Today, after I collected your paragraphs comparing the two witches scenes, we covered Act III, scene iii, a longer scene in which Macduff comes to England to solicit Malcolm's help in overthrowing Macbeth. We began the day by talking a bit about the dicey diplomatic situation in which these characters find themselves. There is a certain amount of distrust between the two, and until it is resolved, no progress can be made. Malcolm, fearing for his own safety, must make doubly sure that Macduff poses no threat, and he goes about it in a most interesting way.
To make sure you came away from the discussion with a full arsenal of understanding, make sure you can answer the following:
- Macduff's opening lines are an example of dramatic irony: how?
- Malcolm reveals the source of his distrust of Macduff. What led him to doubt his kinsman's intentions?
- According to Malcolm, why would he be a worse ruler than Macbeth?
- Is this true?
- Why does he tell Macduff these things?
- How does Macduff prove he can be trusted?
- Who is the messenger who arrives?
- List all the news the messenger brings
- When does the messenger change the subject? Why?
- There are a number of clues in the text of this scene that suggest how other characters must be speaking (pausing, rushing, showing some sort of emotion, etc.). Pay attention to these clues for they make it much easier to visualize what is happening.
- NOTE: Notions of masculinity have been explored throughout this play. How does Macduff add to our understanding of that theme?
HOMEWORK
Post 4 important quotes and 2 examples of literary terms from Act IV on the wikispace.
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ReplyDeleteI just noticed that for your definition of Metonymy you wrote that : Detroit for the car industry.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the American auto industry will still be around because they are struggling. But its hard to have sympathy for their CEOs because they are flying to Congress on private jets.
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ReplyDeleteWhile I sympathize with you Daniel, and agree that those CEO's have it oh so hard, I must point out that the American auto industry is in fact a singular group/ organization. Thus it is labeled as being one item, and thus "they" are not struggling, but rather "it" is struggling. Similarly, it is hard to have sympathy for "it's" CEO's. However, CEO's describes multiple people and, thus, you are correct in saying that "they are flying..." While this may seem like a snobby action, especially at five minutes to midnight, pronouns that don't correctly rename their subject give me the provocatively painful sensation of a small, sharp needle, being stabbed into my left kidney... over...and over... and over again. But it's not just any needle. It is made from the rare breed of rainbow-colored porcupines whose diet consists mainly of carrots and pure toxic waste straight from, you guessed it, Chenobryl. This needle is then dipped in bubbling olive oil, licked by a leopard seal and then tipped with cyanide straight from those hot pink millipedes you heard Piers mention. FedEx promptly packages it and hires an English ladd to inject it into my small poison-removing organ simultaneously while uttering "Bloke," and turning off an electric fan every three seconds. But all pet peeves aside, this grammar pointer may save you a paper grade next time around. Who knows?
ReplyDeleteBabyshortz