What are the characteristics of the Commoners? Compare them with a modern crowd such as might gather to see a parade or a celebration. FORM.--What is the meter of this play? Where do we frequently find an additional syllable? Illustrate. What other variations from the normal line help to keep the verse from becoming monotonous? Explain the metrical difficulties of the following lines: "'Speak, strike, redress.' Am I entreated" (II, 1, 55). "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" (III, 2, 78). "As a sick girl. Ye gods! it doth amaze me"(I, 2, 128). Why do you think we have both prose and verse in I, 1? Why prose in Brutus's speech and verse in Antony's? Find, if you can, passages that express true patriotism (like II, 1, 52-58), others that express hollow rhetoric (like I, 3, 91-100), and others that express true and beautiful sentiment. THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR.--See outline for the study of _The Merchant of Venice_, p. 72. OUTLINE FOR THE STUDY OF MACBETH I. Preparation A review of the facts about Shakespeare's work and the development of his art previously studied; a short explanation of the meaning and purpose of tragedy; and an account of the general belief in witchcraft in the early seventeenth century, will help to give the class the right attitude toward the play. II. Reading and Study The purpose of the first and second readings is the same as that already stated in the general plan and in the outline for the study of _The Merchant of Venice_. The large number of puzzling passages in _Macbeth_ makes the second reading unusually important. III. Study of the Play as a Whole SETTING.--Where and between whom were the battles fought in the beginning of the play? Where are Inverness and Scone? About how long a time is involved in the entire play? Which scenes follow one another without loss of time, and which do not? From the various hints given, what impression do you get of the conditions of life in Scotland at the time of the play? (I, 2, 20-24; I, 4, 37-38; III, 2, 22-26.) How is external nature used to heighten the effect made by the witches? In what other instances is nature used to heighten the effect? (I, 5; II, 1, etc.) PLOT.--What is the purpose of the introductory scene? Compare it with the opening scene in each of the other plays that you have studied. At what point is the introduction of the plot, or the "exposition," complete? What evidence is there that Macbeth had planned before the opening of the play for the murder of Duncan? (I, 3, 51-52; I, 7, 47-53.) What three incidents help to his success? (I, 4, 42-43; II, 3, 112-113; II, 4, 25-26.) By what means does Shakespeare make the murder of Duncan very effective in moving the audience, even though the actual deed is committed off the stage? What facts necessary for the reader to know are brought out in the last scene of Act II? What leads Macbeth to the murder of Banquo? (III, 1, 48-72.)