response

I like how you are thinking about how the power had corrupted him. As you talk about each point, try and then explain right then and there how the power corrupted him. Also You want to show What he was like before so we can see the change in him as well. remember to bring in quotes to help back up what you ae saying. You have some good points. Are the witches prophecies the power or what gave him the confidence?

Learning Log.. re-due :D

How does power corrupt/How far is one willing to go to get what they desire most?
Power corrupted Macbeth into killing Duncan. He was so driven by the desired power that he was willing to go to extreme lengths to get it. What first drove Macbeth to become power hungry was the witches. The witches "planted the seed." They were the first to tell Macbeth of the power he would obtain in the future. If the witches had not told Macbeth that he would be king, would he have even considered the possibility? Another person that made Macbeth power hungry was his wife. Lady Macbeth put ideas in his head, and that influenced his decision to kill Duncan. Macbeth was ultimatly willing to kill for what he desired most. Furthermore, he was willing to take it a step further and kill his best friend to keep that power. With this he then began to lose himself. Though he was in the clear after killing both Duncan and Banquo, and had an enormous power boost with that, he startd to feel the guilt. Over all power definently corrupted Macbeth and this desire for the power drove him to do anything he could to keep the power.

Tragic Hero? .. :S

A tragic hero is a hero that makes and error in their actions that then leads to their own downfall. I do not think Macbeth is a tragic hero. Yes, he started off as a great leader and was essentially a "hero," but as soon as he betrayed his king, he lost the title of hero. By killing the king, he then got the title of traitor. Although I do not see him as a hero, I do think he is tragic. The decisions he made slowly tipped the scale of his sanity. The more he did, the crazier he got. That to me is a great tragedy. One of the major reasons for this is because the more power he wanted, the crazier he got. So, for this reason, this connects to the EQ "How does power corrupt?" Power obviously corrupted Macbeth because he was willing to go to great lengths to first get it and then keep it. He hungered for it. He wanted nothing more than to have the most of it. This being said i also connects to the EQ "How far is one willing to go to get what they desire most?"

Macbeth:
Do you find your patience so predominant in your nature
That you can let this go?
Are you so gospeled
To pray for this good man and for his issue,
Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave
And beggared yours forever?

The above quote from Act 3, Scene 1 shows that, along with Macbeth being a tragic traitor, he is a tragic coward. Because he now has the power and is just trying to keep it, he gets others to do his biding.

Presentation Questions...

1. Please explain why you chose the method of presentation that you did? We chose to present the "old fashioned way" because we figured that everyone would be presenting with a technology of some sort so we wanted to present it live.
2. What were your influences for this presentation? I thought that past presentations influenced our presentation because I enjoy live performances. Because of this we thought it would be deeper and it would give us enough time to connect more to the story.
3. Was this presentation any different then past presentations? Please explain. I thought that our presentation was pretty much the same as previous presentations because we did it live. I thought this was the best way to present because it was familiar and it allowed us to go into more depth.
4. Was this presentation any more challenging or was it easier than past presentations? Please explain. I don't think this presentation was more challenging than past presentations because I was actually interested in the subject. I think the story of Macbeth is captivating and exciting, therefore I was able to connect to it and look into it more.
5. Do you find yourself writing more on your private blog or on the class blog? Please explain. I like writing more on my personal blog because it is like a journal. Journals are supposed to be about writing what you are thinking and not having to worry about what other people think about it.

Learning Log..

How does power corrupt?
Power corrupted Macbeth into killing Duncan. He was so driven by the desired power that he was willing to go to extreme lengths to get it. What drove him to become power hungry was his wife. She put ideas in his head that changed him. A day before, Macbeth would not speak of the idea of killing the king and now he was considering it. By killing Duncan, gaining the title of king, and not getting caught, Macbeth was given an enormous boost. He now felt invincible and let power finally get to him and corrupt him.

How far is one willing to go to get what they desire most?
Macbeth was willing to kill to become the king. Not only, Lady Macbeth provoked Macbeth to kill Duncan because she was possessed by the mere thought of getting power.

Class Reflection

Today we managed to summarize all of the scenes in our act as well as put it into modern text. We also came up with a very good idea that we think will make our presentation unique. I also discovered how to use google docs, which is very useful. I think we used the class time very well today.

This is working for me because it is a lot easier to understand Macbeth over the internet than in the book.

