February 2-6

Wow! What a crazy start to a semester!
We've had quite a few snow days that have managed to interfere with class.

vocabulary

4A on 2/6

We've started reading Macbeth.
We've discussed the following things:

• witches: 
• What do we think about when we think of witches?
• Where do we get the images/ideas of witches that we have?
• Why would Shakespeare choose to open the play with witches? What kind of tone does it set for the rest of the play?

PLOT Act I

• There is a war going on between Scotland and Norway.
• Duncan is the king of Scotland.
• Macbeth is a ruthless warrior that is from Scotland. He fights really well in battle and is merciless.

• Macbeth is given a prophecy (this is your future) by the witches.
• Thane of Glamis (he is already because his dad handed it down to him)
• Thane of Cawdor (the original is going to be executed for being a traitor)
• King
• Banquo is given a prophecy as well.
• Your children will be kings, but you will not.
• Macbeth starts thinking dark thoughts (about maybe killing to be king)
• Malcolm is heir to the throne (his father Duncan decrees this)

• Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth that tells her about the witches' prophecies.
• She decides that she needs to talk her husband into killing the king.
• She has a few famous lines that are super twisted. She asks to be made more manlike and less sensitive. 
• Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that she would kill her own baby if she had promised to do so.

PLOT Act II

• Banquo says "we should talk about the witches" to Macbeth.
• Macbeth hallucinates a dagger (first with no blood and then with blood on it)
• Macbeth hears a bell and goes to kill Duncan (or try to...We'll see)

• Lady Macbeth says she would have killed Duncan herself but he looked too much like her father. (What does this say about her character?)
• Macbeth kills Duncan (off stage) and feels lots of guilt about it.
• Macbeth brings the daggers back to their room. Lady Macbeth scolds him and returns the daggers and sets up Duncan's guards by smearing blood on them.
• Macbeth refused to return the daggers himself.