Reading & Reaction Response Posts

Readings

• Act II of Macbeth (+ Reaction due at the beginning of class)
• Meter & Rhyme Section in "Elements of Poetry"
• In Production: Macbeth Through the Years in the Macbeth Sourcebooks & Other Periodical Articles folder (have read by Wednesday/Thursday)

"This is Just to Say" Adaptation (Reminder)

Everyone must try his or her hand at the This is Just to Say Adaptation discussion post.  I announced this weeks ago but forgot to remind you in class, so submit this by Monday (2/4). This will allow you a little creative license, but it will also help you understand the relationship that a writer has with a text that they are reacting to (e.g. Shakespeare and the history of Macbeth).  There are some useful links in the instructions that will aid you in creating your own poetic apology.

Pick a Favorite Set of Adaptations

With Act I of Macbeth under your belt and Act II on the horizon, check out various video adaptations in the Class Video/Adaptations folder.  Although you can use whatever criteria that you want to pick from the choices of Macbeth adaptations, you need to have some justifiable reason for why they are your favorites.  Act I Scene iii is likely a great scene to focus on for issues like setting, culture, dialogue, fate vs. free will, performance, characterization, tone, atmosphere.  It 1) deals with  the first thing you see in the play--the witches (many versions START with Scene iii), 2) introduces Macbeth and Banquo (Banquo and Macbeth), and 3) gives the prophecy and its first fulfillment.  A lot of information to assess whether you like one version over another (think of the examples we covered in class this week).  This will be relevant for an out of class assignment for next week.