Alex Went - CliffsNotes on Shakespeares Macbeth

Macbeth

By Alex Went, M.A.

In This Book

Learn about the Life and Background of the Author

Preview an Introduction to the Novel

Explore themes, character development, and recurring images in the Critical Commentaries

Examine in-depth Character Analyses

Acquire an understanding of the novel with Critical Essays

Reinforce what you learn with CliffsNotes Review

Find additional information to further your study in CliffsNotes Resource Center and online at www.cliffsnotes.com

About the Author

Alex Went has been a teacher of English and Head of Drama at Shrewsbury School, England. He is the librettist of the musicals Jekyll!, The Time Machine, and The Lost Domain.

Publishers Acknowledgments

Editorial

Project Editor: Tracy Barr

Acquisitions Editor: Greg Tubach

Editorial Administrator: Michelle Hacker

Glossary Editors: The editors and staff of Websters New World Dictionaries

Composition

Indexer: York Production Services, Inc.

Proofreader: York Production Services, Inc.

Wiley Indianapolis Composition Services

CliffsNotes Macbeth

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Wiley Publishing, Inc.
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Copyright 2000 Wiley Publishing, Inc., New York, New York

ISBN: 978-0-7645-8602-5

Printed in the United States of America

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1O/TQ/QW/QW/IN

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, NJ

Published simultaneously in Canada

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Castleman, Tamara Shelline, 1965-

CliffsNotes Macbeth / Alex Went.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-0-7645-8602-5 (alk. paper)

1. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth--Examinations--Study guides. I. Title: Macbeth. II. Title

PS3562.E353 T6332 2000

811.54--dc21 00038864

CIP

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A Note to the Reader

READ THE ENTIRE LITERARY WORK. THESE NOTES ARE NOT INTENDED AND HAVE NOT BEEN PREPARED TO SERVE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE TEXT ITSELF OR FOR THE CLASSROOM DISCUSSION OF THE TEXT. STUDENTS WHO ATTEMPT TO USE THE NOTES AS SUCH ARE DENYING THEMSELVES THE VERY EDUCATION THEY ARE PRESUMABLY GIVING THEIR MOST VITAL YEARS TO ACHIEVE.

CliffsNotes provide you with the combined efforts of teachers, writers, and editors whove studied, taught, and analyzed what literary classics mean to literature as a whole and to you in particular. Opinions expressed in these Notes arent rigid dogma meant to discourage your intellectual exploration. You should use them as starting points to open yourself to new methods of encountering, understanding, and appreciating literature. Acquire some knowledge about the author and the work, and while reading the work, review and consult CliffsNotes when necessary.

CliffsNotes give you the basics including such features as information about the author, social and historical backgrounds, structure and tradition of literary genres, facts about the characters, critical analyses, review questions, glossaries of unfamiliar terms, foreign phrases and literary allusions, maps, genealogies, and a bibliography to help you locate more data for essays, oral reports, and term papers.

These features are intended as a supplementary aid to all students of literature. CliffsNotes will help free classroom students from intensive note taking, thus enabling them to listen intelligently while making selective notes on the instructors comments and class discussion, secure in the knowledge that they have a basic understanding of the work. The Notes are also helpful in preparing for an examination, eliminating the burden of trying to reread the full text under pressure and sorting through class notes to find that which is of central importance. A thorough appreciation of literature allows no shortcuts. By using CliffsNotes responsibly, reviewing past criticism of a literary work, and examining fresh points of view, you can establish a unique connection with a work of literature and can take a more active part in a key goal of education: redefining and applying classic wisdom to current and future problems.

How to Use This Book

This CliffsNotes study guide on William Shakespeares Macbeth supple-ments the original literary work, giving you background information about the author, an introduction to the work, a graphical character map, critical commentaries, expanded glossaries, and a comprehensive index, all for you to use as an educational tool that will allow you to better understand Macbeth . This study guide was written with the assumption that you have read Macbeth . Reading a literary work doesnt mean that you immediately grasp the major themes and devices used by the author; this study guide will help supplement your reading to be sure you get all you can from William Shakespeares Macbeth . CliffsNotes Review tests your comprehension of the original text and reinforces learning with questions and answers, practice projects, and more. For further information on William Shakespeare and Macbeth , check out the CliffsNotes Resource Center.