EA 190 Shakespeare & Japan: Reading and Discussion Questions Week 2

Macbeth (Folger Shakespeare Library DVD edition):

1. Read pp. xi-xlviii (introductory material) and Susan Snyder, "Macbeth: A Modern Perspective" pp. 197-207.

2. Read the actual play text, pp. 3-191.

3. Watch the film version of a 2008 theatrical performance of Macbeth directed by Teller and Aaron Posner that accompanies Macbeth above. The directors suggest you watch the film first and then read the text. Either is fine. But you should read the '"Directors Forward" (pp. vii-x) so you understand what they are trying to do. I would also suggest TURNING THE SUBTITLES ON as you watch it.

READING QUESTIONS

"Shakespeare's Macbeth" (xiii-xiv)

1. A short two-page introduction that provides some of the historical context for Shakespeare's writing of a play about a Scottish King, and the sources he used for the play (mainly Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of Scotland). It also provides a list of some of the main questions that Macbeth has raised for readers.

"Reading Shakespeare's Language" (xv-xxiv)

1. A helpful guide for students who have not had much experience reading Shakespeare. One immediate point worth raising: watching the play in performance (for example on the provided DVD) will be very helpful in understanding the meaning of otherwise obscure words and structures.

2. According to this essay, what are the distinctive ways that Shakespeare uses language in Macbeth?

3. Puns and metaphors are central to Shakespeare's language. Make sure you know the meaning of these terms, so that you can analyze the imagery used.

4. Another point that is not mentioned in this essay (although perhaps implied): every Shakespearean character has a distinctive speaking pattern that marks him or her as a unique individual. Some speak only in prose, some only in metered phrases, some in a combination of both. Some use lots of puns and wordplays, some use only a few. Some use extensive imagery (often an indication of imagination), some speak relatively plainly and straightforwardly (perhaps an indication of a lack of imagination). This stylistic distinction was actually a new invention by Shakespeare. Previously, the only real distinction made between characters was class: for example, in plays by Christopher Marlow, all upper-class characters spoke in metered phrases, all lower-class characters spoke in prose. What appears to be distinctive about how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth speak?

"Shakespeare's Life" and "Shakespeare's Theater"

An introduction to what we know of Shakespeare's life (relatively little) and what we know about the stage and acting conventions of Shakespeare's time.

"The Publication of Shakespeare's Plays" (xli-xliv)

A short introduction to how Shakespeare's plays were published (there are no manuscript copies). This is not so important for Macbeth, because the folio and quarto versions are quite similar. It will be a much more problematic issue when we come to King Lear, because there are very significant differences between the published versions.

"An Introduction to This Text" (xlv-xlviii)

This essay explains the editing choices, including modernization of spelling, regularization of names etc., and how the explanatory notes are designed.

Susan Snyder, "Macbeth: A Modern Perspective" (197-207)

This very helpful essay goes over the main themes of Macbeth as they have been understood by 20th century critics. If you read nothing else, read this.