Assignment #3: It's tragic!

For your first encounter with tragedy a la Shakespeare, and to make sure you have a truly cathartic experience, there are a few things you need to know.

Your groups will be responsible for researching the following terms:

Topics and Groups
1. Tragedy - Group 1
2. Pathetic Fallacy - Group 2
3. Hamartia - Group 3
4. Dramatic Irony - Group 4
5. The tragic hero - Group 5
6. Catharsis - Lady Mac

Requirements
1. Define the term.
2. Trace the term's roots (where did it come from? Who is responsible for the term/theory?)
3. How does it apply to Macbeth? NO SPOILERS PLEASE - (if it's going to ruin something - be very general - or pick another example)
4. Create one document for the group that covers 1, 2, and 3 today. Include hyperlinks to any good resources.

Next Monday
1. Each group will have 5 minutes to teach the class about your term (3 minutes presenting - 2 for questions). There will be some overlap of material - that is ok. You will have a test on terminology at some point during this unit, so you will need to know this information.

2. Following class next Monday, you will post your final points on your Plog.

Assignment #2: Etext Versions of Macbeth

Today your group is going to take a look at various online versions of Macbeth. The differences are often slight, but you can imagine how, after hundreds of years, the text can alter immensely in both format and meaning.

1. Each group will assess a different etext source from the list of hyperlinks below.

2. Read the first two scenes and compare them to the Oxford text version, paying close attention to:
a. physical layout/format (font selection, lines, spacing, numbering of lines, occurrence or absence of notes, headers, and use of italics, etc.),
b. language
c. punctuation
d. stage directions
e. character information

3. Each group will write and edit a 300-400 word analysis assessing your chosen etext version to determine if the resource is reliable, relevant and lasting. Will the site be around in 5 years? Is it a good resource for students studying Macbeth? The intended audience is Grade 9 English students.

It is interesting to note, last year I removed two links, as the resources were no longer accessible. Obviously not that reliable, relevant or lasting.

Here’s an excerpt from an analysis:
"Part of the University of Victoria's Department of English website, this site has not been updated for 10 years and still is in use for university study. Only a few minor differences were noticeable between the Oxford Shakespeare edition and this site's online text. These changes and variations included several semicolons that replaced commas and more detailed, if not more accurate, stage directions. Line numbers were also given throughout the online text; however, unlike the Oxford Shakespeare edition, line numbers were given every five lines as opposed to every ten lines. Although many of these changes could mean significantly different interpretations of the text, I believe that these grammatical changes do not compromise the reliability and credibility of this site."
-- Posted by Katrina

Etext Sources:
1. http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/macbeth/2/
2. http://www.literaturepage.com/read/shakespeare_macbeth.html
3. http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/MobMacb.html
4. http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/macbeth/full.html
5. http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/s/shakespeare/william/macbeth/
6. http://www.bibliomania.com/0/6/3/1075/frameset.html

Homework: Post your group response by November 17th

Assignment #1: Contextual Details for Macbeth

In order to understand many of the references in Macbeth, it's important to take a closer look at both the life and times of the 'real' Macbeth, and Shakespeare's world.

Groups and Topics

1 Raphael Holinshed's Chronicle of Scotland
2 Political and Social world of England in 1606
3 The History Play vs. Tragedy
4 Views on Witchcraft (at the time of Macbeth and at the time of Shakepeare)
5 Women - in the real Macbeth's time and in Shakespeare's day.

Requirements
1. Search for reliable resources on your topic.
2. In point form, introduce specific and significant points from the resources. Each group member should submit 2-3 valid points (with their initials after each point - in parentheses).
3. Merge points into one document. Post your group's research on the Plog at the end of class. Be sure to include links to the sources.

For Next Thursday
1. Read at least one posting from each topic.
2. Make one connection between your group's posting, and a different topic. Include your name in the post.

MLA Resources

Parenthetical Notation for lines from plays:
Don't use page numbers. Instead, include act, scene, and line numbers that can be found in every edition of the work, in that order. Use arabic numerals, and separate the numbers with periods. (3.2.21-23).

Citing Online Sources
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html

Citing Artwork accessed/viewed on the Internet
Artist unknown. "We Want an Eye for an Eye and Will Fight
Resolutely." Date unknown. Online image. The Huntington Archive of Buddhist and Related Art. 5 Jan. 2005. <http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu/exhib/poster/PictPow1.html> .

Specific Editions We Use
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth Online. Don Mills: Oxford UP, 2011. Print.

The Tragedy of Macbeth. Dir. Roman Polanski. Film. Columbia Pictures, Playboy Productions/Caliban Films, 1971. Film.

Welcome

Welcome M3 English Students! For the duration of our Macbeth Unit, your pod will be responsible for creating a Plog and using that Plog to complete several group assignments.

Today, your group will be responsible for setting up your Plog (choosing a name, design features, etc.) Take a look at some of the previous Plogs created by students in the lower right corner of this page.

You will need:
an email account (one student's is fine or you may register a new email account)
a password that all Plog members can use

You will need to email your password to me with a link to the final url for your Plog.

Happy Plogging!