The Nature of Power

THE NATURE OF POWER: THE IMPACT OF POWER ON HUMANKIND

Students will examine the impact of power upon humankind. They will examine the powers of persuasion and the corruptibility of man as set forth in Julius Caesar and Macbeth.

Objectives Recognize the literary and timeless aspects of JC & Macbeth. Analyze the nature of power and corruption and the dangers of unchecked ambition. Recognize the techniques and purposes of propaganda.

Essential Questions How are the themes Shakespeare addressed still applicable today? What are the dangers of a leader who has no checks on his/her power? What makes a good leader? Can anyone, as Cassius claims, be corrupted? How is propaganda used to sway public opinion? Why is it important we recognize these techniques? What are the dangers of unquestioning obedience? How are foils and juxtaposition used to reinforce theme? Unit Texts Intro Works Why Read Shakespeare,” Michael Mack, p. 203 “Anti-Intellectualism and the Dumbing Down of America,” Ray Williams Sonnets: Petrarch, Spenser, and ShakespearePower – Can Anyone Be Corrupted? From Holinshed’s Chronicles, p. 293 Julius Caesar: Cassius, Act I.ii soliloquy; Brutus,  Act II.i soliloquy, Act III Funeral Orations Power and Paranoia Macbeth, p. 213 Richard Nixon resignation speech Power as Illusion Momomento mori scene in Hamlet “Ozymandias” Unit Vocabulary Specific Unit Vocabulary: Archetype Alliteration Allusion Characterization Anaphora Antimetabole Antithesis Archetype Aside Apostrophe Asyndenton/polysyndeton Characterization Connotation Denotation Diction Dynamic v static characterization Elements of Persuasion Enthymeme/Syllogism Figurative Language Foil Hubris Hyperbole Inversion/Hyperbaton Juxtaposition Metaphor Meter – scansion, foot, iambic pentameter, blank verse Monologue Parallelism Personification Plot Propaganda techniques Prose Pun Renaissance Renaissance man Repetition Rhyme – internal v end Simile Soliloquy Sonnet – forms and stereotypes Symbol Syntax Theme Theater/structure Tragic Hero (six characteristics of the tragic hero) Volta (stop and turn)