GUILT

PART 1

 

 1. Who feels guilty?

 2. Why do they feel guilty?

 3. What actions did the characters perform to bring on their feelings of guilt?

 4. Did the feeling of guilt cause a change in the character’s personality or actions?

 5. How is their guilt viewed by other characters?

 6. What are the consequences of guilt?

You might find that questions two and three overlap a little but they are worth considering separately.

 You will need to consider your definition of the word first. Then decide on a thesis with regard to the way guilt is represented and three or four major points which would support your thesis.

 PART 2

Now consider which new context might allow you present guilt in a similar way.

Choose one of your main points and write a paragraph in which you analyse how the play positions the audience to view this aspect of guilt and then persuade the reader that your re-contextualising is appropriate. This will involve justifying your choice of context as well as using persuasive language.

 

 

Analysing what the play says about ambition

In order to anlayse what the play says about ambition, consider the following questions:

What is ambition? Give a general definition.

In Macbeth, Who is ambitious?
How do they put their ambition into action?
What are the consequences of their ambition? Rewards/punishment?

What does this say to us about ambition? Consider its relation to the important ideas, attitudes and values in the play.

 

Now try the following practice task:

 

Persuasive Letter Task

The Queensland School’s Association is considering the removal of Shakespeare’s Macbeth as a compulsory text on the Senior English syllabus.

Write a letter in which you persuade the Queensland Schools Association (QSA) that Macbeth is a valuable play for continued study as it explores a number of important ideas, attitudes and values.

Your letter should focus on the concept of ambition.

In your response, you should analyse what the play says about this concept and how this representation is constructed.

Remember to be persuasive.

The name and address of the person you are writing to is: Ms Helen Smith, Queensland Schools Association, 100 Stanley Street, Brisbane, 4000.