Macbeth (Letts Explore GCSE Text Guides) - Softcover

Martin, Stewart

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1843153114 ISBN 13: 9781843153115

Publisher: Letts, 2004

Synopsis

Providing a thorough analysis of the text, this handy literature guide to Macbeth will help you fully understand the text. Plot and structure, as well as characters and themes, are explored in detail to help you prepare for the English exam.

Prepare for your English exam confidently with this guide to Macbeth. Offering an in-depth exploration of the characters and key themes, this literature guide will provide a thorough analysis of the text to help you achieve the best results.

Included in this book:

• information on how you will be tested in the exam
• tips, guidance and quizzes to reinforce understanding
• key quotations from the text
• help to fully prepare for the GCSE exam paper

About this title

Review

One of Shakespeare's greatest, but also bloodiest tragedies, was written around 1605/06. Many have seen the story of Macbeth's murder and usurpation of the legitimate Scottish King Duncan as having obvious connection to contemporary issues regarding King James I (James VI of Scotland), and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. King James was particularly fascinated with witchcraft, so the appearance of the witches chanting "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" at the opening of the play seemed particularly topical, as was Macbeth's betrayal of Banquo, from whom James claimed direct descent.

However, the play is clearly far more than a piece of royal entertainment. It is also a fast-moving and dramatically satisfying piece of theatre. Macbeth's existential struggle between loyalty to his King and his "Vaulting ambition" is fascinating to watch, as his is struggle with Lady Macbeth, and her own terrifying refusal of her maternal role. The play shows an intensification of Shakespeare's interest in mothers and their effect upon ruling masculinity, and also contains some of the most memorable speeches in the entire canon, including Macbeth's reflections that ultimately life "is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing". --Jerry Brotton

Review

"The polymathic scholar and translator Burton Raffel not only elucidates baffling terms but offers guidance on the prosody and declamation of Shakespeare's lines, often to subtle effect, which will be useful to actors as well as readers."--Eric Ormsby, New York Sun

Edition details

• Publisher: Letts
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1843153114
• ISBN 13: 9781843153115
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 88