Macbeth: Home

In this unit:

• You are encouraged to record your reflections on the study of Macbeth as a play and film.
• You will discuss the way the play was performed in Shakespearean times and how it has been interpreted for different audiences.
• You will view one production of Macbeth in depth and compare and contrast key scenes from different productions.
• You will explore how meaning is createdand shaped by elements of film production.

• No Fear Shakespeare : Macbeth
  No Fear Shakespeare puts Shakespeare's language side-by-side with a facing-page translation into modern English—the kind of English people actually speak today.
• Sparknotes : Macbeth
  Plot overviews, character analysis, themes, essay topics etc.
• Bookrags : Macbeth  
  Author biography, character descriptions, summaries and quotes.
• eNotes : Macbeth  
  Study guides the play plus links to literary criticism and other relevant information
• NovelGuide : Macbeth
  Summary, plot analysis, character profiles and themes
• Encyclopedia Britannica Study Guides : Macbeth
  Examination of the characters, plot, and setting of this play
• Absolute Shakespeare Study Guide : Macbeth
  Essay, plot summary, quotes and characters study guide
• Novel Analysis : Macbeth
  Incudes plot summary and character profiles
• Shakespeare Theme Page
  This "Theme Page" has links to two types of resources related to the study of Shakespeare. Students and teachers will find curricular resources (information, content...) to help them learn about this topic
• Macbeth
  A ThinkQuest site that provides background about Shakespeare's Macbeth, a summary of the play, characters, essays, vocabulary, quizzes and games, film versions, full text of the play, readings and further links. English Literature
• Macbeth plugged
  An annotated, on-line version of the Shakespearean tragedy.Good in-depth analysis. Glossary. Summaries.

• Biography
• Life Facts and Timeline  
• Elizabethan England

use the following sites to explore the theatre in Shakespeare's time:

• Theatre in Shakespeare's time  
• The Elizabethan Theatre  
• Inside the theatres
• Royal Shakespeare Company

Macbeth is Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy, and tells the story of a brave Scottish general named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne for himself. He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia, and he soon becomes a tyrannical ruler as he is forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion. The bloodbath and consequent civil war swiftly take Macbeth and Lady Macbeth into the realms of arrogance, madness, and death.

from Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth

Read Aristotle's definition of tragedy.

The BBC have excellent resources for you to use.

Use the following sites:

• Reading and annotating the text online (you will have to sign up for this one)
• Exploring notes, videos and quizzes

A Study Guide by Brian McFarlane.