Macbeth William Shakespeare

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A new look at Shakespeare's play in accordance with the work of the Shakespeare and Schools Project, the National Curriculum for English, developments at GCSE and A-level, and the probable development of English and Drama throughout the 1990s. Cambridge School Shakespeare considers the play as theatre and the text as script, enabling pupils to inhabit the imaginative world of the play in an accessible, meaningful and creative way. Cambridge School Shakespeare approaches the plays in a new way, encouraging students to participate actively in examining them, to work in groups as well as individually, to treat each play as a script to be re-created, and to explore the theatrical/dramatic qualities of the text. The editorial comments cater for pupils of all ages and abilities, providing clear, helpful guidelines for school study. The format of the plays is also designed to help all teachers, whether experienced or inexperienced. NB This replaces the information previously issued.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction (p. 6)
• William Shakespeare, 1564-1616 (p. 6)
• Shakespeare's Theater (p. 8)
• The Sound of Shakespeare (p. 10)
• Publishing Shakespeare (p. 12)
• Macbeth (p. 15)
• Introduction to the Play (p. 15)
• Macbeth's Sources (p. 17)
• The Text of Macbeth (p. 18)
• The Play (p. 19)
• The Characters (p. 21)
• Act I (p. 22)
• Pre-Act Notes (p. 22)
• Text of Act I and Modern Version (p. 24)
• Post-Act Activities (p. 68)
• Act II (p. 70)
• Pre-Act Notes (p. 70)
• Text of Act II and Modern Version (p. 72)
• Post-Act Activities (p. 106)
• Act III (p. 108)
• Pre-Act Notes (p. 108)
• Text of Act III and Modern Version (p. 110)
• Post-Act Activities (p. 154)
• Act IV (p. 156)
• Pre-Act Notes (p. 156)
• Text of Act IV and Modern Version (p. 158)
• Post-Act Activities (p. 200)
• Act V (p. 202)
• Pre-Act Notes (p. 202)
• Text of Act V and Modern Version (p. 204)
• Post-Act Activities (p. 242)
• Additional Resources (p. 245)

Excerpt provided by Syndetics

For generations audiences have been gripped by the powerful drama of Macbeth: The ruinous journey of a man driven by his ambition for power, yet ultimately ending in fear violence, and madness. Macbeth, a Scottish general in King Duncan's army, Is given a prophecy by three witches that he himself will become king. Fueled by this knowledge and goaded on by his ruthless wife he murders the king to gain the crown. Yet having gained his goal, The "peace to all their days and nights to come" prophesized by the witches fails to appear. Rather, he finds that having killed, he must do so again and again. Suspicion, fear And The ghosts of the dead haunt him and his wife, destroying everything that they fought for, including their relationship, their world and finally both of them. Holding new meaning for each generation this play is a masterpiece not to be missed. Excerpted from MacBeth by William Shakespeare All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Audio productions of Shakespeare's work can be a challenge to execute, but L.A. Theatre Works delivers a gripping full-cast dramatization that keeps listeners engaged from start to finish. When Macbeth is told he will one day become king of Scotland, Lady Macbeth hatches an evil plot that ends in bloody regicide and tragedy. James Marsters delivers an admirable performance as Macbeth, conveying the character's conflicting emotions and subsequent arrogance. Equally skilled is Joanne Whalley, whose Lady Macbeth transforms from a determined and opportunistic woman in the beginning of the play to a depressed and despairing one in the final act. Recorded in front of a live audience, this well-produced audio also features music and sound effects-all of which make for an absolutely entertaining listening experience. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 10 Up-Shakespeare's tragedy is brought to life in this studio-recorded full-cast performance starring James Marsters and Joanne Whalley. Marsters's Macbeth is solid, and Whalley turns in a remarkable performance of Lady Macbeth's calculated strength and eventual unraveling. The pacing and delivery of Shakespeare's lines are effective and accurate, and the use of sound to depict setting and action provide the essential cues listeners need. The sound effects and the theatrics of the Weird Sisters are wonderful. Listeners should be familiar with the story prior to listening due to the large number of characters and the lack of stage direction in audio format. A good choice to offer students as a reading companion.-Rebecca Flannery, Lyman Memorial High School, Lebanon, CT (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Horn Book Review

Featuring abridged versions of the Shakespearian texts, with abundant illustrations and frequent, but unobtrusive, descriptions of action and setting, these volumes present six of Shakespeare's best-known tales in an accessible format, while maintaining much of their original impact and style. Each book includes a brief introduction to Shakespeare's life and theater. Based on the cable television series. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.