Response Journal. Reflections: A Student Response Journal. Macbeth William Shakespeare

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1 Response Journal Reflections: A Student Response Journal Macbeth William Shakespeare P.O. Box 658, Clayton, DE Copyright 2001 by Prestwick House, Inc., P.O. Box 658, Clayton, DE Permission to copy this unit for classroom use is extended to purchaser for his or her personal use. This material, in whole or part, may not be copied for resale. ISBN Item No

2 To The Teacher In order to allow the teacher maximum flexibility in his or her approach, we have grouped the prompts by sections. The teacher may, therefore, assign specific prompts or allow the students to select one or more prompts from each section For Macbeth, we also have these materials: Teaching Unit Book Audio Video See our catalogue, visit our web site at or call for more information. 2

3 Response Journal To The Student Although we may read a novel, play, or work of non-fiction for enjoyment, each time we read one, we are building and practicing important basic reading skills. In our ever-more complex society, in which reading has become more and more crucial for success, this, in itself, is an important reason to spend time reading for enjoyment. Some readers, however, are able to go beyond basic reading techniques and are able to practice higher thinking skills by reflecting on what they have read and how what they read affects them. It is this act of reflection that is, stopping to think about what you are reading that this journal is attempting to encourage. To aid you, we have included writing prompts for each section; however, if you find something that you wish to respond to in the book more compelling than our prompts, you should write about that. We hope you enjoy reading this book and that the act of responding to what you have read increases this enjoyment. After you read the indicated sections, choose the questions to which you will respond. Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers to these prompts, and there is no one direction in which you must go. 3

4 Student Name Class Record Sheet

5 Response Sheet Name Section Date 5

6 Act I 1. In the first scene, the Witches use the phrase fair is foul and foul is fair. Have you ever experienced anything that was both foul and fair? Write about what you experienced in a letter to Shakespeare. 2. Duncan reigns over Scotland, which is at war with Norway, but his country is also filled with internal rebellion. Imagine that you are Duncan s advisor. What advice would you give him to face these difficult challenges? 3. You are one of the Three Weird Sisters and participate in a conversation that takes place among these three Witches before they announce their prophecies to Macbeth and Banquo. What do you say to them? Your dialogue could begin as follows: First Witch: Let s tell Macbeth exactly what he wants to hear. You: Maybe we should 4. The Witches have told Macbeth that in time he will become King of Scotland. His ambition drives him to perform deeds that will speed up the process. Pretend that you overhear your parents talking about buying you a car next year. Do you wait patiently for it to happen, or do you do whatever is needed to make it happen? Explain your reasoning. 5. Macbeth insists on knowing what the future holds for him, even though at times he doesn t believe what the Witches tell him. Would you like to have your future predicted? Why or why not? 6

7 Response Journal 6. Macbeth hides his amazement at Duncan s announcement that Malcolm will succeed him as King. If you were Macbeth, what would you say to Duncan? 7. Lady Macbeth has revealed her plan to murder Duncan. As Macbeth, write a diary entry examining the feelings about it that you would not share with your wife. 8. Pretend that you are a marriage counselor and that the Macbeths have sought your advice. What problems do you think they have in their relationship, and what solutions do you propose? Write out a list of steps they could take to prevent any more marriage problems. 9. Lady Macbeth ruthlessly pushes her husband to commit monstrous crimes. Have you, or someone you know, ever pressured another person to do something that you were reluctant to do yourself? Explain. 10. Macbeth must prove to his wife that he is a man. The proof she requires is the murder of King Duncan. The word for killing a king is regicide. Make a list of as many words as you can find in a dictionary or that you know that use the suffix cide meaning to kill. Across from each word, write a definition. You can follow this example: WORD Regicide DEFINITION killing a King 7

8 11. Macbeth and his wife plan the cold-blooded murder of an innocent man. They calculate how to place the blame on others and appear free of guilt. Such a crime might seem to call for the death penalty if Macbeth and his wife are discovered. Explain your feelings about the death penalty in a few paragraphs, and back up your opinions with facts. 12. How do you feel about Lady Macbeth s treatment of her husband, for example her constant criticism of his inability to act like a man? What would you say to her if you could? 13. Lady Macbeth has demonstrated that she will do anything to get what she wants. Have you ever wanted anything so much that you were willing to do anything to make it happen? Write a diary entry explaining what happened. 14. You and Duncan are both guests at Inverness at the same time. You overhear the plan to murder the King. You want to warn Duncan, but you do not want to put yourself in danger. What will you do? Explain your reasoning. 8

