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.
Friday, November 27, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, November 13, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, November 9, 2009
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
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)