DUE SUNDAY OCTOBER 24TH-Macbeth does not appear in 1.6. In the scene, Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan and his retinue to Inverness; Macbeth, however, does not. Imagine that Macbeth is observing Duncan’s arrival,

perhaps from a window or a battlement high above. You may decide whether he overhears the

conversation down below or not. Write Macbeth’s missing soliloquy.

Use the tips and suggestions below to help structure your ideas and soliloquy content.

• Remember: a soliloquy is a character’s innermost thoughts, spoken aloud for our benefit.

Soliloquies are always truthful to help us gain a greater understanding of character.

• Your soliloquy will not be graded on length but on expression and content. If you need

some parameters, aim for a 1⁄2 page to 1 page (double spaced, 12pt font, Times New

Roman). It need not be written in verse.

Your soliloquy should consider:

 Plot: demonstrate your understanding of plot to this point in the play. What has

happened so far (that is pertinent to the moment at hand)? What is expected to

happen based on these previous events?

 Character: demonstrate your understanding of character. What do we know

about Macbeth? About his character and his frame of mind? How does he think?

What does he know and not know? Why has he not joined Lady Macbeth in

welcoming Duncan to his castle? Consider his relationship with others: do these

relationships have an impact on his current mental state?

 Language: carefully consider diction (word choice), metaphor and imagery.

How will Macbeth say what he is saying?

• Want to go one step further? After writing out your soliloquy in modern English (with

attention already paid to diction, metaphors, and imagery, try revising your words into

10-syllable lines. Further still? Try revising into iambic pentameter. Do not lose your

meaning at the expense of the meter; in fact, if anything, your verse should compliment

your meaning (form and content). Feel free to include a glossary to help the reader

understand your meaning.