"Between the Pages" -- Period 1

W7, #5: Can You See the Ghost?

Now that you've all read -- by Wednesday's class -- Act III of Macbeth, you're familiar with the scene when Banquo's ghost comes to 'pay a visit' to Macbeth at his palace during a banquet -- with Lady Macbeth, Ross, Lennox, and others. 

You've also realized that Macbeth starts acting very strangely now.

The only problem?

Nobody else sees the ghost.  Just Macbeth.  And this means that everyone else is really confused by Macbeth's behavior and comments.

This also means that every director doing this play has to decide if the ghost can be seen by the audience or not.

Your Challenge:

• If you were the director of this scene, would you have an actor on stage playing the 'ghost of Banquo', looking at Macbeth, sitting in Macbeth's chair, etc., so that the audience could see him just like Macbeth can? 
• Or, as the director of this scene, would you choose to have no ghost on stage with the other actors, but allow it to only be something that the audience has to imagine (just like Macbeth)?
• Which would be the best choice to make the scene believable?
  
• Explain your answer -- why?/why not? -- in 5+ sentences.

W7, #4: "Is that a Dagger Which I See...?"

In class -- during a quiz -- you were asked to explain why Macbeth says the following near the beginning of Act II (Scene 1, Lines 33-39 in the purple text):

"Is that a dagger which I see before me,
The handle towards my hand? Come, let me clutch thee,
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight, or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?"

Challenge:

• Part 1: Explain WHY you think Macbeth says this right before he is about to go kill King Duncan.  Length:  5+ sentences
• Part 2: What does this say about Macbeth as a person -- before he kills King Duncan -- at this part of the play.  Length:  2+ sentences.

W5, #4: MP3's for Macbeth

NOTE:  Mr. Long would love, love, love...and kinda appreciate, too...any student who brings in a copy (via a burned CD, for instance) of the songs that they are using for this reply.  This is entirely for selfish reasons.  His music collection -- while very impressive for a guy who graduated from high school in the way-back 80's -- has become a bit stale as of late.  Any help in re-gaining his musical footing -- as a human being -- would be wonderful.  Otherwise, he's stuck listening to Dan Fogelberg singing "Don't Let That Sun Go Down" and dated copies of A-Ha mixed tapes indefinitely.  Help!

***

Musically speaking, I wonder what the soundtrack for Act I would be. 

Even better, I wonder what it would sound like if you were the DJ putting that soundtrack for the play (or even a film version) together.

Here's what I'm thinking.

Now that we're beginning to regularly discuss how a director and his/her actors would perform parts of this play, perhaps we ought to think about how to create the right atmosphere/tone that would make the actions seem believable, hint at the future, and in general engage the audience. 

This means we might need to consider music.

With that in mind, here is your challenge:

Part 1:  Think of all 7 scenes in Act I.  Try to imagine the 'vibe' or 'tone' you'd want to create as the director for your audience.

Part 2:  For 4 of the 7 scenes, pick one song (and artist) to be played in the background -- or as an introduction to set the tone.  That would mean you have to pick 4 different songs, one for each scene.  Feel free to use any music -- from classical to modern -- to create the right atmosphere.

Part 3:  Pick one of the 4 songs you've selected. 

Part 4:  Explain in 5+ sentences why it would be the ideal song to play in that specific scene.  Remember:  your reader may not know the song, but they will be able to understand your description of the scene (hint).

W5, #3: "Yet Do I Fear Thy Nature"

I want you to imagine being a director who has to give instructions to an inexperienced actress who will play Lady Macbeth for the very first time.

The scene you'll ask her to read is from Act 1, Scene 5 (all spoken by Lady Macbeth). 

*** Note:  click the bottom link on this entry to see all the lines we are considering. ***

As you will discover, the key to acting this scene depends on what you think Lady Macbeth is really thinking 'inside'. 