9 Response Journal Act II 15. Macbeth is troubled by his fear of discovery or of retribution for committing this murder. Write a letter to Macbeth to convince him not to do this. You may cite moral or personal reasons. 16. Lady Macbeth does not fear the consequences of her murderous scheme. Explain why you probably would not be able to talk her out of going through with this crime. 17. The witches seem to be in control of the action in the play. What they say comes true, even if not in the ways we expect. Make a list of some common superstitions and see if you can determine their origins. You may need to use the Internet or an encyclopedia. 18. You do not know if Macbeth makes his choices willingly or if his actions are pre-ordained and out of his control. Were you ever in a situation where you felt you had no control over your actions? Explain how you handled the situation. 19. Macbeth sees a dagger hovering in the air before him. You do not know if Shakespeare intended this as a warning to Macbeth not to commit the murder or as an encouragement to go forward with his plan. Take Macbeth s speech about the dagger and rewrite it in modern English. 20. You witness Duncan s murder and make a deal with Macbeth not to reveal his identity as the murderer, as long as he does one thing for you. What would it be and why? 9

10 21. You overhear the conversation between Malcolm and Donalbain as they ride away from the castle. They have decided to leave Scotland rather than stay and avenge their father s murder. Write an explanation of why you think they leave and whether you think they are cowardly or smart. 22. Malcolm and Donalbain ride away quickly after the murder, possibly because they are afraid they will be blamed for it even though they are innocent. Have you or someone you know ever been blamed for some wrongdoing of which you were innocent? Write a letter to the accusing person and explain what the circumstances really were. 23. Imagine you are a TV reporter at the time, covering the widespread rumors of strange and unnatural events immediately following the murder of Duncan. Write a script you would use on the air explaining what has happened. Your script might begin as follows: Good morning. Last night, our King Duncan was brutally murdered by his two guards, who were then slain in retaliation. Many strange phenomena have occurred since then, including 24. What would you, as a skeptic, add to the conversation among the Old Man, Ross, and Macduff about the strange events that have occurred? 10

11 Response Journal Act III 25. Pretend that you are Banquo. You decide to confront Macbeth with your suspicions of him. Construct a conversation in which you speak to him directly about this situation. Your conversation could begin as follows: You: Look, Macbeth, I have always been willing to support you but now 26. Macbeth asks Banquo three times if he is going riding and if he is going alone. If you were Banquo, would this alert you to trouble? What would you do? 27. Imagine that you are one of the murderers Macbeth has hired to kill Banquo. In your diary, write down the pros and cons of obeying Macbeth. Try to list at least five of each. 28. Pretend you are the King of England. Write Macbeth a letter detailing what you feel will be the result of his murdering ways. 29. The Macbeths begin to realize that killing Duncan has not solved all of their problems. In fact, Duncan s death has caused only more difficulties. Have you ever taken an action to solve one problem that caused new problems? Tell about the situation and about how you handled it. 30. In Act III, scene I, Macbeth conspires with two murderers. However, later, there are three murderers. Put yourself in the place of the other two murderers. Why has Macbeth sent for the third and why does he keep the other s participation a secret until the last minute? 11

12 31. Macbeth sees Banquo s ghost sitting in his own place at the table. If the ghost could speak, what do you think it would say and why? 32. One of the things Macbeth says in response to the appearance of the ghost is: It will have blood: they say blood will have blood. Explain what this means to a classmate who doesn t understand what Shakespeare is saying. 33. As Hecate, what punishment would you impose on the three Witches for their failure to include you in their plan to bring down Macbeth? Make a list of what you might do to them. 34. Hecate is considered almost a ruler over the Three Witches, yet they deal with Macbeth without telling her. Young people frequently overstep their authority. Relate the story about a time when you went against the wishes of someone who had power over you. What were the circumstances and the consequences? 35. Everything that the Witches and the Apparitions tell Macbeth is vivid and frightening. Suppose it is nearing Halloween and your teacher asks you to hold a story time for a third grade class in a nearby school. Write the beginning of the story you would tell the children about Macbeth, the Witches, and the Apparitions. 12

