TragedyGreek philosopher

Aristotle’s definition in Poetics:

A tragedy, then, is the imitation of an action that

is serious and also,

Tragedy…as having magnitude,

complete in itself; in language with pleasurable

accessories,

Tragedy…each kind brought in

separately in the parts of the work; in a dramatic, not in a

narrative form;

Tragedy…with incidents arousing

pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of

such emotions.

Literary DefinitionTragedy is a type of drama or literature that shows the

downfall or destruction of a noble or outstanding

person,

Literary Definition

…traditionally one who possesses a character

weakness called a tragic flaw.

Literary Definition

The tragic hero, through choice or circumstance, is caught up in a sequence of events that inevitably

results in disaster.

Literary DefinitionBecause the protagonist is neither a wicked villain nor

an innocent victim, the audience reacts with

mixed emotions – both pity and fear.

Literary Definition

The outcome of a tragedy, in which the protagonist is

isolated from society,

Literary Definition

…contrasts with the happy resolution of a comedy, in

which the protagonist makes peace with society.

Two important factors in tragedy:

(1)The role of chance or

fate.

Two important factors in tragedy:

(2) The hero’s tragic flaw – some character defect that helps to bring about his downfall; otherwise,

Two important factors in tragedy:

…he would be afflicted with entirely

underserved suffering.

Two important factors in tragedy:

The hero has ordinary human failings or

limitations and falls short of ultimate perfection.

Shakespearean Tragedies

Structure of a Tragedy

Structure of a Tragedy

All of Shakespeare’s

plays have 5 acts.

Structure of a Tragedy

Act I Act V

Act III

Act II Act IV

Exposition

Structure of a Tragedy

Act I Act V

Act III

Act II Act IVRising Action (w/inciting incident)

Structure of a Tragedy

Act I Act V

Act III

Act II Act IVClimax

Structure of a Tragedy

Act I Act V

Act III

Act II Act IVFalling Action

Structure of a Tragedy

Act I Act V

Act III

Act II Act IV

Catastrophe

Shakespearean Heroes

Are exceptional beings in that they are persons of high degree or public

importance.

(Often kings or military leaders.)

Shakespearean Heroes

Their downfalls have great consequences, often affecting the welfare of

whole nations.

Shakespearean Heroes

Cause their own downfalls; the calamities do not just happen by accident, nor

are they sent from above. Rather, they proceed from

the hero’s own actions.

Shakespearean Heroes

Possess a flaw in their character.

(Tragic Flaw)

Elizabethan Universe

Chain of Being

Medieval people

believed that God created the world

and…

…placed everything

from angels to animals in

careful order

under Him.

Any violation of any part of the chain of

being was a destructive act that could impair

the whole.

Therefore violence done to a king or by a king could throw the universe into chaos.

Macbeth is a play which is loosely

based upon actual events.

Historical Background

The action of Macbeth is set in 11th

century Scotland and

England.

The real Macbeth ruled as king of

Scotland from 1040-

1057.

He did overthrow Duncan, but Duncan

was a poor king to the point of being a tyrant and a military failure.  

After Duncan’s death, Macbeth was elected as king of Scotland.

Glamis Castle,Scotland

Shakespeare had little regard for

historical fact…

Poetic License

…and was more

interested in writing for dramatic

entertainment.

Macbeth was almost certainly

written to be performed in front

of James I,

…so he included several elements of special interest to

the king.

Absolutism or Absolute Monarchy

• Definition: is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch has absolute power among his or her people.  

• An absolute monarch wields unrestricted political power over the sovereign stateand its people. Absolute monarchies are often hereditary but other means of transmission of power are attested.

Counterbalance? Not always.

• The absolute monarch exercises total power over the land, yet in practice the monarchy is counterbalanced by political groups from among the social classes and castes of the realm, such as the aristocracy, clergy, and middle and lower classes.

• Countries where the monarch still maintains absolute power are Brunei,Qatar,[3Oman,[ Saudi Arabia,[ Swaziland, the emirates comprising the UAE,[and Vatican City.[8]

History Examples:Historical examples

Throughout much of European history, the divine right of kings was the theological justification for absolute monarchy. Russia, claimed supreme autocratic power by divine right, and that their subjects had no rights to limit their power. James VI of Scotland (later also James I of England) and his son Charles I of Scotland and England tried to import this principle.

