Macbeth: The Paper Sophomore Honors English 2015-2016 Wathen Contents Page 2 Assignment Page 3 Topic Generator Page 4 Writing the Claim Page 5 Collecting Evidence Page 6 Sample Combination Outline Page 7 Sample Developed Paragraph Page 8 Writing the Introduction Page 9 Writing the Conclusion Page 10 Quoting Lines from Shakespeare Plays Submission Materials checklist 1
Assignment What: A literary analysis of Macbeth you choose the focus for the paper. Length: Three pages word-processed double-spaced Steps in the Process: 1. Topic approved 2. Claim written and approved 3. Combination outline written and approved 4. One body paragraph written and approved 5. Introduction written and approved 6. Final paper due must be submitted to Turn it in.com Due Date: The paper is due on the assigned date. If you will not be in school on that day, your paper must be. If you are absent, submit it to Turnitin.com and submit the marked copy when you return. What is due on Turnitin.com: Your final unmarked copy of the paper due by class time on the due date What is due in class: A final marked copy of the paper (see items below) What is due in your English folder: Final combination outline Items to be marked on marked copy: Double underline thesis and restatement Underline topic sentences Circle major transitions. Underline and label the following sentence structures: Prepositional phrase used as an adjective Prepositional phrase used as an adverb Appositive phrase Participle phrase Gerund phrase used two different ways Infinitive phrase used two different ways Adjective clause Adverb clause Noun clause used in two different ways Sentence types (loose, periodic, combination, expanding subject, expanding verb, expanding rest of the sentence, simple, compound, complex, compound-complex) label one of each type Write your paper first and then mark what you ve got. If you need to make some adjustments to meet the above requirements, make sure they make your writing better. Citations: Make sure that all citations are done according to MLA format. The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) is an excellent source for citations. See directions on how to quote from Shakespeare s plays on page 10 of this packet. 2
Macbeth Paper Topic Generator General Topic Imagery Possible focus Blood characterize Macbeth s guilt. Clothing characterize Macbeth s vaulting ambition and its consequences. Light/dark develop the theme about good stronger than evil. Possible organization Chronological progression of guilt Chronological progression of ambition Chronological to show introduction and development of theme in the play. 3
Writing the Claim The most common weak claim is "self-evident. In other words, don t write a paper to prove a proposition which is not worth arguing. Saying that Shakespeare's purpose in Macbeth is to prove that Macbeth is a bad man or that killing a king is a reprehensible act may be true, but is it worth writing a whole essay to prove? Bad: Shakespeare uses a great many images of darkness and light in Macbeth. Average: Shakespeare uses images of darkness and light in Macbeth to establish the mood of scenes and also to suggest the way that Macbeth is ambitious. Better: Light and dark imagery is used in Shakespeare s Macbeth to create mood and to subtly characterize Macbeth s association with destructive ambition. Your Claim: Organization What pattern of organization are you using? What will each body paragraph focus on? Body Paragraph #1 Body Paragraph #2 Body Paragraph #3 4
Collecting Evidence Where in the play will you look for evidence for each body paragraph? (Identify Act, scene and line numbers if possible) Body Paragraph #1 Body Paragraph #2 Body Paragraph #3 5
Sample Combination Outline Masculinity in Shakespeare s Macbeth: A Balancing Act Thesis: In William Shakespeare s tragedy Macbeth, pursuit of the archetypal ideal of manhood, when taken to an extreme, makes characters inhumanly cruel, whereas a more balanced view of manhood makes characters both strong and virtuous. I Throughout the play, both male and female characters associate masculinity with unswerving courage, stoic strength, and an enormous capacity for cruelty. A Acting without fear 1 Macbeth as warrior 2 Boys in war: unrough youths (5.2.11) 3 Son of Siward: He only lived but till he was a man... But like a man he died (5.8.45-48) B Acting without feeling 1 Macbeth telling wife, Bring forth men- children only,/for thy undaunted mettle should compose/nothing but males (1.3.83-85) 2 Malcolm urging revenge 3 Siward reacting cooly to son s death: He s worth no more [sorrow] (5.8.61) II This accepted archetype, taken to extremes, can lead to chaos and be used to manipulate. A Lady Macbeth requesting masculinity: Come you spirits/that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here/and fill me from the crown to the toe top- ful of direst cruelty (1.5.47-50) 1 Milk for gall 2 Blood stops remorse 3 Will to murder B Lady Macbeth and Macbeth manipulating others 1 Murder of Duncan (Lady Macbeth to Macbeth) a Men getting what they want b Men daring c Men keeping promises 2 Murder of Banquo (Macbeth to murderers) a Men being of different breeds b Men getting revenge when wronged III Characters who demonstrate a more balanced understanding of masculinity are shown in a positive light and bring order to the desolate country. A Macduff reacting to death of family: But I must also feel it as a man (4.3.26) 1 Sensitivity being acceptable 2 Role of man as father 3 Revenge for family B Malcolm encouraging emotion 1 Comment to Macduff...weep our sad bosoms empty (4.3.2) 2 Advice to Macduff (4.3.246) 3 Reaction to Siward s death more sorrowful than father s. 6
