Macbeth: Body Biography
Instructions
For our unit on Macbeth, we have talked a lot about characterization. To demonstrate your understanding of this critical reading skill, you will be creating a Body Biography, which will be an in-depth look at, and visual representation of, one of the characters in Macbeth.
PROCESS:
1. Choose a character.
2. To begin, trace a full body outline of your chosen character (aka one person lays down on a long piece of paper and someone else traces their body outline) and fill in both the required and suggested elements listed below. Refer to the rubric to achieve maximum points. In general, the best body biographies will fill most or all of the “white space” on the paper in a MEANINGFUL WAY.
3. Bonus Group Presentation: When your group is to present, you will present a prepared talk of who your character is, how you wanted to represent them, and an explanation of the specific, creative choices that you made to successfully represent that. You need to avoid a presentation that is just you and your group members listing and/or randomly pointing out and/or reading things off of your body biography. During the course of your presentation, you should answer questions like: What did you really want to show about this character? What really motivates this character’s behavior? How OR did this character change at all through the text? What was really interesting about them? You are preparing a cohesive, prepared analysis of your character.
Body Biography Suggestions
1.The Heart: Where should it be placed to best represent what this character loves most? What should it look like and what shape, color, pictures, or symbols should be included in it? If the character's love changes, find a way to represent this visually.
2.Spine/Backbone - Actors often discuss a character's "spine." This is his/her objective within the work. What is the most important goal for your character? What drives his/her thought and actions? The answers to these questions are his/her "spine." How can you illustrate it?
3.The Hands: What does the character hold in his or her hands? Items that are associated with the character either literally or figuratively should be included.
4.The Feet: On what is the character standing? This should a symbolic representation of the character's most fundamental beliefs about life.
5.Virtues and Vices - What are your character's most admirable qualities? His/her worst? How can you visualize them?
6.Symbols - What objects can you associate with your character that illustrate his/her essence? Are their objectives mentioned within the play itself that you could use? If not, choose objects that especially seem to correspond with the character. Include at least three symbols. (THREE DIFFERENTSYMBOLS REQUIRED)
7.Mirror, Mirror - Consider both how your character appears to others on the surface and what you know about the character's inner self. Are these the same? What does this tell you about the character? How can you illustrate this mirror image?
8.The Background: You should draw some elements that suggest the character's environment, background, or predicament.
9.Quotations: The three most important quotes relating to your character (be sure to include the page number). Be prepared to share why these quotes epitomize your character. (THREE QUOTES REQUIRED)
10.Changes - How has your character changed within the work? Trace these changes within your text and/or artwork.
11.Poem: Create a short poem that reveals something about your character. This can be a summary of their life or a response to some event in it. (A POEM OF AT LEAST FOUR LINES, UNLESS COMPOSING A HAIKU, IS REQUIRED)
**Note: Color is a very important aspect of this assignment. For example, purple is often chosen to represent bravery (i.e. the purple heart) or blue for sadness. Pay close attention to the colors you choose to represent certain aspects of your body biography.
Remember that ALL aspects of your body biography must be school appropriate. Points will be deducted from body biography whose content is deemed inappropriate.
DON’T FORGET THAT EACH GROUP MEMBER MUST COMPLETE A RATIONALE!!! See your rubric for more information on this!