13 Response Journal Act IV 36. Macbeth visits the three Witches and demands that they show him his future. While the visions are gory, they encourage him. Would you like to know the future. Explain some reasons for your choice. 37. The language of Shakespeare in this Witches scene is fun to read. Imagine you are a Fourth Witch and have to recite what you would be throwing into the cauldron. Write eight lines stating what are contributing to the potion. Try to use the same form of poetry as the other witches do. 38. Hearing the voices of witches and seeing apparitions as Macbeth does, is certainly not a mark of good mental health. Thinking back through what you have read about Macbeth so far, write an opinion of what you feel his mental and emotional state is. In your opinion paragraph, write also about what you think is causing him to be the way he now is. You could begin your opinion as follows: At the beginning of the play Macbeth seemed to be According to the Witches, Macbeth cannot be killed by any man of woman born and cannot lose in battle until Birnam Forest marches to Dunsinane. These seeming impossibilities encourage Macbeth in his behavior. Write a letter to him warning him that his trust in the Witches prophecies may be incorrect. However, do not reveal his true future to him. 13

14 40. Macbeth s killing spree goes on; he has ordered the killing of Lady Macduff and her son. Though this play was written in the 1600s, there is still much violence in the world of political power, even in modern times. Suppose Macbeth were alive today and you overheard him ordering the deaths of Lady Macduff and her son. Complete the following dialogue of what you would tell him about doing such a thing: You: Sir, I apologize for eavesdropping, but I must speak up about Macduff s son is confused about what being a traitor means. Lady Macduff gives him one definition. A dictionary would give a more detailed meaning. Complete the following sentences: A. Lady Macduff defines a traitor as... B. The dictionary defines traitor as... C. I think of a traitor as... (write your answer in at least three complete sentences) 42. Write a letter to Macduff telling him about his wife s distress. Try to convince him to return home to his family and to fight against Macbeth. 14

15 Response Journal 43. It is universally agreed that Shakespeare s use of the English language is unequalled. His use of verbs, in particular, adds a great deal of strength to the scenes he writes. The following is a list of verbs that he uses in one short scene. Look up and write down the first meaning for each that you find in the dictionary. Then write a modern-day word or phrase that means the same as the one Shakespeare used. Use the format below for your answer for the following verbs: VERB DICT. DEF. YOUR DEF bestride blisters crave grafted smacking o erbear confound 44. Malcolm gives Macduff false information to find out where his loyalties lie. What is your opinion about lying? Is it ever justified? Is a relationship good if one person in it lies? Explain your opinion in a paragraph. 15

16 45. We know that Malcolm, as King Duncan s son, is the rightful man to succeed him as King of Scotland. He, of course, represents good, as opposed to the evil represented by Macbeth. Think of all the movies you have seen and choose the one you think best shows the clear division between the forces of good and evil. After you have made your choice, write an eight sentence summary of the plot of that movie. Then, complete the following in not less than three sentences each: A. Evil in the movie was shown mostly by... B. If good had not won in this movie, I would have felt Imagine that Macduff is your uncle, whom you admire very much. A new friend in your class and you are discussing your relatives one day after school and your Uncle Macduff s name comes up. Complete the following conversation in which you tell your new friend about your uncle: Friend: So, what s so great about this uncle of yours? You: Well, first of all Put yourself in Macduff s place after he has been informed of his wife and children s murder. How would you react? What would be your thoughts as well as your actions? Write them in a daily journal. 16

17 Response Journal 48. When Ross arrives in England, his cousin Macduff asks about Lady Macduff and his son. First, Ross tells Macduff that they are well. But then, he tells Macduff the truth: Macbeth has had them both killed. Do you feel that it is necessary for Shakespeare to add more murders to the many that have happened so far in the play? Write a paragraph of not less than six sentences to complete either sentence A or B below: A. I think the murders of Lady Macduff and her son were necessary to the play because... OR B. Sometimes I think Shakespeare goes too far with the violence in his plays. In the case of Lady Macduff and her son... Act V 49. The doctor witnesses Lady Macbeth s sleepwalking and realizes that horrible deeds have taken place, implying that a doctor this early in human history would know that she has a guilty conscience. Think back to something you experienced in real life, saw on the television or movies, or read about in a book, in which a person had a guilty conscience. Describe what happened. 50. Malcolm says that Macbeth is a tyrant, but he is, as well, the illegitimate ruler of Scotland, having killed the rightful king. Imagine that the elected President of the United States was killed by a person who then rallied an army that allowed him to take over the Presidency. Write a paragraph of not less than eight sentences about how you would feel and what you think you could do about it. 17

