how to answer a question on macbeth

lorna100

Ok, silly question but when answering a question on macbeth, what is the best way to do it? Say if the question is kingship, or deception, do you just go through the play and illustrate where kingship is illuminated or where deception is highlighted?

Thanks

JSK 252

lorna100 wrote: »

Ok, silly question but when answering a question on macbeth, what is the best way to do it? Say if the question is kingship, or deception, do you just go through the play and illustrate where kingship is illuminated or where deception is highlighted?

Thanks

IMO, my main priority for macbeth is to keep referring to question being asked. Like I have an essay learned off for L. Macbeth and Macbeth and there is so many ways they could word the question but in essence its going to go back to their character so im cheeky by paraphrasing the question throughout my answer using my learned off material. Did it for the pre and got 55/60!

tufterween

Whatever you do don't go re-telling the story cus you will lose marks for that... It's seen as chancing your arm basically and is a sign that you don't really know what you're being asked.
Tufty

Jack Sheehan

tufterween wrote: »

Whatever you do don't go re-telling the story cus you will lose marks for that... It's seen as chancing your arm basically and is a sign that you don't really know what you're being asked.
Tufty

+1 The most you can get is 40% is this is all you do.

IWishh

This is what we're told to do:

In the introduction - depending on the question asked, say if its kingship, you could talk about what kingship is, how it worked and then give a thesis on how its shown in the play, literally stating what it is you're going to be talking about through the rest of your essay.

Then for the following paragraphs always start off with a topic sentence - showing the examiner what the topic of that paragraph is. Quote and comment. What I've learnt to do to fill out an essay is comment A LOT, they seem to go for that =/

Conclusion - conclusions are always where I fall down so I dunno if I can really help you there.. I think you just gotta tie up the points you've made previously and try come up with a creative way of doing that, rather than saying something dull theyd have read a thousand times over.

degausserxo

Talk about the importance of kingship or whatever to Shakespeare's contemporaries, and the affect it has on the charachters and the play as a whole.

Nihilist21

If you look back at past exam questions, most if not all questions about Macbeth have two facets one must cover. What I mean is, use/abuse of power, ambition/regret, pity/no pity - so it's importent you cover both aspects of the question, that doesn't mean equally, ie. you could have it 70/30.

laura!

if it was about kingship... talk about the different types of kings and their good and bad qualities. like duncan the over trusting, naive one, macbeth- ruthless, malcolm, king edward of eng . etc
and say which king would be the best like malcolm... as he's all rounded

Aisling(",)

with the kingship one i start off with the definition of a king and the divine right of kings which is shown in macbeth as a kind of introduction thn i do
-2 paragraphs on duncan (good and bad ie:guillableness but his good nature)
-a paragraph on edward the saintly king
-2/3 paragaphs on macbeth(usurping the thrown,his illegitamate rule and why it couldnt work)
-a paragraph on the hopefull rule of malcolm.

then a short conclusion.

got me an a a few weeks back:)

bythewoods

If it's kingship you're after, here's a sample essay:

http://www.zulunotes.com/wiki/index.php/Kingship%2C_with_its_potential_for_good_or_evil%2C_is_a_major_theme_in_Macbeth

(I'll stop linking to zulunotes now.. I just think it's haaaaandy out!)

Fince

lorna100 wrote: »

Ok, silly question but when answering a question on macbeth, what is the best way to do it? Say if the question is kingship, or deception, do you just go through the play and illustrate where kingship is illuminated or where deception is highlighted?

Thanks

they say its best to do it chronalogically.
gives it coherence and clarity.

PCLM people, P C L M

QueenOfLeon

Fince wrote: »

they say its best to do it chronalogically.
gives it coherence and clarity.

PCLM people, P C L M

Emmm, its quite late, and my brain is frazzled

In English please? :P

bythewoods

Anne-Marie!! wrote: »

Emmm, its quite late, and my brain is frazzled

In English please? :P

Purpose
Coherence
Language
Mechanics.

Have a look at the marking schemes, nah?

SligoBrewer

bythewoods wrote: »

If it's kingship you're after, here's a sample essay:

http://www.zulunotes.com/wiki/index.php/Kingship%2C_with_its_potential_for_good_or_evil%2C_is_a_major_theme_in_Macbeth

(I'll stop linking to zulunotes now.. I just think it's haaaaandy out!)

That essay is class. I'll start sticking up my notes on it during the summer. No time now.

Fince

bythewoods wrote: »

Purpose
Coherence
Language
Mechanics.

Have a look at the marking schemes, nah?

95% of the english course is based around PCLM

brennaldo

bythewoods wrote: »

If it's kingship you're after, here's a sample essay:

http://www.zulunotes.com/wiki/index.php/Kingship%2C_with_its_potential_for_good_or_evil%2C_is_a_major_theme_in_Macbeth

(I'll stop linking to zulunotes now.. I just think it's haaaaandy out!)

nice work, very good essay, hope it helps me out along with anyone else who needs some notes on macbeth.

JSK 252

brennaldo wrote: »

nice work, very good essay, hope it helps me out along with anyone else who needs some notes on macbeth.

I know the girl who wrote that essay!:D

bythewoods

Well, I haven't a clue myself- all I know is, I'm stelaing her ideas.
Thanks random person who put their essay onto that site!

Gloom

Praying we get a nice and easy question for Macbeth.

Poetry = grand. Learn 3/4
Comparative = grand. Learn 2/3.
Macbeth = scared.

Do they always ask a theme and character question? =/ The one in the mock/pre was alright (tragic hero one)...

Fince

i've a feeling that there won't be a character one.
supernatural is a possibility ( i hope that comes up because most people tend to stay clear).
i heard somone tipping imagery to come up (that would be quite nasty imo)

Gloom

Imagery/Symbolism wouldn't be that bad. Since Macbeth has no props, language and imagery are key for emotions, characterisation and atmosphere etc.

- Intro
- Animal imagery
- blood imagery <- key
- Darkness/Light imagery
- Clothing
- Disease/corruption
- Conclusion.

Something like that.

Fince

Could you elaborate on the "disease/corruption"?

Gloom

Using my notes so may not be entirely suitable:

Imagery of Disease and Corruption
Health and diease imagery are symbolically related to good and evil.

Macbeth's corruption is suggested by images of sickness and disease. His rule is described as "distempered".

Speaking of Lady M's illness, the doctor says: "This disease is beyond my practice". He goes on to speak of "infected minds" telling their secrets to their pillows. Macbeth wishes that the doctor could cure his sick wife: "Canst thou not minister to a mind disease?"

He also wishes that the doctor could cure Scotland's disease: "If thou couldst, doctor, case the water of my land, find her disease, and purge it to a sound and pristine health". It is ironic that Macbeth cannot see that he is Scotland's disease.

Malcom and the other forces of good are seen as the antidote to the disease that is Macbeth. In the final act, the Scottish lords march to Birnam wood to join forces with Malcolm: "Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal."

Just some ideas.

Fince

Gloom wrote: »

Macbeth wishes that the doctor could cure his sick wife: "Canst thou not minister to a mind disease?"

He also wishes that the doctor could cure Scotland's disease: "If thou couldst, doctor, case the water of my land, find her disease, and purge it to a sound and pristine health". It is ironic that Macbeth cannot see that he is Scotland's disease.


Just some ideas

thank you very much.

i must've missed a day in 5th year when we were doing it cause i can't recall either of the quotes from Macbeth above. in my answers i always give the poor fella a hard time over his reaction to her death.

just some very good ideas.