America’s longest running touring company STUDY GUIDE 2 SUMMARY OF CURRICULUM STANDARDS The exercises and information in this study guide are geared towards fulfilling the Common Core State Standards for En- Table of Contents glish Language Arts and Literacy for Grades 11-12. Summary of Curriculum Standards...........................2 Writing About National Players .............................................3 • Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and con- vey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and Background: About William Shakespeare ................4 accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. • Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences Background: Hearing Shakespeare ..........................4 or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. Background: The Performance ................................5 • Produce clear and coherent writing in which the devel- opment, organization, and style are appropriate to task, Background: The Theatre .........................................5 purpose, and audience. • Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, Macbeth: Synopsis ...................................................6 revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, -fo cusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific Meet the Characters ................................................7 purpose and audience. • Conduct short as well as more sustained research proj- Shakespeare’s World: Sources .................................8 ects to answer a question (including a self-generated ques- tion) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry Shakespeare’s World: Witchcraft..............................8 when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the sub- ject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under Production History.....................................................9 investigation. Speaking and Listening National Players’ Production...................................10 • Prepare and participate effectively in a range of conver- sations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and per- Character Study: Lady Macbeth .............................11 suasively. • Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives; synthesize Glossary ..................................................................12 comments, claims, and evidence made on all sides of an issue; resolve contradictions when possible; and deter- Key Words and Names............................................13 mine what additional information or research is required to deepen the investigation or complete the task. Further reading........................................................14 • Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision-making, set clear goals and deadlines, and es- Bibliography.............................................................15 tablish individual roles as needed. Getting the Most from this Guide Our study guides are designed with you and your classroom in mind, with information and activities that can be implemented in your curriculum. National Players has a strong belief in the relationship between actor and audience. Without either participant, there is no theatre. We hope this study guide will help bring a better understanding of the plot, themes, and characters in the play so that you can more fully enjoy Macbeth.Feel free to copy the study guide for students and other teachers and to use any essay, exercise, or discussion question as you see fit. 3 ABOUT NATIONAL PLAYERS National Players is proud to continue collaborating History with audiences around the world today. Committed to Now celebrating its 65th season, National Players is excellence on and off the stage, over 700 artists have been America’s longest-running touring company, and has proud Players, and continue to promote good work in earned a distinctive place in American theatre by bringing New York, Hollywood, and other communities across the innovative and accessible productions to audiences across country. the country. Founded in 1949 by Father Gilbert Hartke, a prominent arts educator and Catholic priest, National Players has performed in theatres, gymnasiums, opera houses, and TOUR 65 National Players offers an exemplary lesson in outdoor playing spaces all around the country. Hartke’s collaboration and teamwork-in-action: the actors not mission—to stimulate young people’s higher thinking skills only play multiple roles onstage, but also serve as stage and imaginations by presenting classic plays in surprisingly managers, teaching artists, and technicians. This year, the accessible ways—is as urgent and vital today as it was over Players consist of 10 actors, traveling across the country, 60 years ago. visiting schools and art centers. A self-contained company, Since 1952, Olney Theatre Center has been the National Players carries its own sets, lights, costumes, and artistic home of National Players and has broadened its sound; that means that the actors you see rebuild the set engagement to stimulate all learners, regardless of age, and hang lights for more than 70 performances. They also background, or location. Through the years, Players has memorize lines for three different plays— , been privileged to perform on 10 USO tours, at five White Macbeth The and often performing House visits, in the Arctic Circle, and throughout 42 states Comedy of Errors The Odyssey— more than one a day. It is a lot of work, but the Players and territories. are dedicated to celebrating and teaching literature and Having performed for over 2.8 million audience members, performance to as many audiences as possible. Tour2 2, 1950-51 Tour 31, 1979-80 Tour 11, 1959-60 Above, you can see images from three National Play- er productions of Macbeth. In each restaging of the play, the director and actors bring something new, through costumes, setting, and more. What do you notice about the pictures above? What mood do they invoke? What kind of story do they ap- pear to be telling? 4 BACKGROUND About William Shakespeare Despite being history’s most pro- bawdy comedies, and the occasional Most early modern playwrights did duced and studied English play- tragedy. Later in life, his plays became not publish their work, but 18 of wright, little is known of William more structurally complex, featuring Shakespeare’s plays were printed Shakespeare’s life. One of six sib- his iconic Hamlet and Macbeth and before he died. Luckily, his plays sur- lings, Shakespeare was born in Strat- the curious tragicomedies Cymbeline vived because friends and colleagues ford-upon-Avon on or about April 23, and The Tempest. commemorated his life in a publica- 1564. He married Anne Hathaway in William Shakespeare died on or tion known as theFirst Folio. 1582 and had three children. For the about April 23rd, 1616, and is interred A century after his death, questions seven years after, Shakespeare fell at a chapel in Stratford-upon-Avon. began to arise; his birthdate, death- off all record. Eventually, he arose in date, and even the spelling of his London and joined The Lord Cham- name are in question. No definitive berlain’s Men acting troupe. In 1603, portrait exists of the man, and no when the troupe came into King government record lists his theatric James’ favor, they officially became profession. The King’s Men. Many scholars have questioned the Shakespeare’s professional days are ability of a minimally educated man to a mixture of fact and legend. In 1601, create such challenging writing. Some he and his business partners pur- theorists have long held that “Shake- chased property on the south bank of speare” was a nom de plume for an- London’s Thames River, where they es- other playwright, nobleman, or even tablished The Globe Theatre. There, collection of writers. However, the the acting company performed many vast majority of scholars believe that of Shakespeare’s 37 plays. Famed for unofficial documentation provides using the iambic pentameter writing proof of Shakespeare’s existence and style, Shakespeare’s works are deep A copper engraving of Shakespeare prolific abilities. Regardless, Shake- in metaphor, illusion, and character; by Martin Droeshout, published on speare’s plays have been translated sometimes even taking precedence the title page of the First Folio in to 118 languages and are now in con- over plot. A diverse playwright, he be- 1623. stant production around the world. gan his career writing historical plays, Hearing Shakespeare Words, Words, Words Sometimes Shakespeare’s lan- • Although he uses prose as well, Shakespeare coined more than guage can be difficult to under- Shakespeare often uses verse in 1,700 words, many of which we stand, but once you get it, it is really his plays, a form called iambic pen- fun. Here are some tips to help you tameter. This rhythm, which uses still use today. Here are some of enjoy and appreciate the onstage stressed and unstressed syllables, his most famous: action: makes it easier to both understand • Compromise • You do not have to understand ev- and to learn Shakespeare. The ery word in order to understand the rhythm guides the ear to the im- • Cold-blooded play. Try to grasp the gist of what portant parts of each phrase. • Puking each character is saying. After a • The plays aren’t meant to scare or • Eyeball while, you won’t even have to think confuse you. Shakespeare wrote to • Blanket about it. entertain,