English 11, Term 1.

The approach we have taken, as a class, to the study of a variety of short stories and to Macbeth are very unique. I feel that the rarity of blogging in an English class has really helped me in staying focused and interested in the subject.

With all of the visual aids that were available to us, I think that definitely helped me in understanding our units so far. For example, because we were allowed to use so many different resources to study Macbeth, I was able to read it in old English, modern English, watch it as a play, movie and cartoon. By using so many different learning aids I have a much better understanding of Macbeth than I would if we just read it. Along with the many resources, I think using Web 2.0 has also given us different ways to show what we have learned. For instance, we found pictures that represented different parts of Macbeth and we were able to express through the pictures, what words could not say. Overall, I would have to say that the most effective activity we have done was earlier in the term when we first said what we learned about Macbeth from our own knowledge, and then we looked up video clips, pictures and articles about it. This worked well because it opened us up to the many different ways to visualize Macbeth. Though this did work well in introducing us to Macbeth, I thought that continuously finding pictures to represent Macbeth that we spent more time looking for a picture than understanding the meaning of the play.

Looking back at what I have accomplished this term I think I have grown from the beginning of the term. I think the essential questions that were presented to us had a big hand in that. For example, the question “How far is one wiling to go to get what they desire most,” really helped me in expanding on the ideas that I already had about Macbeth. I think that my success this term will help me in the following terms. My goal for next term is to improve my writing skills further and learn how to make deeper connections.

My strengths this term have been my writing and knowledge of the internet. My writing has helped me in easily explaining what I mean without needing other sources. Also my knowledge of the internet and Web 2.0 has helped me in not getting confused with how to do something and helping me better focus on the assignment. Some things that I found to be challenging have been finding visuals to explain what I am trying to say. This has been challenging because if I understand what I am doing, I don’t need to use other sources to explain it. Having to find visuals to express what I wanted it was difficult because some things would be incorrect.

In short, I highly enjoy the way we are learning this term and hope it continues to help me in later units and assignments.

Review on Class/Blog Assessment

During class on Friday my group and I organized the reworded some of Act2. I think we got quite a bit accomplished.

___________________________________________

I think I have done all of the work asked of me on my blog. Along with that I have put a lot of effort into what I was reflecting on and writing about. Overall I think I deserve at least 19/20 because I have worked very hard on my blog.

How do we deal with conflicting elements within our personalities?

Early on in Macbeth, Macbeth himself deals with the constant guilt of killing Duncan, the king. He hears voices in his head and is confused as to if it was the right thing to do. I think that when you are trying to deal with conflicting elements within our personality you can easily lose yourself. For example, your heart may say one thing while your head says another. This being said Macbeth, knew what he wanted, but that wasn't necessarily the right thing to do (the heart wants what the head doesn't).

Macbeth - Act 2 Scene 1

Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward 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-oppressèd brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.
Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going,
And such an instrument I was to use.
Mine eyes are made the fools o' th' other senses,
Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still,
And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There’s no such thing.
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half-world
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse
The curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate’s offerings, and withered murder,
Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf,
Whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,
With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design
Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth,
Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear
Thy very stones prate of my whereabout,
And take the present horror from the time,
Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives.
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.

I go, and it is done. The bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell.

- The above passage deals with Macbeth's inner conflict. He wonders if he should murder the king or if he should except is place.

Postcard :)

Dear Mrs. Caldwell,

I am understanding that people will go to extraordinary lengths to get what they desire most because Macbeth is willing to kill for what he wants.

Also I am learning that nature or nurture only determines a persons destiny if that person lets it. For example, when Macbeth hears that he is to be king, he believes that he can. Would he even have thought it to be a possibility if he was not told? Would he have become king if the witches told him he would?

Sincerely Beth.

Reflection On Act 1, Macbeth

"Does nature or nurture determine a person’s destiny?"

In Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth discovers that it is his destiny to be king. After the weird sisters first prediction came true, Macbeth thought about the possibilities of he, himself becoming king.

MACBETH

(aside)      Two truths are told,

As happy prologues to the swelling act

Of the imperial theme. (to ROSS and ANGUS) I thank you, gentlemen.

(aside) 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.

In the above passage he wonders if his path is already chosen. He thinks about the possibilities of himself becoming king without him having to forcibly get it. This also connects to the question "How far are you willing to go to get what you desire most?"