Once you grasp that -- as the director -- then you are in a position to show the actor how that translates into an 'external' performance via tricks of the trade:  voice, tone, pauses, movements, eyes, emphasis, etc.

With that in mind, here is your challenge:

• Write a short memo -- 7+ sentences -- to your 'inexperienced' actor/actress who is about ready to see lines 1-28 for the FIRST time.  (note: stop when the messenger enters at line 28).  Imagine this is her/his 'try out' to show you she/he understands the role/character in question.
• Tell your actor/actress how to perform this scene so that it is obvious that Lady Macbeth really comes to life and the audience will fully grasp what she is capable of throughout the remainder of Act I.
• Note:  be specific with your directions.  "Be angry", for example, is not specific advice.  "Raise your eyebrows and pause before letting your face drop into a subtle sneer as you begin to say the following words..." is specific.

Click the following link to read all the lines we are referring to here:

W4, #5: "I Do I Fear Thy Nature"

Wanted: One theater director.

Goal:  Tell your actor how to play Lady Macbeth.

Specifics:  I'd like each one of you to take on the role of 'director' of this play in order to help an 'inexperienced' actor/actress perform the opening lines from Act 1, Scene 5 (spoken by Lady Macbeth).

This includes the full letter from Macbeth (about the prophecy) that Lady Macbeth reads aloud to herself...and then what she says in reaction.

*** Note:  click the bottom link on this entry to see all the lines we are considering. ***

As you will discover, the key to this scene lies in what Lady Macbeth is thinking and plotting...and trying to figure out how the actor would make it believable. 

Once you grasp that -- as the director -- then you are in a position to show your actor how her internal thinking translates into an 'external' performance via tricks of the trade:  voice, tone, pauses, movements, eyes, emphasis, etc.

With that in mind, here is your challenge:

• Write a short memo -- 7+ sentences -- to your 'inexperienced' actor/actress who is about ready to see lines 1-28 for the FIRST time.  (note: stop when the messenger enters at line 28).  Imagine this is her/his 'try out' to show you she/he understands the role/character in question.
• Tell your actor/actress how to perform this scene so that it is obvious that Lady Macbeth really comes to life and the audience will fully grasp what she is capable of throughout the remainder of Act I.
• Note:  be specific with your directions.  "Be angry", for example, is not specific advice.  "Raise your eyebrows and pause before letting your face drop into a subtle sneer as you begin to say the following words..." is specific.
• Note:  you may want to read responses from students in the other 3 classes to get ideas...but you should certainly feel confident enough to come up with your own ideas from scratch.
  

Click the following link to read all the lines we are referring to here:

W4, #3: "Fair is Foul, and Foul is Fair"

All [Witches]:

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair." (I, i, 10)

As each of you has certainly realized by now, the 3 Witches' early statement has become a constant theme in this play.  Everywhere we turn, someone is playing around with this idea. 

Clearly Shakespeare does not want us to forget this concept.

With that in mind, here is your challenge:

• Tell a story of some point in your life where things appeared at first to be "foul" (or negative)...but over time you realized that it actually led to something really "fair" (or positive) for you (and anyone else in your life).
• Make sure to explain 'why' your thinking about the situation changed over time.  Was it a matter of maturity?  Did you need to see 'evidence' later on to see the positive side?  Were you more logical, less emotional, etc. at the end of the process?
• Write a minimum of 7+ sentences.

W3, #3: The Power of Decisions

Spoken by Macbeth (scene II, act i, line 33):

"Is that a dagger I see before me?"

As you will soon see as we read Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, a single decision -- good or bad -- can have a profound impact on the rest of one's life...as well as the lives of those around us.

Challenge: 

• In 7+ sentences, describe a GOOD decision you've made at some point in your past that ended up having a strong impact on the rest of your life (and maybe even those around you).
• Note:  Please decide how personal a story you want to share, even though it is a "good" one. Your name will not be shown...but others will read your story with sincerity/interest.