Sample Developed Paragraph Throughout the play, characters associate masculinity with unswerving courage and stoic strength. Fighting without fear, to nearly all of the men in Macbeth, is an essential trait. In Act One, Scene 2, Macbeth, the valiant hero, deluged with praises, epitomizes the perfect man. Even faced with the most disastrous of circumstances, Macbeth battles on to victory against both rebel forces and the Norweyan army. Other men also emphasize this value of courage. In Act Five, as the battle against Macbeth s army draws closer, Lennox comments that fighting will make the land s unrough youths (5.2.11) into men. Ross takes this further when Young Siward is killed, proclaiming, He only lived but till he was a man...but like a man he died (5.8.45-48). Ross seems to imply the fighting boldly alone can instantly change a boy into a man. Manhood is also associated with an ability to mask emotions and appear strong and confident. Macbeth, after hearing his wife s ghastly plan to murder the king, exclaims: Bring forth men-children only,/for thy undaunted mettle should compose/nothing but males (1.3.83-85). He offers the comment as a compliment; though he himself is a man, he is shocked at Lady Macbeth s determination and ambition, at this point greater than his own. He connects these qualities not with his wife s unique personality, but with masculinity. Other characters reinforce this image of the strong, controlled man. When he hears of the slaughter of Macduff s family, Malcolm urges Macduff to avenge the deaths, to transform his pain into anger that he an use against the murderous Macbeth(4.3.68-69). Thus he associates manhood with an ability to put emotions aside and seek justice. Even Siward, a father who has lost his son, refuses to show grief. Told that his son faced death nobly, the fatal wounds on his front, Siward accepts the loss as the price paid in war, commenting He s worth no more [sorrow] (5.8.61). 7
Writing the Introduction to the paper 1. Opening is interesting and relates to the general topic of the paper. The opening is a more general idea not specifically related to the play. Begin with a quote Begin with a story Begin with a comparison (simile or metaphor) Begin with a vivid description Begin with a question Begin with an interesting statement Focusing Down 2. The introduction works down to the thesis, going from general to specific. First sentence should not be about the literature you are analyzing. 3. No gap before thesis - Your introduction should gradually move to your thesis. There should not be a big gap right before your thesis. 4. Thesis has titles of stories and authors and how setting is important. 5. Thesis is the last sentence of the introduction. The introduction for a paper of this length is usually five to seven sentences long Sample Introductions Introduction Type: Interesting Statement Language plays a cornerstone in almost every society. It brings cohesion to a group of people and helps to form an identity. Words belong to people to shape and mold, beginning with the letter, then syllables, sentences, and finally paragraphs. Skill and knowledge allow the individual to use language to communicate with others. Perhaps the greatest example of this talent is William Shakespeare, and Elizabethan playwright. Through the language of his plays, Shakespeare could evoke fear, passion, joy, or rage with only a few words. This power is especially evident in Macbeth, one of his most universally recognized plays. A careful word selection and eloquent figurative language helps to shape the main characters and intrigue the audience. One excellent example is during Act V, scene v where Shakespeare s figurative language and diction effectively convey Macbeth s feeling of despair. Introduction Type: Focusing Down Shakespeare is often described s one of the most brilliant writers the world has ever seen. This title does not come without good reason. Shakespeare is the creator of many famous plays, most of which are still being performed today. The plays have such an element of timelessness because of their themes, but also because of the way Shakespeare wrote. With only a few words Shakespeare could effectively evoke, fear, passion, joy, or rage. Once excellent example of this ability is present in Macbeth. During Act V scene v, Shakespeare s use of figurative language and diction effectively convey Macbeth s feelings of despondence. 8
Writing the Conclusion to the paper 1. Begin your conclusion with a transition that indicates closure. 2. After your transition, restate your thesis. Do not use the same thesis sentence as in your introduction. Vary the wording. 3. After the restatement of thesis, summarize your paper. Include one sentence for each paragraph in your paper. 4. End your conclusion with a final broad statement. The broad final statement should not be about the specific stories but about the topic in general. You can use some of the same devices that you would use to start the introduction. End with a Question End with a Quote End with a reference to the Introduction End with a vivid image End with a clever use of language 5. Your entire conclusion should be at least 4 6 sentences long. Sample Conclusion for a Caesar paper In closing, In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Mark Antony effectively utilizes the persuasive devices of ethos, pathos, and logos to win support of the people and turn them against Brutus and the conspirators. He uses ethos to establish common ground and emphasize his humble character to gain favorable opinions from the crowd. At the same time, establishing pathos, Antony uses visual aids and false emotions to appeal to the crowd s emotions. As Antony continues his speech, he uses logos to logically persuade the crowd and set the stage for the rest of the play. Just as Antony uses persuasive devices in his speech to achieve his goals, modern speeches resonate with the same devices. Whether motives for speaking are noble or destructive, the words used can create powerful change. As Peggy Noonan, speech writer for many Presidents, says, A speech is poetry: cadence, rhythm, imagery. A speech reminds us that words, like children, have the power to make dance the dullest beanbag of a heart. 9
How to Quote Lines from Shakespeare s Plays Since the plays are written in blank verse, the same rules that apply to quoting poetry apply to the lines of Shakespeare s plays. Some teachers may prefer that you use Roman numerals (V, iii, 45-46). Example: Cassius dies saying, Caesar, thou art revenged,/even with the sword that killed thee (5.3.45-46). Example: He recalls a fever Caesar had in Spain, then a swimming match he lost (1. 2. 98-128) and wonders how the tired Caesar has become a god. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed That he is grown so great? (1. 2. 135-137, 149-150) Is Your Macbeth Paper Ready for Final Submission?????? Due Date: Items to be submitted: Turn-it-in.com submission by class time Final hard copy marked copy of your paper (see below) Final combination outline in English folder Items to Mark up on your Final Paper Double underline thesis and restatement Underline topic sentences Circle major transitions Prepositional phrase used as an adjective Prepositional phrase used as an adverb Appositive phrase Participle phrase Gerund phrase used two different ways Infinitive phrase used two different ways Adjective clause Adverb clause Noun clause used in two different ways Sentence types loose periodic combination expanding subject expanding verb expanding rest of the sentence simple compound complex compound-complex 10