Macbeth | Class Schedule

Class 1: Introduction to Macbeth

Pre-Reading Improvisations (40 mins)
Life of Shakespeare (10 mins)
Discussion Questions for Background Material (10 mins)
Homework: Writing Assignment for Pre-Reading

Class 2: Conventions of Shakespearean Verse and Staging

Small Groups Share Pre-Reading Prompts (5 mins)
Class-Wide Discussion of Small Group Answers (5 mins)
Lecture Topic: Verse and Staging (10 mins)
Five Jive With M.C. Shakespeare: Iambic Pentameter and Rhyming Couplets (15 mins)
Rhyming Couplets (10 mins)
Group Discussion (10 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 1.1-3 (5 mins)
Homework: Read Act 1.1-3

Class 3: The Supernatural (Act 1)

Comprehension Check for Act 1.1-3 (10 mins)
Video Integration for Act 1 (15 mins)
Lecture Topic: Witches and the Shakespearean Era (10 mins)
Exercise: Witches’ Chant (15 mins)
Discussion Question (10 mins)
In-Class Writing (Supplemental Exercise – 10 mins)
Homework: Pre-Writing on Imagination

Class 4: Imagination (Act 1)

Group Discussion on Imagination (20 mins)
Lecture Topic: Imagination (15 mins)
In-Class Writing (25 mins)

Class 5: Free Will (Act 1)

In-Class Writing (20 mins)
Major Theme: Free Will (20 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 1.4-7 (10 mins)
Homework: Imagination and Free Will

Class 6: Vocabulary (Act 1)

Comprehension Check for Act 1.4-7 (10 mins)
Group Discussion (10 mins)
Voracious Vocabulary (40 mins)
Homework: Vocabulary

Class 7: Soliloquies (Act 1)

Voracious Vocabulary Challenge (20 mins)
Literary Device: Soliloquies (5 mins)
Small Group Exercise: Soliloquies (35 mins)
Homework: Practice Soliloquies

Class 8: Soliloquies Continued (Act 1)

Performance of Inward and Outward Soliloquies (35 mins)
Group Discussion on Soliloquies (10 mins)
In-Class Writing (15 mins)
Homework: Prepare for In-Class Review

Class 9: Review (Act 1)

Video Integration for Act 1 (30 mins)
Review of Act 1: Open Question Period (30 mins)
Homework: Study for Exam 1

Class 10: Exam 1 (Act 1)

(60 mins)

Class 11: Cross-Curriculum Exercise on Historical Inquiry

Small Group Exercise: Selection of Historical Topics (60 mins)
Homework: Group Presentations

Class 12: Historical Inquiry Presentations

Historical Presentations (First Set of Groups) (60 mins)
Homework: Speculation Paragraph (Act 2)

Class 13: Historical Inquiry Presentations

Historical Presentations (Second Set of Groups) (60 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 2.1

Class 14: Murder (Act 2)

Comprehension Check for Act 2.1 (10 mins)
Major Theme: Murder (15 mins)
Historical Context (5 mins)
Small Group Exercise: A Bloody Web (20 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 2.2 (10 mins)
Homework: Writing Assignment; Read Act 2.2

Class 15: Metaphors and Similes (Act 2)

Comprehension Check for Act 2.2 (10 mins)
Literary Device: Metaphors and Similes (15 mins)
Small Group Exercise (30 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 2.3-4 (5 mins)
Homework: Finish Metaphors and Similes; Read Act 2.3-4

Class 16: Vocabulary (Act 2)

Comprehension Check for Act 2.3-4 (10 mins)
Video Integration for Act 2 (25 mins)

Vocabulary for Act 2 (25 mins)
Homework: Vocabulary

Class 17: Review (Act 2)

Discussion of Speculation Paragraphs (10 mins)
Vocabulary Dialogues (30 mins)
Review of Act 2: Open Question Period (20 mins)
Homework: Study for Exam 2 (Act 2)

Class 18: Exam 2 (Act 2)

(50 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 3.1-2 (5 mins)
Speculation Paragraph for Act 3 (5 mins)
Homework: Read Act 3.1-2

Class 19: Literary Analysis (Act 3)

Comprehension Check for Act 3.1-2 (10 mins)
Historical Context: Queen Elizabeth and King James (10 mins)
Literary Analysis: Lady Macbeth and Freud (10 mins)
Paired Exercise: Lady Macbeth on the Couch (30 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 3.3-4
Homework: Finish Improvisations and Read Act 3.3-4.

Class 20: Lady Macbeth and Freud Improvisations (Act 3)

Comprehension Check for Act 3.3-4 (10 mins)
Lady Macbeth and Freud Improvisations (50 mins)

Class 21: Conscience and Consciousness (Act 3)

Group Discussion Questions (10 mins)
Video Integration for Act 3.4 (20 mins)
In-Class Writing (20 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 3.5-6 (10 mins)

Class 22: Vocabulary (Act 3)

Discussion of Speculation Paragraphs (10 mins)
Comprehension Check for Act 3.5-6 (20 mins)
Vocabulary for Act 3 (30 mins)
Homework: Practice Vocabulary

Class 23: Review (Act 3)

Vocabulary Feud (30 mins)
Review of Act 3: Open Question Period (30 mins)
Homework: Study for Exam 3

Class 24: Exam 3 (Act 3)

(50 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 4.1 (10 mins)
Homework: Read Act 4.1

Class 25: Symbolism (Act 4)

Comprehension Check for Act 4.1 (10 mins)
Literary Device: Symbolism (20 mins)
Video Integration for Act 4.1 (30 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 4.2-3 (10 mins)

Class 26: Staging and Vision (Act 4)

Comprehension Check for Act 4.2-3 (15 mins)
Group Activity: Staging the Murder Scene in Act 4.2 (45 mins)
Homework: Speculation Paragraph

Class 27: Vision Realized (Act 4)

Group Performances of Act 4.2 (50 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 5.1-3 (10 mins)
Homework: Read Act 5.1-3

Class 28: Illustrated Vocabulary (Acts 4 and 5)

Comprehension Check (10 mins)
Illustrated Vocabulary (40 mins)
Reading Guidance for Act 5.4-8 (10 mins)
Homework: Read Act 5.4-8.

Class 29: Time (Act 5)

Comprehension Check for Act 5.4-8 (10 mins)
Discussion of Speculation Paragraphs for Act 5 (10 mins)
Small Group Exercise: Time As a Theme (40 mins)
Homework

Class 30: Review (Acts 4 and 5)

Video Integration for Act 5 (30 mins)
Review of Acts 4 and 5: Open Question Period (30 mins)
Homework: Study for Exam 4

Class 31: Exam 4 (Acts 4 and 5)

(60 mins)