This passage spoke to me because I saw that this is the part of the story where Macbeth started to ponder his future. Should he kill the king to become king himself? Or should he accept his social standings? This is important because it starts the rest of the story. It leaves you wondering what could happen and also the consequences of the actions.

Feelings and Moods of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

Explain the differences you saw between watching the movie and reading scenes 1, 2, 3 of Macbeth. -what was easier; why? -what was more challenging;

The differences I saw between the movie and reading was the movie was a little sparse on details where as the book was not. Although, the movie gave a visual, so you can see what people look like, what they are doing, and the expressions of those people. Reading the scenes gave more depth and detail to the story, but the wording was very confusing. I found it easier to watch the movie, because I am a visual learner. So by watching the movie I could see what was going on as apposed to just reading the words. It was definitely more challenging to read the 3 scenes because of the language. Every other word I was looking over to the index to see what something meant and it was very time consuming. In short, I prefer a visual version of Macbeth because if you don’t understand what they are saying you can watch to see what they are doing and there expressions.

How far are you willing to go to get what you desire most?

Desire is an extremely common, yet dangerous thing. The only way you can really know how far you will go to get it, depends on the person as well as the desired object. I, personally, don't desire anything at the moment. Well, nothing of importance that is. I guess, the only illustration I can give is when Zac Efron was filming in Steveston. I wasn't one of the hundreds of girls that were throwing themselves at his feet, but I saw how far some of my friends were willing to go to meet him. Girls were pushing, shoving and stepping over anyone that got in between them and the desired object (Zac). They missed school, stayed out till early morning and didn't eat because they refused to miss the opportunity to meet Mr. Efron. Overall, to desire something is to crave and fight for. Who knows how far anyone would go for it and who's to say that they wouldn't do anything to get it?

response

HI,

I am glad that this prereading activity has helped you understand some of the themes covered in Macbeth. I am also glad that you enjoyed finding the visuals that you did that connected with our big ideas. It is fun when the the class works together as a team to help support and encourage every one's learning.

Macbeth Cont... (Exit Slip)

This past class has helped me understand the general theme of Macbeth. This book is going to be filled with the terms that we talked about in class (power, humanity, loyalty, self worth, and integrity).

Macbeth!!!

I know very little about Macbeth. I know that it was written as a play by William Shakespeare. Along with that, there is a myth that if you say Macbeth on the day of the production, it was supposed to make things go very wrong.

Though I know very little about Macbeth itself, I do know more about Shakespeare. William Shakespeare was a famous play writer in the late 1500's and early 1600's. Some of the plays that he wrote and directed A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet and many more. I think Shakespeare is a creative genius to say the least. The language and the writing is beautiful. Unfortunately, I have only read one of his productions (Romeo & Juliet) in grade 9. But, in elementary school we say A Midsummer Night's Dream as a school production.

In short, I am very curious to learn more about Shakespeare and Macbeth.

Response

I see you have some blogging expertise! Maybe I can get you to share with the class how you put the side bar of video clips at side. You have selected some important understandings about the key concepts with the key one for you being self worth. It is as you are pointing out very important to feel positive about who you are as that shapes and influences all the other aspects. For withto out self worth how can you have integrity,or ambition?

Reflection on Class :D

Power, Integrity, Humanity, Loyalty and Self Worth are the terms that are mentioned or touched in our short stories.
Power can be seen as strength, but also can influence change.
Integrity is having values and loyalty.
Humanity is being humane, having a sense of passion and being kind.
Loyalty is being honest and faithful.
Finally self worth is the way you look at yourself, and how you treat yourself; self respect.

And Again With The Self Worth...

Dove started the Real Beauty Campaign as a way of raising self esteem. In many of their videos they show how the media portrays images that are unrealistic.

These are some examples of those videos:

--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U
--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=321Kb8pBu5s

Self Worth cont..

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."

-Louisa May Alcott

"Self worth is usually based on our feelings in worth in terms of our skill, achievements and so on. When we find ourselves not measuring up to society's criteria for worth, we suffer serious consequences."

(for a continuation of the above statement, go to -
http://allaboutlifechallenges.org/self-worth.htm)

Self Worth :D

As defined by dictionary.com, self worth is "the sense of one's own value or worth as a person; self esteem; self respect."