Essay Question Examples for Macbeth - 10th Grade World Literature

Maile Danilchik

10th Grade World Literature

10/31/14

Essay Questions

1. Ambition is defined as “a strong desire for power and honor”, how is ambition a positive theme in Macbeth and when can it be negative?

2. How does fear connect to conscience in Macbeth

3. Appearance v. Reality is a factor in Duncan’s murder, can you think of any smaller scale examples of this theme in real life? Ex. After receiving an unwanted gift, you act polite but later you give it to someone else.

4. How can the theme of betrayal connect to Appearance v. Reality?

Blog Post #2 - Antigone in St. Louis, Missouri

Prompt:

Write about Antigone being produced and performed in St Louis Missouri  

I think that there is a rough parallel between the grief of Antigone and the Black Lives Matter movement. Antigone’s effort to have her brother honored properly and buried can be compared to the Black Lives Matter movement’s mission to show that the numerous shootings of blacks by white policemen should not be ignored. Both Antigone and Black Lives Matter have faced oppression in their effort to voice their opinions and express their strong emotions. Perhaps the play will not directly address the discussion of race or police statistics, but it will emotionally strike a chord with a community who has lost members to unnecessary police shootings of young African Americans.

Blog Post #1 - Mythological Background of Oedipus the King

The Background Story of Oedipus shows how Greek mythology was intertwined into the story, such as the myth of the Sphinx and her infamous riddle. The audience of these plays were educated in the myths of their society and were able to apply their "inside" perspective on the story.

Q: What is the most important fact about the Mythological Backstory of Oedipus the King that the audience would need to know in order to fully appreciate the play?

A:  A very important plot point that the audience should be cognizant of is that Oedipus did not know his mother, Queen Jocasta or his father, King Laius who ruled over Thebes. This fact is crucial to the play's plot of a "big misunderstanding" because it revolves around information that Oedipus does not have.