards him at this point.
  • You might also comment on how you feel when Macbeth’s head is speared on a pole for everyone to laugh at.

Conclusion – Sum up what you have said and give a personal response to the theme

  • Start with the words “As I have shown …” finishing the sentence yourself
  • What point do you think Shakespeare is making about life or about human nature through the character of Macbeth?
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