Macbeth: Initial Characterization
Objectives
Macbeth:
Initial Characterization
10TH GRADE ENGLISH
MR. TREVOR HARDEN
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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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 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.
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 11/8/2019

Come Together Characterization

 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!
 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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Five Methods of Characterization Characterization in Macbeth

 Physical Description  A combination of most of the Methods

 The character's physical appearance is described
 Behavior  No Physical Descriptions in the Play
 The actions of the character in the story  Main Methods are the other Methods
 Inner Thoughts
 Reactions are primarily for the Secondary
 The thoughts of the character
 Reactions
Characters
 What characters say or feel about this particular  Inner Thoughts are presented through
character
monologues spoken to audience
 Speech
 What the character says in the story

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How Do You Your Turn!

Characterize?
“This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of success,
Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man
That function is smothered in surmise,
And nothing is but what is not”
-Macbeth, Act I Scene III
“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,
What can be Art not without ambition, but without say about
discerned
The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, Lady
about And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou’ld’st have, great Glamis,
That which cries “Thus thou must do,” if thou have it,
Macbeth?
Macbeth in this And that which rather thou dost fear to do,
Than wishes should be undone. Hie thee hither,
Monologue? 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 Lady Macbeth

 Introduced in Act I Scene II  Introduced in Act I Scene IV

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

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King Duncan Banquo

 Introduced In Act I Scene II  Introduced in Act I Scene II

 Secondary Character  Secondary Character
 Significant to plot and  Macbeth’s Best Friend
Macbeths development Loyal

 Virtuous Cautious

 Fair
 Brave
 Benevolent  Serves as one of the foils to
 Just Macbeth
 Order

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Malcolm The Witches

 Introduced in Act I Scene II  Introduced in Act I Scene I

 Primary Character  Agents of Fate?
 Son of King Duncan  Temptations of Evil?
 Heir to the Throne  Random Beings?
 Trustworthy  Manipulative
 Uncertain  Omnipotent
 Weak?

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Why is the Characterization of What Did You Find?

these Characters Important? What Do I Know?
Discuss in your groups  Why Do You Think It’s Important?


 Come with three reason as to why you need to

 Why I Think It’s Important:
be able to characterize in a story  Important to understanding the development
of characters and the plot
 Write down your three reasons and be prepared
to share with me and the class  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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Graphic Organizer Big Poster Activity

Create a Graphic Organizer for each character. We will track the progress
of each character over the course of the play and update their  Reform your groups
characterization as we learn more about them. Example Below:  Grab a Big Poster
 Grab markers
Character Name: Characterization:  Each group will be assigned a character

Act I  Write descriptions of the character

 Hang up poster
Act II
 We will then rotate each group to a new poster
Act III
 Write any description you believe should be added
Act IV  Continue until a full rotation has occurred

Act V

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