Andrew+Macbeth

Task 2, 28/3/11 Define: __ Sonnet: __ A poem that utilizes iambic pentameter and rhyming quatrains, with a couplet at the end. A sonnet contains 14 lines. __ Playwright: __ A person that writes plays. __ Intrigue: __ Interest. __ Prank: __ A trick played on someone. __ Groundlings: __ A common person that watched Shakespeare’s plays in the globe theatre on the ground. __ Slapstick: __ A joke. __ Intricate: __ something detailed. __ Tragedy: __ A play that results in a sad ending. Rival: An opponent. __ Sorcerer: __ A person known to use magic. __ Globe Theatre: __ A famous theatre known to showcase Shakespeare’s plays.

Task 3, 29/3/11 Context of Shakespeare:

William Shakespeare was born in 1564, and died in 1616. He is known to be one of the greatest playwrights in history and his works are still being used today, due to their truths about human nature. Shakespeare wrote almost 40 plays, famous plays include Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Hamlet. Shakespeare also wrote 154 sonnets, a type of 14 line poem. Shakespeare got married to Anne Hathaway when he was 18, she was 26. William Shakespeare was known to use a vocabulary six times larger than the King James Bible, which was written during his lifetime. Because of this, many scholars and historians believe that Shakespeare did not actually write his plays but instead several other people did. Shakespeare’s plays were known to be acted out in the Globe theatre, which was opened in 1599.

Task 4, 30/3/11

Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter on Anne Boyelyn and Henry VII. Throughout her reign England was known to be in a ‘golden age’ and that England was flourishing both economically and culturally. Queen Elizabeth was one of the Tudors, and lived in the 16th century. Queen Mary was known to be her rival. Both queens were renowned to be very beautiful, and even though they never met, they were competing against each other in almost every aspect. Since they never actually met, when a man that saw Mary went to Elizabeth, Elizabeth would quiz him about her personal features, and vice versa.

Macbeth was One of the monarchs that governed Scotland. He is known from Shakespeare's famous tragedy, Macbeth. Macbeth became the king of Scotland by killing the current king of the time, King Duncan. Macbeth was later killed by King Duncan's first Son, Malcolm III.

Malcolm III was the eldest son of King Duncan I, and succeeded Macbeth as the king of Scotland after killing him in 1057. Malcolm died in 1093 in battle at Alnwick, aged 62.

Task 5, 31/3/11



Task 6, 31/3/11

Elizabethan Society valued several things. The main things that Elizabethan people are known to value include their queen, Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth I was known to be a great monarch and the era of which she reigned was named the golden age, due to how the nation of England prospered during her reign. Marriage was also another important value of Elizabethan society. For women, marriage was really the only career choice. Single women were treated differently that married women, being married in Elizabethan society was something that many women wanted. People could get married at the age of 12. Elizabethan people got their forms of entertainment through theatre. Shakespeare’s plays were prominent during these times. The people that lived in Queen Elizabeth I’s time liked go to things like festivals, etc. Elizabethan society was known to celebrate with large feasts and dancing. During this time, England’s culture expanded greatly, and lots of literature and music was introduced during Queen Elizabeth’s reign. The people loved her, as she was not only a great ruler but she was also a great speaker, having taken public speaking classes when she was younger.

Soliloquy Is this a bass which I see before me,

The fretboard toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.

I have thee not, and yet I play thee still.

Art thou not, fatal wah-wah, sensible

To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but

An instrument of the mind, a false creation,

Proceeding from the bass-oppressèd brain?