18 51. Characters, of course, are the most memorable features of plays, most of the time, even above the plot. That is why the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seem, so real, even four hundred years after Shakespeare created them. Below is a list of the most important characters in Macbeth. After each name, write two sentences that you feel would fully describe that character to a person who had never heard of him or her: Duncan MacDuff Malcolm Lady Macbeth Banquo The Three Witches 52. Macbeth learns from the doctor that Lady Macbeth s ills are beyond his ability to cure. This angers him, but he shows little interest in his wife s condition beyond that. If you were the doctor, how would you respond to Macbeth s indifference, and what would you say to him? 18

19 Response Journal 53. Macbeth still commands loyalty from some Scottish forces. Some of the loyal leaders know that Macbeth is insane, as well as bloodthirsty, but they still obey him. Suppose you are Macduff and do not wish to harm other Scotsmen when you do battle with Macbeth to avenge your family s death. Write a letter to them that secretly would be delivered trying to convince them to desert Macbeth and save their own lives. Begin your letter as follows: Loyal and True Scotsmen, You know that Macbeth Imagine that you are Malcolm leading the English and rebel Scottish armies. Some of your soldiers question your tactic of carrying tree branches. Since you are a thoughtful and fair leader, you explain to your men why this strategy will work. Write a speech in which you tell them why you feel this will help defeat Macbeth. 55. When Macbeth hears about his wife s death, he seems neither shocked nor saddened. Write Macbeth s journal entry for that night. What might cause you to feel this way? 56. When Macbeth hears from a messenger that Birnam Wood has begun to move toward the castle, he calls the man a liar. As Macbeth s advisor, what do you say to convince him it is true, and what advice do you give him about how to proceed? 19

20 57. Revenge is an integral part of many of Shakespeare s tragedies. In this scene, Macduff is going to do battle with Macbeth to avenge the death of his family. As we know, even in present day, revenging a death usually results in more death, oftentimes of innocent people as well. Think about the response of the U.S. to the attacks of September 11, Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper. In the letter, explain why you think that our country s response to that attack is or is not an act of revenge. Be sure to explain clearly why you believe the way you do. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir: The 9/11 attack is Macbeth s soliloquy beginning with the line, To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, is one of Shakespeare s most famous. Write a paragraph telling why you think they remain so well known, even after four hundred years. 59. After Macduff tells Macbeth the truth about his birth, Macbeth curses the Witches, saying that they re not to be believed, juggling with peoples lives, and telling them one thing but meaning another. If you were one of the Witches, what would you say to this accusation? 60. State your opinion about the way Shakespeare has handled the prophecies coming true, especially the one that involves a caesarian birth. 61. Macduff unleashes all of his anguish on Macbeth, who says that he will not fight with Macduff. How would you feel in Macduff s place, ready to avenge the murders of your wife and children, only to find that the murderer will not fight back? What kinds of emotions would this bring out in you? What would you do? 20

21 Response Journal WRAP UP 62. This is your chance to give an honest opinion of the play Macbeth. Number the following statements 1 to 6 (# 1 meaning, I agree completely, and # 6 meaning, I totally disagree. ). This play is a little difficult to read, but I learned a lot. I think I would like this play even better if I saw it on stage. I wish there had been more female characters. There is too much violence in this play. I didn t find the characters believable. I hated this play. Now write two complete sentences about why you made your number one choice, and two sentences about why you made your number six choice. 63. The ending of this play could be considered as fitting, considering what happens earlier. Can you think of a better ending, or do you think this is a good ending because it is appropriate? Back up your opinion with facts from Macbeth. 64. Write a letter to a friend telling why you did or did not like Macbeth. 65. If you were to tell a friend what you think the message of this play is, what would it be? 66. Write Macbeth s will. 21

22 TEST Matching A. Macduff B. Siward C. Banquo D. Macbeth E. Malcolm 1. His son Fleance escapes with his life from an ambush. 2. His wife and all his children are murdered. 3. He tells lies about himself in order to test the character of others. 4. Because of his victories in battle, he is given another title 5. He and his men help defeat a tyrant and put the legitimate heir back on the throne in a neighboring country. Multiple Choice 6. The scene with the Porter at the gate is used to A. provide comic relief and a break in the tension. B. heighten the building tension. C. provide a break in the action so the sets could be changed. D. begin a subplot. E. Both B and C 7. When Macbeth returns to the banquet table, who does he find sitting in his chair? A. Lady Macbeth B. the ghost of Duncan C. Macduff D. the ghost of Banquo E. his father s ghost 22

