Introduction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5,6

Lesson objectives 

We will choose our next read that will be a Shakespearean tragedy 

We will have our last presentation for The Things they Carried 

We will start the context of composition for our next text

Summary Othello 

Iago is furious about being overlooked for promotion and plots to take revenge against his General: Othello, the Moor of Venice. Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful, stirring Othello's jealousy. Othello allows jealousy to consume him, murders Desdemona, and then kills himself.

Summary Macbeth 

Three witches tell the Scottish general Macbeth that he will be King of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth kills the king, becomes the new king, and kills more people out of paranoia. Civil war erupts to overthrow Macbeth, resulting in more death.

What are your connotations
to the word "Macbeth"?

Areas of focus in this unit

Key conceptual areas of focus for this unit

Identity and culture

Lines of inquiry: 

What does it mean to be a leader? 

How does society determine accepted gender identity? 

What are the effects of not taking (moral) responsibility for your actions? 

What are the results of hubris? 

 

Hubris:

An excess in pride, ambition or confidence which leads a person to disregard the laws of society, nature or God. 

Topics to consider 

The divine right of kings 

Gender

Guilt

Ambition 

Putin 

Prigozhin 

What are the key characteristics of the style of leadership of these leaders? 

Lesson objectives 

We will start the context of composition for our next text

We will get a copy of the play  

We will start Act 1 s 1

Read the extract in MB files from The Prince 

Using the Cornell note-taking method, read and take notes on this text. 

You will answer questions using your notes first and then your text. 

Read paragraph 1 from The Prince 

Paragraph 1 

The author advises that it is better to be...

1. merciful because personal freedom is more important than control.

2.unpredictable, so that the people will always be on their best behavior.

3.cruel rather than merciful if being too merciful brings disorder.

4. cruel because fear is stronger than peace or loyalty.

Read paragraph 2 from The Prince 

Paragraph 2 

The author claims it is better to be feared rather than loved because...

1. people who are scared of punishment will always obey their leader.

2.a leader should not have friends as they can trust no one.

3.people will not respect or follow someone they love.

4.fear causes people to act irrationally, so they need a leader to guide them.

Read paragraph 3 from The Prince 

Paragraph 3

What advice does the author give to leaders that are feared?

1.Avoid being loved because they must kill everyone who hates them.

2.Avoid being hated because they must take the wives of all of their enemies.

3. Avoid being feared because they must not kill anyone.

4. Avoid being hated because they must not take the property of others.

Read paragraph 4 from The Prince 

Paragraph 4

What does the author claim that military leaders can learn from Hannibal?

1. how to launch successful attacks in foreign lands

2.how leaders can use cruelty to gain the respect of their soldiers

3.how to terrify the soldiers of an opposing army

4.how to build a large and powerful army

Read paragraph 5 from The Prince 

Paragraph 5

How does Machiavelli summarize his advice?

1.being controlled by the Senate can be very beneficial

2.instilling too much fear in your followers can backfire

3.a leader that is loved does not instill enough discipline among his or her followers

4.the leader of an army should never listen to the Senate

Read  paragraph 1 from The Prince 

Paragraph 1 

The author advises that it is better to be...

1. merciful because personal freedom is more important than control.

2.unpredictable, so that the people will always be on their best behavior.

3.cruel rather than merciful if being too merciful brings disorder.

4. cruel because fear is stronger than peace or loyalty.

Read the paragraph 2 from The Prince 

Paragraph 2 

The author claims it is better to be feared rather than loved because...

1. people who are scared of punishment will always obey their leader.

2.a leader should not have friends as they can trust no one.

3.people will not respect or follow someone they love.

4.fear causes people to act irrationally, so they need a leader to guide them.

Read paragraph 3 from The Prince 

Paragraph 3

What advice does the author give to leaders that are feared?

1.Avoid being loved because they must kill everyone who hates them.

2.Avoid being hated because they must take the wives of all of their enemies.

3. Avoid being feared because they must not kill anyone.

4. Avoid being hated because they must not take the property of others.

Read paragraph 4 from The Prince 

Paragraph 4

What does the author claim that military leaders can learn from Hannibal?

1. how to launch successful attacks in foreign lands

2.how leaders can use cruelty to gain the respect of their soldiers

3.how to terrify the soldiers of an opposing army

4.how to build a large and powerful army

Read paragraph 5 from The Prince 

Paragraph 5

How does Machiavelli summarize his advice?

1.being controlled by the Senate can be very beneficial

2.instilling too much fear in your followers can backfire

3.a leader that is loved does not instill enough discipline among his or her followers

4.the leader of an army should never listen to the Senate

Context of composition 

Audience

Shakespeare 1564 – 1616

Context of composition 

Queen Elizabeth 1st 1533 - 1603

King James VI Scotland 

King James I England 

1566 - 1625

1642 Theatres close 

The mother of James 1st was the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots 

James converted to protestantism 

Gunpowder Plot 5th November 1605

• People believed that authority was derived by God.
  
• The Great Chain of Being
  
• In the order of human beings, the king was unmatched, absolute and dominant
  

Context of composition 

The Great Chain of Being 

Elizabethans believed in a divine hierarchy that had been created by God. This hierarchy, called the great chain of being, stretched from God at the top to plants and stones at the bottom. Everything on Earth had its place. This chain helped to maintain order. Challenging one’s place in society disrupted the chain and could lead to terrible chaos. People were expected to respect their position in the hierarchy. If you did so you would be rewarded in heaven.  

Women were always considered beneath men in the chain with the exception of Queen Elizabeth I. Monarchs were chosen by God and so held a divine right to their position.

animals 

plants 

minerals

commoners

Gentlemen

Clergy

Nobles

Monarch

Angels 

God

Sort these items into the Great Chain of Being

God

Angels

Monarch

Nobles

Clergy

Gentlemen

Commoners

Animals

Plants

Minerals

Take notes on these two videos

Use the Cornell note-taking method to take notes on these two videos. In the next lesson, you will complete your notes

Digitaltheatreplus 

1. Spotlight on: William Shakespeare 

2. Spotlight on: Shakespeare's Globe 

Digital Theatre plus log in 

Username: student_708 

Password: 

excitement@7978 

Note the username and password

Watch and read Act 1 Macbeth.