King James I's Signature

King James’ Notable Quotes‘[Smoking is] hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, and dangerous to the lungs.” – King James I

’I can make a lord, but only God can make a gentleman’ – King James I

’Kings are justly called gods for they exercise a manner or resemblance of divine power upon earth’ – King James I

Timeline: King James I England1603 -1604

Timeline for King James I

 1603   James VI of Scotland becomes King James I of England, Scotland, and Ireland after the death of Elizabeth I uniting the thrones of Scotland and England. 

 1603   The Millenary Petition is presented to James I. It expresses Puritan desires for reforms to the Church of England. 

 1603   Plot against James to set his cousin Arabella Stuart on the throne. Sir Walter Raleigh is implicated and imprisoned. 

 1604   The Somerset House Peace Conference results in peace between England and Spain. 

 1604   The Hampton Court Conference fails to settle the doctrinal differences between the Anglican Church and its Puritan critics. 

 1604   James proclaims that smoking is harmful to the lungs and imposes a tax on tobacco 

1605-1611 1605   Guy Fawkes and other Catholic dissidents attempt to blow up King and

Parliament in The Gunpowder Plot. They are betrayed and arrested. 

 1606   The Gunpowder plotters are executed. 120 colonists sail for America.  

 1607   The Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel end their rebellion against English rule of Ireland and flee to Europe; Ulster is colonized by Protestant settlers from Scotland and England. 

 1607   The English Parliament rejects Union with Scotland.  1607   Common citizenship of English and Scottish persons is granted to those born

after the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne. 

 1607   Jamestown found in America by the Virginia company  1609   Scottish and English Protestants are encouraged to settle in Ulster 

 1609   Shakespeare completes the Sonnets.  1611   The King James Authorized Version of the Bible is published. 

 1611   Dissolution of the first Parliament of James I. 

1612-1625 1612   Heretics are burned at the stake for the last time in England.  1613   James' daughter Elizabeth marries Frederick V, Elector of Palatine. Their

descendants in House of Hanover will eventually inherit the British Throne.   1613  The Globe Theatre in London burns during a performance of Henry III  1614   Second Parliament of James I meets.  1614   Scottish mathematician John Napier publishes his theory of logarithms

simplifying calculations for navigators.  1615   George Villiers becomes James’s favourite.  1616   Playwright –William Shakespeare’ dies.  1616   Raleigh is released from prison to lead an expedition to Guiana in search of El

Dorado  1617   George Villiers becomes the Earl of Buckingham.  1618   Raleigh fails in his expedition and on his return is executed for alleged treason

at Westminster.  1620   The Pilgrim Fathers set sail for America in the Mayflower. They land at Cape

Cod and found New Plymouth.   1625   Death of James I, aged 58. 

James I claimed to be descended from

Banquo.

In focusing on Macbeth, a figure

from Scottish history, Shakespeare paid homage to his

king’s Scottish lineage.

It was also well known that James had a fascination of the occult and

witches in particular.

Macbeth is a psychological drama,

… which explores the capacity of humans to be

affected by external forces.

By the pricking of my thumbs,

Something wicked this

way comes. Macbeth Act IV,i,44-45

The Weird Sisters

Wyrd:

The Anglo Saxon word for Fate.

Watch for the mood they set

for the play.

The Weird Sisters

Watch for who is controlling

whom.

The Weird Sisters

Fate vs. Freewill

Ideas

Vaulting Ambition

(Tragic Flaw)

Ideas

Equivocation(Saying one thing; meaning another.)

Ideas

Gender and Power

Ideas

Use of ParadoxEx. "Fair is foul, and

foul is fair."

Motifs

Use ofAnimal

References

Motifs

Use ofSupernatural

Motifs

Blood

Symbol

Dagger

Symbol

Light/Dark

Imagery

Color

Imagery

(Red and blackare the colors to

watch!)

“False face must hide what false

heart doth know.”

Lines to listen for

“I have done the deed.”

Lines to listen for

“Bloodwill

haveblood.”

Lines to listen for

“Double, double, toil and

trouble…”

Lines to listen for

Where have you heard that before?

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0vwJL3gjzw

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE6TY6nOLn8

“Out, damned spot! Out, I

say!”

Lines to listen for

And now…

Act I, scene I

A barren,misty heath

in Scotland.

Thunder and

lightning.

Enter Three

Witches.