23 Response Journal 8. Banquo is killed because A. he would not follow the Witches advice. B. Macbeth feared that Banquo would start a line of kings. C. he knows too much about Macbeth. D. Lady Macbeth doesn t trust him. E. Both A and C 9. After Duncan s murder is discovered, his two sons immediately leave the country because they A. know they would be the prime suspects since they had the most to gain. B. fear that they may be murdered, too. C. are ordered to do so by Macbeth. D. are advised by the three Witches to do this. E. Both A and D 10. Macbeth first meets the Witches when he is A. returning from a visit with King Duncan. B. returning home from a fox hunt. C. returning home from a battle he has just won. D. called to his wife s sickbed. E. returning from the Crusades. 11. What problems does Duncan face at the opening of the play? A. Scotland is at war with Germany. B. Scottish kinsmen launch a protest against him. C. Scotland is at war with Norway. D. Both B and C 12. Fair is foul and foul is fair means A. Good weather will change to bad. B. Foul weather always becomes fair. C. Things can be both good and bad at the same time. D. Fairness is not always fair for everyone. 13. The Witches first prophecy is that A. Macbeth shall be named Thane of Cawdor. B. Macbeth s children shall not succeed him. C. Macbeth shall be named Thane of Ross. D. Macbeth shall not live to rule Scotland. 23

24 14. Why does Macbeth kill Duncan s guards? A. They witness the crime and he has to silence them. B. He wants to make it look as if they are guilty. C. They attack him. D. Lady Macbeth orders him to. 15. Why is Macbeth unhappy even after he becomes king? A. He has no children to succeed him. B. The Witches prophesied that Banquo s successors would be kings. C. His guilt is overpowering. D. Both A and B. 16. Duncan s sons are A. Fleance and Siward. B. Donalbain and Malcolm. C. Fleance and Malcolm. D. Fleance and Donaldbain. 17. Macbeth kills Duncan A. out of revenge. B. He does not kill Duncan. C. to become king. D. for money. 18. Malcolm orders each soldier marching on Dunsinane to carry a branch. Why? A. For camouflage B. As weapons C. To make the Witches prophecy come true D. As shields 19. How do we know that Lady Macbeth has gone mad? A. She attacks Lady Macduff. B. She attempts suicide. C. She sleepwalks and her speech is incoherent and full of anguish. D. She cries uncontrollably. 20. Who ascends the throne of Scotland after Macbeth is vanquished? A. Malcolm B. Young Siward C. Macduff D. Malcolm s son 24

25 T est Student Answer Sheet Name:

26 Response Journal An Annotated Bibliography on Response Journals Response Journals: Inviting Students to Think and Write Literature By Julie Wollman-Bonilla This slim volume covers the how and why of having students keep response journals. From defending your choice to use response journals as a part of your writing and literature class, to techniques for assessing the impact of response journals. ISBN: $12.95 Publisher: Scholastic Old Faithful: 18 Writers Present Their Favorite Writing Assignments Edited by Christopher Edgar and Ron Padgett Creative writers and teachers describe their single best writing assignment the one that never fails to inspire students. ISBN: $14.95 Publisher: Teachers and Writers Collaborative Journal Jumpstarts: Quick Topics and Tips for Journal Writing By Patricia Woodward and Patricia Howard Contains over 400 writing topics that appeal to young people. ISBN: $7.95 Publisher: Cottonwood Press Journal Keeping with Young People By Barbara A. Steiner and Kathleen C. Phillips A great deal of useful information pertaining to Response Journals is contained in this book s 80 pages. ISBN: $12.95 Publisher: Teacher Ideas Press Idea Catcher for Kids: An Inspiring Journal for Young Writers By Bill Zimmerman Hundreds of creative writing prompts, including prompts written by students responding to Mr. Zimmerman s previous book, A Book of Questions. ISBN: $9.99 Publisher: Little, Brown & Company 26

27 T est Answer Key 1. C_ 2. A 3. E 4. D 5. B 6. A 7. D 8. B 9. B 10. C 11. C 12. C 13. A 14. B 15. D 16. B 17. B 18. A 19. C _ 20. A 27