Macbeth
Critical Analysis: Soliloquies in Macbeth
A soliloquy is a monologue, delivered by a character alone on stage. o Soliloquies are central to the play because in them there is only truth. There is no deception as there might be when speaking to other characters. o o Soliloquies contain the most powerful emotion and imagery in the play. Soliloquies are extremely important in revealing character, and are only spoken by the most important characters in the play There are several soliloquies in the first 3 Acts of Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Act I.vii:1-28 “If It Were Done When 'Tis Done…” Act I. v: 40-57 “The raven himself is hoarse…” Act I.vii: 1-28 “If it were done…” Act II.i: 40-71 “Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me…” Act III.i: 52-76: “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus...”
PART A: SOLILOQUY CRITICAL ANALYSIS Choose one of the soliloquies listed above and compose a critical analysis of it. This means that you will: 1. Identify and explain the dramatic purposes of the soliloquy (related to plot, character, mood, atmosphere, etc.) 2. Identify any/all themes evident in the soliloquy 3. Identify 2-3 literary devices present in the soliloquy and the effect of each device on the soliloquy and its purpose as a whole Formatting: Your response should: o o o o Be one and a half pages typed and double-spaced Identify and discuss at least two dramatic purposes, 2-3 literary devices and at least one theme Be written in formal, literary language Use quotations from the text and the MLA citation method
DATE ASSIGNED: __________________ WORK PERIOD(S):______________________________ DUE DATE: _______________
PART A: THE BRAIN STORM
Soliloquy to be analyzed: ___________________________________________. Literary Device Quotation Effect
i.e. repetition, metaphor, juxtaposition, simile, rhetorical question, onomatopoeia, etc
Include Act, scene, lines
i.e. does it create tension, emphasize something, connect with the reader, etc?
Related to character, plot
A soliloquy is a monologue, delivered by a character alone on stage. o Soliloquies are central to the play because in them there is only truth. There is no deception as there might be when speaking to other characters. o o Soliloquies contain the most powerful emotion and imagery in the play. Soliloquies are extremely important in revealing character, and are only spoken by the most important characters in the play There are several soliloquies in the first 3 Acts of Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Act I.vii:1-28 “If It Were Done When 'Tis Done…” Act I. v: 40-57 “The raven himself is hoarse…” Act I.vii: 1-28 “If it were done…” Act II.i: 40-71 “Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me…” Act III.i: 52-76: “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus...”
PART A: SOLILOQUY CRITICAL ANALYSIS Choose one of the soliloquies listed above and compose a critical analysis of it. This means that you will: 1. Identify and explain the dramatic purposes of the soliloquy (related to plot, character, mood, atmosphere, etc.) 2. Identify any/all themes evident in the soliloquy 3. Identify 2-3 literary devices present in the soliloquy and the effect of each device on the soliloquy and its purpose as a whole Formatting: Your response should: o o o o Be one and a half pages typed and double-spaced Identify and discuss at least two dramatic purposes, 2-3 literary devices and at least one theme Be written in formal, literary language Use quotations from the text and the MLA citation method
DATE ASSIGNED: __________________ WORK PERIOD(S):______________________________ DUE DATE: _______________
PART A: THE BRAIN STORM
Soliloquy to be analyzed: ___________________________________________. Literary Device Quotation Effect
i.e. repetition, metaphor, juxtaposition, simile, rhetorical question, onomatopoeia, etc
Include Act, scene, lines
i.e. does it create tension, emphasize something, connect with the reader, etc?
Related to character, plot