MYPNA_TE_G12_U3_web.pdf

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MEDIA | AUDIO PERFORMANCES

BACKGROUND

A trio of witches has convinced Macbeth that he will be king. His ambition roused,

Macbeth, with the help of Lady Macbeth, murders King Duncan. Upset by the witches’

prophecy that his friend Banquo’s progeny will rule Scotland, Macbeth orders the death of

Banquo and his son, Fleance. Banquo dies, but Fleance escapes. Macbeth gives a banquet,

in the course of which he sees Banquo’s ghost. Lady Macbeth sends the guests away.

When Macbeth learns that his enemy Macduff has fled to England, he sends his men to

kill Macduff’s wife and children. As Act V begins, we see the effect of these events on

Lady Macbeth.

The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act V, Scene i

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How do our attitudes toward the past and future shape our actions?

NOTES

The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act V, Scene i 355

LIT22_SE12_U03_A6C_M_WC.indd 355 23/03/21 12:24 PM

Compare and Contrast Audio

Performances

Students may have noted the similarities

and differences between the two recordings

during their first review. Use both audio

recordings to help students understand how

the two are alike and different and how to

note times. Encourage students to talk about

what they noted. You may want to model a

close review with the class based on the notes

below.

NOTE: Have students note important

differences between the two recordings, or

have students participate while you note

them.

QUESTION: Guide students to consider

what these details might tell them. Ask what

a listener can infer from these details, and

accept student responses.

Possible response: Since the LibriVox version is

an audiobook, the producers may be recreating

the experience of a reader simply reading

Shakespeare’s play aloud. The L.A. Theatre

Works version creates the experience of an

audience member watching the play.

CONCLUDE: Help students to formulate

conclusions about the two versions. Ask

students why they think both women reading

the role of Lady Macbeth perform their

lines as though they are in a live onstage

performance.

Possible response: Since the L.A. Theatre

Works version is an audio drama, listeners expect

the woman playing Lady Macbeth to deliver her

lines as if she is performing onstage. However,

listeners probably do not expect the woman

reading Lady Macbeth’s lines in the LibriVox

version to read her part quite so dramatically.

Remind students that audio performances

rely on the talent of the voice actors who

read the lines. The actors add emotion to the

reading to bring the writer’s words to life for

listeners.

CLOSER REVIEW

Whole-Class Learning 355

LIT21_TE12_U03_A6C_M_WC.indd 355 14/04/21 2:01 PM