Frosh
The differences between the Franco Zeffirelli version of Romeo & Juliet and Baz Luhrman's version are numerous. It's your job to have noticed them in your notes and then write a paragraph discussing those differences. When looking at the characters, notice the way they act, the way they look, and the way they talk compared to how we read it together in class using the text. Notice what the actors do, their apparent feelings and emotions as well as what is left out when tracking the action. Finally, keep track of where the characters are located, the time period and the time of day when looking at the setting.
Bonus for Frosh (10 points): In a thoughtful (5 sentences minimum sounds thoughtful to me), explain who you think is most at fault for the brawl that occurs in I.i and why you think so. Use evidence from the scene to support your answer. The deadline to answer is Thursday. Any answers submitted beyond that will be lost to the sands of time.
Seniors
Act II is incredibly dense with thematic dichotomies. In particular, you'll find plenty of evidence for the natural vs. supernatural dichotomy towards the end of the act, both figuratively in what characters say and literally in the actions they describe happening in the wake of Duncan's death. Macbeth is the picture of insanity vs. sanity, too. Act II also provides the actual murder of the king, which up to now, had been something Macbeth seemed to want to avoid...or did he? That leads us to the bonus question.
Bonus for Seniors (10 points): In a thoughtful response (6-8 sentences minimum seems pretty thoughtful) explain who you feel to be most responsible for Duncan's death and why. Is it Macbeth, Lady Macbeth or the witches? Or is it someone else entirely? The deadline to answer is Thursday. Any answers submitted beyond that will be lost to the sands of time.
I think that Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and the witches are all equally responsible for Duncan's death. I blame the witches because they are the ones that told Macbeth his prophecy that he would become king one day. If Macbeth were never to of had the encounter with the witches, he most likely would of never seriously considered killing the king. I blame Lady Macbeth because she is the one that encouraged Macbeth to actually try and make the witches prophecy's come true. Lady Macbeth also taunted and made fun of Macbeth, further encouraging him to kill the king so that he would not look like a "baby" in the eye's of Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is also to blame; he was the one that actually put a dagger through Duncan's chest (more than once) and killed him. Macbeth could of acted like the bigger person and seriously thought about what he was thinking of doing. Instead, he challenged his fate and did what he thought would get him to the crown fastest.
ReplyDeleteMAN! Take a side! That was the whole point! Jeez, hemming and hawing over here defeats the purpose of the question.
ReplyDeleteAwe...I can't write 6-8 sentences about ONE person. More people to talk about equals more sentences!
ReplyDeleteThat's why it's a cop out.
ReplyDeleteAt least I tried.
ReplyDeleteThat, sir, I appreciate and it's why you earned the 10 points.
ReplyDelete