Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Macbeth:
Initial Characterization
10TH GRADE ENGLISH
MR. TREVOR HARDEN

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Objectives
 Establish an initial characterization of all the major players
 Be able to cite evidence from a text to establish a
character's characterization, importance to the plot, and
the effect they have on the plot.

Standard
Reading Standard 3- Analyze how complex
characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting
motivations) develop over the course of a text,
interact with other characters, and advance the
plot or develop the theme.

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Write What You Know

 Act 1 Scene 1-5: Name and describe the
characterization of each character up to this
point in the story. This does not have to an in-
depth analysis of the characters. Instead, use
single words for each character. The scene
wherein the character is introduced should be
included with the name.

 Hint: There are 6 major characters at this point

that you should mention.

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Share What You Know

 Get into groups of 3-4 and discuss what you wrote down
about the characters.
 See what other group members included that you did not
think to include.
 Notice if there are any characters missing from your list.
 Discuss where in the text you found the information
pertaining to the characters.
 Fill information that you are missing.

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Come Together

 Disperse from your groups

 We will now share and discuss as a group what you knew
about the characters and what insight your group
members gave you about the characters.
 Let's see what you learned!

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Characterization

 Literary Device used to explain a character and their

actions in a story.
 Direct vs Indirect
 Direct- The character’s characterization is directly
referenced in the story by the narrator, protagonist or
other characters.
 Indirect- Readers must deduce the characterization by
the character’s actions, words, and reactions to other
characters.
 Macbeth uses a combination of both

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Five Methods of Characterization

 Physical Description
 The character's physical appearance is described
 Behavior
 The actions of the character in the story
 Inner Thoughts
 The thoughts of the character
 Reactions
 What characters say or feel about this particular
character
 Speech
 What the character says in the story

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Characterization in Macbeth

 A combination of most of the Methods

 No Physical Descriptions in the Play
 Main Methods are the other Methods
 Reactions are primarily for the Secondary
Characters
 Inner Thoughts are presented through
monologues spoken to audience

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

How Do You
Characterize?
“This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of success, What can be
Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion discerned
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, about
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
Macbeth in this
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man
Monologue?
That function is smothered in surmise,
And nothing is but what is not”
-Macbeth, Act I Scene III

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Your Turn!
“Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What does this
What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is to full o’ th’ milk of human kindness monologue
To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great,
Art not without ambition, but without say about
The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, Lady
And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou’ld’st have, great Glamis,
That which cries “Thus thou must do,” if thou have it,
Macbeth?
And that which rather thou dost fear to do,
Than wishes should be undone. Hie thee hither,
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear Discuss in
And chastise with the valor of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round, your
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crowned withal.”
group
-Lady Macbeth, Act I Scene V

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Macbeth

 Introduced in Act I Scene II

 Protagonist/Titular Character
of the play
 Thane of Glamis
 Soldier
 General in Duncan’s army
 Respected
 Manipulatable?
 Power Hungry?
 Evil?

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Lady Macbeth

 Introduced in Act I Scene IV

 Primary Character
 Cunning
 Power Hungry
 Manipulative
 Ambitious
 Ruthless

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

King Duncan

 Introduced In Act I Scene II

 Secondary Character
 Significant to plot and
Macbeths development
 Virtuous
 Fair
 Benevolent
 Just
 Order

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Banquo

 Introduced in Act I Scene II

 Secondary Character
 Macbeth’s Best Friend
 Loyal
 Cautious
 Brave
 Serves as one of the foils to
Macbeth

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Malcolm

 Introduced in Act I Scene II

 Primary Character
 Son of King Duncan
 Heir to the Throne
 Trustworthy
 Uncertain
 Weak?

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

The Witches

 Introduced in Act I Scene I

 Agents of Fate?
 Temptations of Evil?
 Random Beings?
 Manipulative
 Omnipotent

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Why is the Characterization of

these Characters Important?
 Discuss in your groups
 Come with three reason as to why you need to
be able to characterize in a story
 Write down your three reasons and be prepared
to share with me and the class

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

What Did You Find?

What Do I Know?
 Why Do You Think It’s Important?
 Why I Think It’s Important:
 Important to understanding the development
of characters and the plot
 Aids in understanding how to find information
in a text
 Improves Critical Thinking by having you take
elements from the text to prove your analysis

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Graphic Organizer
Create a Graphic Organizer for each character. We will track the progress
of each character over the course of the play and update their
characterization as we learn more about them. Example Below:

Character Name: Characterization:

Act I

Act II

Act III

Act IV

Act V

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Macbeth: Initial Characterization

Big Poster Activity

 Reform your groups

 Grab a Big Poster
 Grab markers
 Each group will be assigned a character
 Write descriptions of the character
 Hang up poster
 We will then rotate each group to a new poster
 Write any description you believe should be added
 Continue until a full rotation has occurred

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