Macbeth
Who does Macbeth receive the 3 prophecies from at the beginning of the play?
The Three Witches
What happens to Macbeth at the end of the play?
Macbeth is beheaded by Macduff
What is Gregor Samsa transformed into?
A human sized cockroach
Why does Bigger murder Mary? Provide a short summary of events that lead up to the murder, as well as underlying motivations for why he does it.
Bigger murders Mary in order to not get caught by Mrs. Dalton and because he is slightly drunk. Underlying motivation for Bigger to murder Mary: He did not like that she treated him nicely and thought it was a way for her to demean or make fun of him.
How does Bigger react to the reporters discovering the bones in the furnace? Why does he react in this way specifically?
He runs away because he cannot react violently in this situation.
What are the 3 prophecies the witches tell Macbeth?
Hail Macbeth, Thane of Glamis
Hail Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor
Hail Macbeth, who shalt be king hereafter
How does Macbeth's decisiveness/decision-making change throughout the play?
Macbeth becomes more decisive as he continues to kill people whereas at the beginning of the play, he was reluctant and hesitant in his decisions because of the possible consequences and personal connections he had with people.
How does Gregor slowly begin to change and what are some specific examples of this change?
Begins to act more like a roach:
- eating rotten food
- crawling under couch
- crawling arounds on walls and ceiling
- hissing
How does Bigger feel after killing Mary and why is it an important moment in the novel?
Bigger feels proud/powerful after murdering Mary because he has gotten "revenge" on White people and he finally has power/control that he has never gotten to experience before in his life.
How does Bigger's perception of White people shift after speaking with Max and Jan in prison?
He begins to see them as actual human beings and regrets what he has done.
How does the first part of the prophecy come true for Macbeth?
Macbeth discovers he has been named Thane of Cawdor after the previous Thane of Cawdor was executed for treason.
How does Macduff serve as a foil character to Macbeth? (Think about how they are juxtaposed with one another)
Macduff remains loyal to the true royal family. Macduff maintains his values and does not lose himself.
Macduff fights Macbeth in the final battle and defeats Macbeth.
Macduff maintains integrity and honor, Macbeth sacrifices his in the quest for power.
Gregor dies because he knows he is no longer needed by his family. Gregor's family talk about how glad they are to be rid of him and how they can finally move on with their lives now.
Describe Bigger as a character:
- What motivates him?
- How does he handle/react to problems?
- How does he deal with emotions?
- What does he desire?
- Who does he care about?
Motivated by money, power, pride
Handles problems with violence/aggression
Does not handle his emotions well. Has a hard time processing feelings. Lets them build up inside
Desires control, freedom, opportunity, equality, power
How does Bigger rebel/subvert expectations throughout the novel? Provide some specific examples to support your answers.
Planning Mary's ransom and blaming it on the communists (intelligence)
Murdering Mary (she was nice to him and the daughter of his employer)
Bailing on robbing Blum's (He acts tough and violent but is afraid to go through with the robbery)
Feeling proud after killing Mary
What is Lady Macbeth's influence on Macbeth? How does she "persuade" him throughout the play?
She influences him to kill King Duncan and take power. She persuades him by belittling him, calling him unmanly, calling him a coward, guilting him into it by saying if she had promised something to him she would uphold her promise.
How does Macbeth's mental state shift/change throughout the play, and what are some examples from the play that highlight this shift?
His mental state declines/worsens. He goes from reluctantly killing Duncan to murdering Macduff's family, murdering Banquo, and attempting to murder Banquo's son.
At the end of the play the apparitions' warnings come true, but Macbeth chooses to fight anyways.
Macbeth does not care too much when Lady Macbeth dies near the end of the play.
Macbeth gets paranoid that Banquo will overthrow him as king/Macbeth will lose power.
What might be a major theme/big idea you could take from "Metamorphosis"?
- Good intentions don't mean much without action
- Helping others is meaningless if it is not appreciated
- A life without choice/of dependence isn't much of a life at all
*Other responses as deemed acceptable by Mr. Henery*
What might the rat from the beginning of the novel symbolize?
The rat represents Bigger. Bigger is confined, being "chased", eventually cornered, and killed. Bigger did not choose his circumstances just as the rat didn't choose its circumstances.
What critique could this novel and the author Richard Wright be making about American society? (Think overall theme)
American society during this time was violent and racist, and that is what made Bigger violent and racist. He is a product of the society/environment he is a part of.
How does blood serve as a symbol throughout the play? Identify at least 2 ways blood appears in the play and how it might serve as a symbol overall.
Bloody dagger pointing towards Duncan's room: Macbeth going down a bloody path of murder and destruction
Imaginary blood spot of Lady Macbeth's hand: the unconscious guilt she carries for killing Duncan
Macbeth's bloody hands after killing Duncan: unwashable guilt that will remain with Macbeth throughout the play
What are the 3 warnings/apparitions the witches give/show Macbeth?
An armored head: Beware Macduff
A bloody child: No man born of a woman can kill Macbeth
A child with a crown holding a tree branch: Macbeth shall not be defeated until Birnam Wood marches upon the castle
Explain how Gregor's transformation into a cockroach could serve as a symbol.
OR
Identify 3 symbols and explain what they symbolize/represent.
Gregor's dehumanization-family only cares about his money/what he provides.
A disconnect from the world.
OR
- The painting of the woman with the furs: Gregor's humanity
- Food, spoiled and regular: Gregor's former humanity/lost humanity
- The couch: Hiding from reality
- The window: Gregor's desire for freedom
Identify 2 symbols from the novel (other than the rat) and explain what they might symbolize/represent.
- Bigger's gun: his sense of security/safety
- The furnace: inner guilt deep down inside like how the furnace is in the basement of the house
- Snow
- The plane: desire for opportunity/freedom
Describe how you might apply "Native Son" to the following prompt:
In many works of fiction, houses take on symbolic importance. Such houses may be literal houses or unconventional ones.
Identify a house from "Native Son" and explain how it serves as a significant symbol.
The Dalton House, Bigger's House, The abandoned warehouse.